HUMMINGBIRD FEEDERS AND MY TWO INGREDIENT NECTAR RECIPE

The spring arrival of the hummingbirds is a pretty exciting time around the hobby farm.

They are so quick and fun to watch while sitting outside enjoying the weather.

Each year I use granulated white sugar and water to make a two-ingredient hummingbird nectar, and the hummingbirds love it.

In my area of Minnesota, the hummingbirds usually arrive the first week or two of May, but I have seen them earlier, depending on the weather.

The ruby-red throat males will show up first and they will swoop back and forth past my living room window letting me know they have returned.

They have been doing this ever since my boys and I put up our very first hummingbird feeders almost 17 years ago.

As you scroll through this post, I will share my nectar recipe.

Plus, I’ve collected a few fun finds that will make a great gift idea for hummingbird fans.

**My Kiddos loved to feed the hummingbirds when they were little.**

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HUMMINGBIRD NECTAR RECIPE

When I first started hanging hummingbird feeders, I would purchase the red ready-to-use nectar you can find from retailers.

Then I learned you could make hummingbird nectar easily with two ingredients found in your kitchen and I have been making it myself ever since.

The red coloring in store-bought nectar is used because hummingbirds are attracted to the bright red color.

If you plan to feed hummingbirds with the DIY recipe I am about to share, use feeder with some red on it.

I recommend glass feeders vs. plastic.

I have had both kinds and the glass feeders get a lot more attraction from the hummingbirds.

The hummingbird nectar recipe I use is very common and easily found all over the internet. It’s been around for years and you can find both ingredients in your kitchen.

One Part Granulated White Sugar
4 Parts Hot Water

Combine the water and sugar into a plastic pour pitcher, and stir until the sugar dissolves.

Ta-Da! Your own hummingbird nectar.

feeding humming birds with a homemade nectar recipe

You can boil the water if you would prefer, boiling the water will sterilize the water making it not spoil as quickly.

I have never boiled the water because I have heard, that if you boil the water it weakens the sugar.

If you don’t have a lot of hummingbird action like I do, and are not needing to refill your feeders every 3-4 days, you should clean them out at least once per week and replace the nectar with a fresh batch.

When cleaning your feeders make sure to clean out all the little holes, don’t use harsh chemicals.

A vinegar and water cleaning will do.

Another option for feeding the hummingbirds is to supply them with flowers and add perches around your garden.

The Fuchsia is a great flower option and the hummingbirds LOVE THEM.