Making your own hummingbird food is quick, cheap and easy. Sure, you can buy hummingbird food that you can mix up for a couple dollars or the pre-made stuff for about $5 a bottle, but that hummingbird food has dyes in it that are not good for the hummingbirds. Some people like the idea of the red color because it has been used in the marketing of bird feeders so much, but it’s much better to make your own.
All you need to make hummingbird food is sugar and water. Making your own will cost you just pennies for 1 cup of hummingbird food.
The formula for it is easy. It is a 4:1 mixture. Four parts water to one part sugar, or think of it this way 1/4 C of sugar for every 1 C of water.
The easiest way to determine how much water and sugar you need is to figure out how much water you need. The easiest way to do that is to put water in to the reservoir, then pour that water in to a liquid measuring cup. Let that be your guide to figure out how much water you need. Some of it will evaporate while boiling the mixture, but that’s okay.
Can you tell how much I need in each of the above hummingbird feeders? Well, the glass one hold 1 1/2 cups of liquid and the plastic one only hold 1 cup. I wish I had taken a picture with the third one I have (finally found it!) and it is not as tall as these but wider and takes 2 cups of water.
When you have figured out your measurements of water and sugar needed, put both of those ingredients in an appropriately sized pot. Bring to a boil and continue boiling for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Heating the water and sugar will make sure that the sugar completely dissolves. Allow the mixture to cool completely before putting it in the hummingbird feeders. When you pour the mixture in to a feeder, be sure to use a funnel. That will make pouring in to the small opening much easier.
If you don’t already have a hummingbird feeder, you can easily pick them up at any hardware store and general merchandise store like Wal-Mart. I have even purchased one from the Dollar Tree (my 2 Cup size one.)
If you prefer to buy it online, but are looking for an inexpensive one, I have found a few that are all under $10 that you can check out.
- Lantern Hummingbird Feeder
- Garden Collection Hanging Hummingbird Feeder
- First Nature 32-ounce Hummingbird Feeder
- Perky Pet 8oz. Window Mount Hummingbird Feeder
Then sit back and enjoy watching the hummingbirds come to your feeder!
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Hummingbirds are nice and it’s great to hear them in your backyard. I’ve never tried making food specifically for them before and it would be nice to be able to do that. Thanks for the recipe and the instructions!
I sure do miss all the birds visiting the bird feeders back home in Wisconsin. Since moving to New Orleans, I don’t see as many in the city. I’ll have to try this and see if they come; it’s a lovely idea!
Very useful recipe, so good and healthy without the hazards of chemicals/dyes if you buy it from outside. Thanks for sharing this.
Those birds have always peaked my interest. Glad to have learned one way of taking care of them. One day I’ll try feeding them!
I was able to find dye-free hummingbird food at the local hardware store, but making it would be so much cheaper! The hummingbirds are still attracted to the feeder without the dye, so it’s completely unnecessary.
Hummingbirds are lovely and it’s always nice to hear them flying around. Feeding them would be a nice thing to do! Thanks for this guide because without it I would have opted to simply give them any kind of bird food.
Great idea! I love hummingbirds and have a few feeders. I will be using this recipe.
I have heard of the dyes not being good for the hummingbirds. I think it’s a good idea to make your own at home.
Oh, this is a nice idea. I like to make this to attract some birds on our garden. My son is fascinated with them.
There are no hummingbirds where I live but they are the national bird of my country of origin. They are wonderful birds and I miss hearing them.
I would love to have a garden and try this, to attract birds to it. I love the songs of birds in the morning.