How to Make a Hummingbird Feeder With Water

One of the best ways to attract hummingbirds into your back yard every year is to provide an abundant food source. The tiny birds consume two-thirds of their body weight each day, and a large part of their diet is sugar. Hummingbirds, which migrate south in the fall and return in the spring, have an excellent memory, and once they find a reliable source of food, they will return year after year. By having your hummingbird feeder out in the spring and summer, you can be sure that your home will be a regular stop for feeding.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

2 cups water
1/2 cup sugar
About 1 foot of string or cord
20 oz. plastic bottle
Lightweight plastic container with lid

Step 1

Combine the sugar and water and bring to a boil. Let boil for one to two minutes. Allow the mixture to cool while you complete the remaining steps.

Step 2

Cut a 1-inch "X" in the middle of the plastic lid. Cut four small holes in the corners of the lid (or near the edge, if the lid is round). The hummingbird will drink from these holes. Attach the lid to the plastic container.

Step 3

Cut a flap in the bottom of the bottle. You will use this to fill the feeder. Cut two small holes on opposite sides of the bottle near the bottom.

Step 4

Thread the cord or string through the two holes in the bottle. Tie a knot so there is a loop for hanging.

Step 5

Insert the mouth of the bottle into the "X" in the lid, as if you were inserting a straw. The cap of the bottle should be removed. The bottle will hang upside down and the nectar will flow into the plastic container.

Step 6

Fill the feeder with nectar and hang from the loop.

Tips & Warnings

Red attracts hummingbirds. Use a red cord and a container with a red lid.

Red dye and water impurities may be harmful for hummingbirds. Though some tutorials advise coloring the nectar red, you may wish to use softened or bottled water with no food coloring as a precaution.

Resources

Article Written By Anton Busch

Anton Busch earned a B.A. in English with honors from University of Iowa in 2007 and has been publishing content on the Web ever since. His creative and nonfiction works have appeared in print in "Hotel Amerika," "Earthwords," "Lux Magazine," "Quad City View" and "Verdure Magazine." He also writes for various websites.

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