How to Make Hummingbird Food Safely and Responsibly

Key Takeaways

To make hummingbird food, mix one part refined white sugar with four parts water. Boil and cool the solution before filling the feeder.

Clean the feeder every three to five days with a nontoxic cleaner like weak vinegar to prevent harmful bacteria and fungi growth.

Avoid using red food coloring, honey, brown sugar or artificial sweeteners, as they can harm the birds.

A hummingbird feeder can be a thrilling addition to any summertime yard. Hummingbirds, those vibrant, acrobatic little fliers , evolved to eat a lot of natural nectar from flowers to fuel their insanely high metabolism. Flowers should provide their primary food source, but you can supplement their caloric needs by feeding hummingbirds with a well-placed sugar water feeder.

Here's how to keep a hummingbir