Hummingbirds are so much fun to see flying around in your backyard. Now it is easier than ever to attract these beautiful birds with this homemade hummingbird food recipe.
Homemade Hummingbird Food
When I was young, few things made my mother more happy than looking out our kitchen window and seeing a hummingbird flying around. I think that she felt like there was something very special, almost magical about catching a glimpse of these birds flying by our window. It is almost like witnessing a unicorn or a fairy, except these beautiful creatures actually exist!
I have inherited that wonder from her and my heart starts to beat a little faster when I see hummingbirds as well. But, the reality is, hummingbirds are actually very easy to see as long as you know how to attract them.
This is as easy as learning how to make hummingbird food.
Hummingbird food is pretty simple, while hummingbirds get most of their nutrients from eating insects, they get all of their energy from eating the nectar of flowers. Those specially shaped beaks are perfect for extracting the sugary sweetness of a flower! So we just need to make our own DIY hummingbird food in order to attract them.
Hummingbird feeders are great things to have. You can buy fairly simple and inexpensive ones like this, or more fancy ones like this. You can also make your own feeder pretty easily. Check out my post about how to make your own DIY hummingbird feeder!
Feeders are wonderful for the birds because it can give them a steady source of food at times when the flowers aren’t blooming as much. This is good because, amazingly, hummingbirds eat half their weight each day in nectar. They are usually brightly colored to look like a flower to the bird to help attract them.
Now, you just need some food to put in the feeder.
How to Make Homemade Hummingbird Food
I don’t like to buy the pre-made hummingbird food in the store. It may contain additives or coloring that could be harmful to the birds. It is much simpler, easier, healthier and cheaper to just make my own with this hummingbird feeder recipe. This is a very quick, easy and simple process. It is just a sugar/water ratio of 1 to 4. 4 parts water to 1 part sugar.
This hummingbird feeder recipe has you bringing the water to a boil and then slowly adding the sugar. Stir until the sugar is dissolved and the water is clear. Let this hummingbird feeder mixture cool on the counter and then fill the feeder with it. You can store any of this unused DIY hummingbird food in an airtight container in the fridge.
Hummingbird Food Mixture
You can use just simple white sugar for your hummingbird sugar water ratio. Do not use organic (raw) sugar as this has iron in it which could be harmful to the hummingbirds. Also, do not use brown sugar, agave syrup, molasses or any artificial sweeteners. You should also avoid using honey as a sweetener in your hummingbird food recipe. Honey, when mixed with water, spoils rather quickly. So, just use plain old white sugar!
I hope you use this simple, easy homemade hummingbird food recipe to attract these wonderful and exotic creatures into your backyard!
Printable Hummingbird Food Recipe
Homemade Hummingbird Feeder Recipe
Ingredients
- 4 Cups Water
- 1 Cup White Sugar
Instructions
- Bring the water to a boil over high heat. Remove from burner.
- Slowly add the sugar and stir to dissolve.
- Let the mixture cool completely before adding it to your bird feeder.
- Store any unused mixture in an airtight container in the fridge.
Notes
Nutritional information is an estimate and provided to you as a courtesy. You should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe using your preferred nutrition calculator.
Sharing of this recipe is encouraged and appreciated. Copying of full recipe to any social media is prohibited.
Pin For Later
Share Your Thoughts