So you think you want to start feeding hummingbirds. Sure, they are fascinating & fun to watch, but you are about to hear the raw truth you need to know before you commit to feeding these delightful little creatures.
Warning #1 – The Commitment
There is no vacation
Once you begin feeding hummingbirds, they quickly depend on you for their food source. Because the nectar you feed them is plentiful they will produce more babies, who will also need to be fed.
If you go on vacation or plan to be away for more than a day or two, make nectar ahead, store it in gallon jugs in the refrigerator and have a neighbor come to refill the feeders.
Warning #2 – The Competition
Competition is Fierce
If your neighbor’s nectar is fresher or sweeter, your hummers will drop you like a hot potato.
My secret weapon is extra sugar. Most recipes call for 1/4 cup of sugar per 1 cup of water… I will reveal to you, only as my valued readers, my super secret nectar recipe.
Find it below all the warnings!
This recipe is guaranteed to make your feeders the local favorites.
Warning #3 – You will purchase more sugar than you ever imagined.
Prepare yourself… You will be judged and even get an occasional side eye as other shoppers look into your grocery cart to find 4 or 5 bags of sugar.
Just when you thought sugar was out of your life forever, you will be purchasing it every single time you shop.
Please do not use any type of sugar substitute. Just real white granulated sugar only!
Warning #4 – Sugar water attracts ants
Making nectar every day can get messy.
When it spills it is sticky and the ants love it as much as the hummingbirds.
Just try to be careful and not spill on your way out the kitchen door!
Warning #5 – It is one more daily chore
In mid-April you will begin to have a few hummers, by Mid May word has spread that you have the best nectar in town and you will be spending 15 minutes a day making and filling feeders with nectar.
It is time-consuming.
Added tidbit – Buy quality feeders
Purchase feeders that come apart for ease of cleaning. They are well worth the extra couple of bucks.
Pick one with tinted glass. They are attracted to bright colors – but do not add coloring to sugar water.
This video right here will melt your heart and make it worth your while!
You have to love a good feeding frenzy! This is the view out my kitchen window all summer and early fall.
My Super Secret Private Nectar recipe:
Boil 1 cup of water. Turn off heat.
Add 1/3 cup granulated sugar
Stir until completely dissolved
When completely cool pour into the feeder.
Making it the night before ensures it will be cool by morning and ready to fill the feeders.
Also clean, rinse and refresh the feeders every other day, dumping any leftover nectar down the drain.
They fly non stop for 24 hours traveling up to 600 miles and can lose 1/2 their body weight during this journey.
Arriving in April means they will endure some cold wet weather. This little one had just arrived and had no nest yet.
This guy really appreciated a good meal of nectar.
I encourage you to go to hummingbirds.net and click on Maps, it is a fun and useful website to see when and where hummingbirds are migrating.
If you have an outdoor cat,
please be sure your cat has the correct understanding of the term
“Bird Feeder”.
Special Thanks to My Favorite Hummingbird-er Friend
Maddy Wheeler
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All photos, thoughts, experiences, and opinions are my own.
Copyright © Lost Mule Lodge 2019 All Rights Reserved
This made me laugh and reminds me why I’m a horrible hummingbird feeder. The poor guys get worn out from disappointment at my forgetfulness. Lol. Thanks for the fun post.
Katie – I cannot imagine being the busy mom of 2 delightful little girls and all the activities in your daily life. It is indeed important to know the commitment involved with this daily chore. I miss your sweet face – we need to get together soon.
tp
You have me motivated! Thanks!
You are so welcome Kristy!
I hope you enjoy them as much as we do.
Thanks for reading and taking the time to leave a comment!
tp
Great tips! I put two out last year and it’s good to know that it’s time to put them out again. I hope to have even more this year.
It’s amazing how many you have and that the puppers can just walk right by them without a care. :))
Mary Kay – all your critters love you – including the hummers! I put my feeder out this week, with just 1 cup of nectar for the scout, but I haven’t seen him yet. When he comes – be ready! He will be hungry.
tp