Nectar Solution:
4 parts water to 1 part sugar
(no sugar substitutes or honey)

Mix with warm or hot water stir to dissolve sugar.
(You may also boil the solution.) Let cool. You can keep unused nectar in the refrigerator. Do not add red dye.
It is unnecessary and there are studies that indicate it is harmful to hummingbirds.

It is a good idea to change the nectar every 2-3 days in the summertime even if the hummingbirds haven’t consumed all the nectar. Nectar can spoil quickly in the heat. Be sure to change the nectar any time that it looks cloudy or if ants or other insects have gotten into it. An ant moat filled with water will keep ants out of your feeder.

Keep hummingbird feeders clean. Sugar water creates mold, so even rinsing your feeders each time you fill them will not be enough to make sure they are really clean.

We recommend getting special hummingbird brushes to use in cleaning out the little holes of the feeding ports. If you get stubborn areas that won’t clean with scrubbing you can soak the feeder in a very mild solution of bleach and water. Be sure to rinse thoroughly before refilling the feeder with nectar.

To see our great selection of hummingbird feeders click here.

To download a copy of this tip sheet, click here.