Hummingbird nectar

[Coors]

What is the best solution that you have come up with? The're back.

 

[Plainsman]

Re: Hummingbird nectar

We used a cup of water and 2 tbl spoons of sugar

 

[Drowned Rat]

Re: Hummingbird nectar

1:4 ratio is what I've always used.

 

[QC]

Re: Hummingbird nectar

Yeah 1:4 is the ratio I found as well and I recently searched quite a bit here and on Google as I just installed two feeders three weeks ago. BTW, we're pretty happy as we have about 15 of them working our home and had the first one in under an hour . . . Oh, the other thing I read everywhere is no coloring.

What's the deal with the intense need for boiling etc.? Are they that sensitive? The water I am using is RO, so I was thinking I could get away with only boiling a small portion to dissolve the sugar . . . Thoughts?

 

[JB]

Re: Hummingbird nectar

Most of my feeders hold a liter, which is very close to 2 cups.

I use a pyrex 2c. measuring cup. 1/2 cup sugar. Add 2 cups of boiling water and stir for about 30 seconds.

I add a drop or two of food coloring. Always have. The birds don't care, I do.

When nectar has cooled to near room temp I pour it into sterile feeder bottle.

I probably overdo it. Many of my friends use hot tap water and don't sterilize the bottles. They have noted no ill effects.

 

[bucky7680]

Re: Hummingbird nectar

1 to 4 ratio is correct. I have been told not to use food color, so I buy 1 can of comercial food and mix 2 tbls in to give it color. The color is for our benifit, the birds could care less. The mixture must be boiled to make sure all the sugar desolves. Unless you sterilize the feeder it dosen't matter if the nectar is sterilized.

What do we grown men find so facinating with those little things? I guess it's because pound for pound they are the most agressive creatures on this earth.