I just saw our first hummingbird of the season this morning, he was drinking from the waterfall in our backyard koi pond. And although my Hummingbird Food recipe is a little different from my normal people’s food recipes, everyone needs good food, so I have a recipe for everybody, even the Hummingbirds.
My Hummingbird Food recipe is very simple with only two ingredients, four parts water to one part granulated sugar. We should never add red dye, honey or other types of sugar to Hummingbird Food, just plain granulated (caster) sugar and water.
There is one thing that is extremely important for the health of the hummingbirds, and that is the cleanliness of the feeder.
Feeders are out in the hot air and any contaminants, such as dust, ants, bees, pollen, and bacteria from the bird’s beak, etc., will cause the sugar in the Hummingbird food recipe to start fermenting. The feeder has the potential to grow all sorts of fungus, mold, and mildew so it is very important to clean it regularly.
The first thing you want to do is choose a feeder that can be easily disassembled and cleaned. The fancy, super ornamental feeders might be the worst because they aren’t easy to clean. Preferably, choose a feeder that can go in the dishwasher. I have two feeders that I rotate, one outside with food in it and one that is being cleaned and dried, ready for the next rotation.
If you are cleaning by hand, I use a diluted bleach water solution for sanitizing and disinfecting. This is the same solution used in restaurant kitchens and is very safe and easy to make. A ratio of 10:1 water to bleach is strong enough to kill any harmful bacteria. Once the feeder has been rinsed well and dried it is safe for the hummingbirds.
So, if you have space, plant a garden with plenty of Hummingbird and bee-friendly flowers (no pesticides, please) and put a hummingbird feeder out for them to drink your homemade Hummingbird Food out of. You’re going to love having hummingbirds around your home, and the Bees will appreciate you too!!!
The bees love my hummingbird food recipe too!
Here’s my Hummingbird Food Recipe:
Hummingbird Food Recipe
Equipment
- Hummingbird feeder
Ingredients
- 1/2 Cup Granulated Sugar
- 1 Pint Water Boiled
Instructions
- Boil the water and add the granulated sugar. Stir to combine and let cool before using.
- Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
- Clean and disinfect the feeder between each use. In warm weather, you need to change the food every 2-3 days.
- In hot weather, you may need to change the food daily.
- Place the feeder in a shaded location to help extend the life of the hummingbird food
Nutrition
Disinfectant Cleaning Solution:
INGREDIENTS:
- 1 Teaspoon Regular Unscented Household Bleach (5-6%)
- 1 Gallon Hot Water
PROCESS:
-Follow all safety guidelines on the bleach container
-Mix bleach with hot water
-Clean and sanitize the feeder, inside and out
-Rinse well
-Allow to 100% air dry
