We love watching the hummingbirds fly around and chase each other in the summertime. They enjoy the flowers on the porch as well as our hummingbird feeder. “How do I make hummingbird food at home?”, may be a question you have asked yourself. You are in the right place to learn about how quick and easy it is to make your own hummingbird food right at home.
Jump to RecipeThey are really fun to watch. When you get more than one they can be really entertaining. They can even be somewhat aggressive as they are battling over who gets to eat. I remember watching them at my grandparent’s house when I was growing up. My mom had a feeder at our own home too. She would let me help her make the food for it. Back then, they thought that you needed to add food coloring to it, but now we know that you don’t need to.
The feeder that I have right now is really beautiful! My brother got it for our family for Christmas several years back from a local farm store. The color of the glass and the wire design on the outside make it stand out. It is easy to take apart and the hummingbirds love it. Hummingbirds are attracted to bright colors and I think this feeder makes for a great attractant.
Why do the hummingbirds like this food?
They love the nectar from flowers and visit flowers frequently throughout the day. This food is sweet and gives them energy for all of the flying they do. Those cuties never stop. They can eat up to twice their weight every day, so they are looking for food. They will visit flowers up to 1,000-2,000 times per day.
Why you will love this recipe for hummingbird food at home
It is quick and easy to make. You most likely already have the ingredients on hand and it is cheap to make. It attracts the hummingbirds so that you can enjoy watching them throughout the summer.
What do I do with the extra?
You can store it in the refrigerator if you happen to have any left. You don’t have to keep it at all if you don’t want to.
Can you double the recipe?
You can cut the recipe in half and even double it. This recipe is just the right amount for my feeder. If you cut it in half, you would need ¼ cup of sugar and 1 cup of water. To double it, use 1 cup of sugar and 4 cups of water.
Ingredients
½ cup granulated sugar
2 cups of water
Tools You May Need
Saucepan
Whisk
Hummingbird feeder
Measuring cups
How to Make Hummingbird Food
Get out a medium saucepan.
Pour ½ cup sugar into the saucepan.
Pour in 2 cups of water.
Turn the heat onto medium.
Stir the mixture occasionally.
Keep it on the heat for 5-10 minutes until the sugar is dissolved. It does not have to come to a boil.
Take it off of the heat and let it cool for 20-30 minutes.
Take the end off of your feeder and pour in the food. Do this over the sink or out in the yard so you don’t have a mess on your hands. You can use a funnel if you need to.
Hang up the feeder in a place where you can see it regularly.
Enjoy watching these amazing creatures fly around and eat.
How long will it take for hummingbirds to find it?
Mine has been empty for around ten months and it only took the hummingbirds about 20 minutes to find it once I filled it with food and hung it back up. It won’t take them long.
Tips
Make sure the food has cooled before you pour it into the feeder.
Pour the food into your feeder over the sink or outside to avoid making a mess.
Interesting Facts about Hummingbirds
Did you know that they are the tiniest birds in the world? The whole world! They can eat twice their weight in food every day. Hummingbirds have no sense of smell and find their food by being attracted to the bright colors. They are so fast. They can fly up to 25-30 miles per hour. Pretty amazing creatures that our Creator has made!
More Summer Outdoor Activities
Getting Blackberries Ready for a New Season
How to Make Hummingbird Food at Home
Equipment
- hummingbird feeder
- medium saucepan
- whisk
Materials
- ½ cup sugar
- 2 cups water
Instructions
- Get out a medium saucepan.
- Pour ½ cup sugar into the saucepan.
- Pour in 2 cups of water.
- Turn the heat to medium.
- Stir the mixture occasionally.
- Keep it on the heat for 5-10 minutes until the sugar is dissolved. It does NOT have to come to a boil.
- Take it off of the heat and let it cool for 20-30 minutes.
- Take the end off of your feeder and pour in the food. Do this over the sink or out in the yard so you don’t have a mess on your hands. You can use a funnel if you need to.
- Hang up the feeder in a place where you can see it regularly.
- Enjoy watching these amazing creatures fly around and eat.
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