Is a homemade mixture of table sugar and water safe for hummingbirds?
You can leave an optional "tip" with Mahalo's virtual currency, Mahalo Dollars. If you are asking a difficult question that might require some research, or if you'd like a wide variety of feedback, a higher tip often leads to more answers to your question.
M$8 Answers
A related example would be giving bread to ducks and seagulls. They'll eat as much as you can give them, but it's not healthy for them and causes long-term health problems.
Is this really something you want to do? Nectar has nutrients that sugar water does not. You could be causing long term negative effects to the local birds you love so much, just so you can have something pretty to look at.
You can leave an optional "tip" with Mahalo's virtual currency, Mahalo Dollars. If you are asking a difficult question that might require some research, or if you'd like a wide variety of feedback, a higher tip often leads to more answers to your question.
M$
Try a mixture of 1 part sugar for 4 parts of water.
Boil the mixture so that it can become supersaturated.
Let it cool then serve and the hummingbirds should be flocking to you in no time!
You can leave an optional "tip" with Mahalo's virtual currency, Mahalo Dollars. If you are asking a difficult question that might require some research, or if you'd like a wide variety of feedback, a higher tip often leads to more answers to your question.
M$
You can find out more here on bird feeders in general:
The Scoop on Wild Birds and Feeders
Here is the recipe from the link above:
__quote__
Hummingbird Nectar Recipe
Use 1 part sugar to 4 parts water mixture. (example: 1cup white sugar + 4 cups water)
1. Boil the water. Measure after.
2. Add the sugar while hot and stir until all the granules are dissolved.
3. Allow mixture to cool to room temperature before filling clean feeders.
4. Refrigerate any leftover solution.
Boiling will kill any bacteria or mold spores which may be present. It will also reduce any chlorine or fluorine that is in the water.
Measuring the water after boiling prevents the amount of water used from being reduced by boiling and therefore making the solution too strong.
__quote__
You can leave an optional "tip" with Mahalo's virtual currency, Mahalo Dollars. If you are asking a difficult question that might require some research, or if you'd like a wide variety of feedback, a higher tip often leads to more answers to your question.
M$I am an animal rescue director with 4 years of experience as a veterinary technician working with exotic pets, including birds.
You can leave an optional "tip" with Mahalo's virtual currency, Mahalo Dollars. If you are asking a difficult question that might require some research, or if you'd like a wide variety of feedback, a higher tip often leads to more answers to your question.
M$You can leave an optional "tip" with Mahalo's virtual currency, Mahalo Dollars. If you are asking a difficult question that might require some research, or if you'd like a wide variety of feedback, a higher tip often leads to more answers to your question.
M$
You can leave an optional "tip" with Mahalo's virtual currency, Mahalo Dollars. If you are asking a difficult question that might require some research, or if you'd like a wide variety of feedback, a higher tip often leads to more answers to your question.
M$
You can leave an optional "tip" with Mahalo's virtual currency, Mahalo Dollars. If you are asking a difficult question that might require some research, or if you'd like a wide variety of feedback, a higher tip often leads to more answers to your question.
M$
Usually microwave 4 cups of water in a big glass mixing bowl and then just stir in the sugar. Stick it in the fridge for a couple hours to cool down and then dump it into the feeders.
The hummingbirds love it.
You can leave an optional "tip" with Mahalo's virtual currency, Mahalo Dollars. If you are asking a difficult question that might require some research, or if you'd like a wide variety of feedback, a higher tip often leads to more answers to your question.
M$
Actually, official hummingbird banders and experts recommend plain sugar water over commercial nectars. Hummingbirds get their nutrients from small insects and the sugar water gives them the energy they need to search out those small insects. The sugar water also helps them add and store the proper fat they need to make it back south each winter.