Hummingbird feeder mixture?

[Gus Orviston]

change it at least weekly in the summer, i do it twice a week. Make a quart and put it in the fridge, that way you have it on hand and makes it easier to keep it fresh.

gus

[Spoiled Daddy]

We have a feeder out this year that is mixed in with our fushias. Do the hummingbirds breed and nest in this area? We have one little male who is very aggressive when we go out the front door. He likes to buzz us a couple of times before moving off. My question is, is he protecting a nest somewhere close or do I need to move the feeder away from the side of the house and get it further away from the front door?

My girls love to watch them in the feeder, so the place it is in is perfect for observations. I just don't want to cause them undue stress that may hurt the nesting procedure if that is what is causing him to act this way.

SD

[Cool Texan]

A swift tennis racket will fix that problem. :grin:

[24 on/ 48 off]

Change it? Heck, I can't even keep up with it. I just filled mine (again) today. I last filled it Thursday!

--spud-- :smile:

[Spoiled Daddy]

Cool Texan,

I am old and fat. The chances of me actually hitting one with a tennis racket are slim to none. If my girls caught me doing that, the only thing getting hit around my house would be me...

:grin: :grin:

SD

[Gus Orviston]

good problem to have! I had up to 12 different hummers two years ago and they could suck down the juice, about a pint in 2-3 days.

Both Annas, and Rufus nest in the valley and will buzz you, but I don't think they are being protective. I have had several nests around and hadn't seen that behavior yet.

Annas are capable of wintering over, so you can keep feeding them even in the winter, however, their heart drops so low they become extremely lathargic.

gus

[Fish'nDude]

Spud,
I found the 4:1 mixture of water to sugar to work great as well. (Never use honey). A couple/three drops initially of red dye will get there attention to the mixture, then after they know where the food is, it is not necessary. The larger glass feeders seem to keep the mixture longer than the plastic ones and clean easier. Keeping them clean is very important for their health. If you can put them in shade, the mixture last longer too. As soon as you notice the mixture getting cloudy, it’s past time to change it. I only fill them about half full. For a couple of years I had a Rubythroat male come around that learned how to tap on my window when the food ran out when I was a little slow to refill!

The males will defend the feeder from other especially this time of year. If you want more birds around, place additional feeders some distance from the first. The males will eventually exhaust themselves from trying to defend all the feeders at once. You will then notice additional visitors. They are such fascinating and beautiful little critters.

It’s also important not to leave your feeders out after mid September, it moves then on their migratory way. If you keep feeding them, it will stress them or kill them when they try to survive a cold winter. I put the feeders out about mid march.

Hope this helps.

Lashback.

PS I have an extra large feeder for you the next time you come over.

[Jennie@ifish]

Red food coloring can harm the hummingbirds eggs, and is not good for them at all, I've heard.

Mine buzz me all the time. It's cute. :smile:

They are agressive little birds. They look so sweet, but they are mean! :smile:

Funny thing, though, they fight with one another all day, but as evening draws near, they all mellow out and sit very nicely all together on the feeder for dinner.

I mix mine 4 to 1, sometimes a bit stronger, when I'm feeling generous. I change mine at least twice a week, and also scrub out the mold from the little feeders. I use a q tip.

A good way to clean the mold out of the feeders is to put some sand in the bottle, and fill it with water. Shake vigorously.

Scrubs it right out.

The mold is not at all good for them, and you should try and keep it to a minimum, if not totally mold free.

I also made a cleaner with a toothbrush on a wire extension. That works well for the small necked bottles.

We have 5 feeders going all summer till late July. I love the little guys.







These are some of my babies. :smile:

[Gus Orviston]

I haven't had a need to color the water either, they do just fine.

Hummers are definitely territorial, and don't like other hummers coming to their feeder. I had 3 feeders out and my numbers came when the babies hatched. Also the Annas seemed to tolerate the Rufus and like wise to a point. Otherwise they would run each other off. Good tip is to make sure if you have multiple feeders that they are not within eye sight of each other.

GREAT PHOTOS JEN!

Yep, pull the feeders in the fall, and I usually run the mixture a bit light on sugar.

gus

[ 05-12-2003, 06:12 PM: Message edited by: Gus Orviston ]

[Miss B Haven]

I thought you weren't supposed to use regular sugar cause they can't get whatever they need (the suger in nectar) from it and will starve to death on it? :whazzup:

[STGRule]

Miss B: You're not supposed to use a sugar substitute. Some people use that because it doesn't mold up like the sugar mixture. The problem is the birds can't metabolize it into energy and starve to death. You have to use real sugar.

[24 on/ 48 off]

Does anyone know the proper water/sugar mixture for hummingbird feeders? Mine holds about a cup.

--spud-- :smile:

[BlindSquirrel]

Hey 24/48,

About 4 parts water, 1 part sugar -- bring to a rolling boil, cover, cool, serve...

Some people use a little stronger solution in winter/early spring.

Good luck and ,
Blind Squirrel

[RogueFishr]

I am going to start putting lemon in mine to slow the hummers down. We have a quart feeder and a pint feeder and I refill both of them every 24 hours. This weekend there was 7 buzzing around the one feeder, and 9 more sitting in the chain link fence waiting their turn to fight for the feeder. It was like the fishing the boil hole for salmon :grin:

RF

[ 05-13-2003, 11:20 AM: Message edited by: RogueFishr ]

[StinkyH]

/bump

We put up a hummingbird feeder on Saturday and today we've had visitors throughout the day! Until today, my wife didn't believe that we've had the occasional hummingbird for the last five years at this house. Hah! Vindicated! ...I'm not crazy.

Backyard Birdshop guy told us that if we put one up, they'd come. Field of Dreams kinda thing.

We have this feeder right outside our kitchen window. Think I will buy one to hang outside my office window as well.

We've been able to somewhat ID Anna's and Rufus hummingbirds. Good info in this thread!

[Thumper]

We use between 2:1 and 3:1. That was after doing a little internet homework. More sugar is apparently a little better for them, and during the winter it is a little less likely to freeze.

We feed them all year.

I wonder if they get cavities???

[SilverBullets]

I read a post once by a fella that was out of corn scent and dye for kokanee fishing, so he used hummingbird necter....he reported that it worked great! Turned the corn red, and sweet.

[Yamhillbilly]

I boil two cups filtered water, add 1/2 cup sugar, stir until it boils again then cool. Can't keep the little buggers out of it. We always put up our feeder on St. Patrick's day, seems to be when we see them. Had to rescue a baby hummer yesterday he lost balance and was hanging upside down from the perch with his tail pinched between the perch and the feeder. Once uprighted he was ready to go.

[Dave G]

Two cups water, 1/2 cup sugar, stir well put in feeded. Works every time.

[fineline]

Big bright new feeder put up 3 weeks ago. Added another small one a week ago. Using red nectar and you would have to be color blind not to see them and yet still nothing. Where can I get a neon sign

[Pete]

Try just plain nectar ... the dye is controversial. Many authorities, including Audubon, suggest just a 4:1 sugar water mixture without dye. Make sure the feeder is high enough to keep predators away. Keep the stand ant-free by spreading a little vasaline on it. Red flowers on the feeder will attract best. If you start getting Anna's hummies, keep feeding. If they seem to be coming into the fall, you may have some birds that stay the winter and will rely on your feeder - don't let them down.

[StinkyH]

We've seen a Rufous at our feeder as well though no pics yet. Overcast outside so the pics are dark today. Looking forward to getting some shots when it's sunny out.