MAKE YOUR OWN HUMMINGBIRD FOOD: A TWO INGREDIENT HUMMINGBIRD NECTAR RECIPE

The spring arrival of the hummingbirds is a pretty exciting time around the 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 back in 2007 or so.

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

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TWO INGREDIENT 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 hummingbird feeders vs. plastic.

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

My boys really enjoyed feeding the hummingbirds.

HUMMINGBIRD NECTAR RECIPE

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 pitcher and stir until the sugar dissolves.

Ta-Da! Your own hummingbird nectar.

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.

We enjoy having the hummingbirds visit the farm and look forward to them every year.

If you want to try holding a feeder in your hands to get up close and personal, patience is the key.

We occasionally have to rescue hummingbirds trapped in our pony barn or the garage.

I am not sure why they fly in and can’t get out, but I don’t mind catching them one bit.

If you need a hummingbird feeder for your yard, Amazon has some beautiful options to choose from. Or, keep it simple with my favorite, which I've linked here.

Happy birding!

XOXO

Emily

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