#Diy hummingbird feeder how to#

Learn how to attract hummingbirds to your yard with these DIY hummingbird feeder projects made with a Mason jar or wine bottle. Since hummingbirds consume about half their weight in sugar every day and have an impressive geographical memory when it comes to food sources, you’ll likely see them come back again and again if you’re providing the sugar water they love. Most hummingbird food is clear now at the store, so this will be the same.Placing hummingbird feeders in your yard or garden is a great way to attract these fascinating pollinators in the spring and summer months. Is this the same as store-bought hummingbird food? Also, like we mention above, cleaning out your feeder often in hot weather will discourage ants from getting in the feeder. If there isn’t residue, ants won’t find their way in. Ants will be attracted to sticky residue on the outside portion of the feeder. It is difficult to keep them away, but the best option is making sure the feeder is clean on the outside. You can see the ones I have used over the years below! Keeping Away Ants from FeedersĪnts also cause issues for many hummingbird feeders. Over the last ten years, I have tried out dozens of different feeders, and the ones with smaller flowers seem to attract less bees. I also bought a new feeder which is made to keep bees away and attract more birds. Make sure there is no residue on the outside. Cleaning it out every few days helps with this along with making sure you wipe the outside of the feeder after filling. In addition to keeping bacteria away, bees are also a problem with hummingbird feeders. I have tested it out in my area which is 100 degrees in the summer, and it is essential to clean it out every day.

Above 85 degrees – every day is best when temperatures are hot like this!.

Since bacteria increases with higher temperatures here is a good rule of thumb for cleaning out your feeder: Best Temperatures for Hummingbird Feeders

Rinse thoroughly and allow to dry before filling with more hummingbird food. Scrub with warm water and a little dish soap.

I will also keep it near the honeysuckle or roses since they love to feed off the nectar from those plants too ( for more tips on attracting pollinators, check out this post).Ĭlean out the hummingbird feeder every few days. I have had the best luck keeping it tucked way in the trees like the picture below. I started doing this a few years ago, and more hummingbirds came to the feeder. The first thing to do is make sure you feeder is more in the shade. If the mixture looks cloudy or milky, clean it out immediately. Sugar can also ferment in hot weather, so keep an eye on your feeder. In the sun, warm sugar water can grow bacteria very easily. Make sure the solution stays cool! You don’t want any bacteria to grow in this homemade food before pouring it into feeder. Store any leftovers in refrigerator for 2 weeks. Storing This Homemade Hummingbird Food Recipe Remove from heat and allow to sit until room temperature.You can boil for 2-3 minutes if preferred, just NO less than 2 minutes for bacteria aspect. This creates the perfect nectar for hummingbirds. Yes, boiling 3-4 minutes creates a sticky, simple syrup. Allow to boil for 3- 4 minutes (this is important to eliminate bacteria susceptibility).4 cups of H 20 (Regular tap water is perfect).The solution is to make this homemade hummingbird food at home anytime.īe sure to stay tuned after the instructions for some important chemist tips on preventing bacteria growth and keeping other insects away. You can also purchase organic hummingbird food that just contains sugar and water, which is perfect! But, it is pricey. Most store-bought hummingbird food is red, and if you scroll through the ingredients, about 90% of it is dye and preservatives. We lived in California at the time, and I had multiple hummingbirds feeding at a time for most of the year.įor years now, I have been making this easy homemade hummingbird food recipe, and it is great for attracting hummingbirds. The first thing I did when my husband and I moved into our first apartment was by a hummingbird feeder. I have loved both since I was a little girl.

My two favorite creatures in the summer are hummingbirds and fireflies.

Diy hummingbird feeder