If you feed hummingbirds, don't think you're doing them a favor by adding honey or brown sugar to the food. If you do feed them, keep the feeders clean. That sugary liquid is the perfect breeding ground (breeding liquid) for things that can kill the birds. This causes problems with their tongues, and they starve to death.
If you want to be kind to these little guys, plan flowers that they like. Artificial food from Walmart is not the best choice. It might give you the opportunity to get nice shots, but at the expense of the birds.
"If you feed hummingbirds, please use a mixture of one part WHITE sugar to four parts water, and clean the feeder at least once a week in cool weather, more often when temperatures are warmer. Using any other ingredients, or allowing the nectar to spoil, can be deadly."https://hummingbirdbliss.com/hummingbird-diseases-from-pathogens-to-prevention/https://www.townoflyons.com/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/168#:~:text=If%20mold%20and%20fungus%20grow,condition%20known%20as%20Hummers%20Candidiasis.
https://ethicalbirder.com/2011/05/11/hummingbird-tongue-fungal-infection/
I've long used the "cup of water to quarter cup of white sugar" mixture in my feeders; I've also been told not to use store bought syrup. I wash out my feeder at every filling, usually 4 or 5 days. In this heat I notice the mixture turns a little cloudy so I change it more often. I have no idea what the chemical reaction is, that's causing the cloudiness but I figure it's not good for the birds.
Easy peasy... 1 to 4 ratio white sugar to chlorine free water...city water is a killer btw...test it first.
Mix...slap in micro for 7 minutes (depending on wattage)...pour into container...wait an hour.
Lasts two days...tops...in the south.
Amielee
Loc: Eastern Washington State
1/4 cup granulated sugar, 1 cup non chlorine water, rapid boil for 1-2 min. Let cool then place in CLEAN feeder. Change at least every 4 days. While syrup is cooling I wash feeder in soapy water, rinse, soak in chlorine water for 10 min., rinse, rinse then fill. Syrup never turns cloudy or gritty in the base of the feeder.
BBurns
Loc: South Bay, California
Glad you brought this up. Many people do damage with the best intentions.
Here where it is quite warm we wash the feeders almost every day.
NEVER use any premix with any kind of colored dye in it.
fourlocks wrote:
I've long used the "cup of water to quarter cup of white sugar" mixture in my feeders; I've also been told not to use store bought syrup. I wash out my feeder at every filling, usually 4 or 5 days. In this heat I notice the mixture turns a little cloudy so I change it more often. I have no idea what the chemical reaction is, that's causing the cloudiness but I figure it's not good for the birds.
I've always used a 3:1 mixture using spring water and white sugar
not tap water.
They seem to love this mixture.
Captain Al
rpatuto
Loc: Falmouth, Massachusetts
Only wash feeders with hot water NO SOAP. If needed a tiny bit of white vinegar for very dirty feeders and rinse well
fourlocks wrote:
I've long used the "cup of water to quarter cup of white sugar" mixture in my feeders; I've also been told not to use store bought syrup. I wash out my feeder at every filling, usually 4 or 5 days. In this heat I notice the mixture turns a little cloudy so I change it more often. I have no idea what the chemical reaction is, that's causing the cloudiness but I figure it's not good for the birds.
I quit using the red bottle liquid when I read the refrigerate after opening label. Sugar and water are the best.
letmedance wrote:
I quit using the red bottle liquid when I read the refrigerate after opening label. Sugar and water are the best.
A friend came to visit a couple of years ago, and he walked into the room drinking a red liquid. "What's that?" I asked. "I got it out of that bottle in the fridge."
If you want to reply, then
register here. Registration is free and your account is created instantly, so you can post right away.