What is the appropriate mixture of sugar and water for a hummingbird feeder?
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It's a 4:1 ratio. 4 parts water to 1 part sugar. Mix only what you need and change the solution weekly even if there's some left in the feeder. Make sure you wash the feeders thoroughly as there is a form of mold that will grow in the sugar water that can be fatal to hummers. Proper sanitation requires a short soak in a dilute bleach solution, scrubbing the feeder with a bottle brush, rinsing in hot water to remove all chlorine, and then refilling. You don't have to color the water red as it makes no difference to them. They are attracted to red but the feeder is more than enough to attract them. Always use regular table sugar and not honey, syrups of any kind, or raw sugar as these products contain compounds that are unpalatable to the little ones.
I have so many hummers around my yard that they get very brave. Many times when taking the feeders back out they will hover around me and start feeding with me still holding on to the feeder. Males will get aggressive and chase other males from the feeder in attempts to protect it. The females are more docile and I've had them land on me while dealing with the feeders.
If you have more than one feeder on your property make sure they are far enough apart that the "guarding" males won't feel like they have to compete over all the feed. Usually putting them on opposite sides of the house is fine.
I would buy the profesionally pre-mixed kind instead. They know what they're doing.
1/4 cup sugar for ever cup of water. Experts believe that it closely approximates the sweetness and consistency of the nectar naturally found in flowers.
4 parts water, 1 part sugar. I have two feeders and mix it up with one cup sugar and 4 cups of water. I do add a couple drops of food coloring which many say not to. My birds don't seem to have a problem with it and I have been feeding for 3 years.
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