2006-07-19 12:33:18 · 6 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pets ➔ Birds
Mix 1 part sugar to 4 parts water. If you boil this mixture for 5 minutes and then let it cool, it will be sterilized and any extra will keep a week or so in the fridge. In very hot weather, change it every 3 days or it will ferment and give your hummers cirrhosis of the liver. (It doesn't take much alcohol to destroy a tiny liver like that!) Also, wash it in bleach water occasionally to kill any black mold that might develope. (Be sure to rinse it well afterwards.) And there's no need to add red food coloring -- some studies say it might even harm the birds. As long as your feeder has some red on it, the birds will find it. In fact, if it's not up there when the birds return next spring, they will still buzz the spot looking for it (which tells you that the same birds DO come back every year.) If you read somewhere that hummers can't live on sugar water alonem that's true in captivity -- but wild ones visit flowers and also eat tiny bugs such as fruit flies, so they get a balanced diet. No need to buy expensive "complete formula" food. Also, never use honey -- it causes some sort of fungus to grow in the bird's tongue. (Yes, I know they eat nectar, but honey is "processed" in a bee's stomach and that changes it somehow.)
2006-07-19 13:31:56 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Mix 4 cups water to 1 cup sugar, you can use plain old tap water, its actually better for the hummers.... and you don't have to boil it. Don't use red food coloring. You have to replace the liquid every other day or the bird's will stop drinking and move elsewhere. I have about 20 Ruby Throats drinking from five feeders. I should have lots of new babies soon. :-)
If you use someone's recipe your birds will become diabetic! Always mix it 4:1 water to sugar.
2006-07-19 19:39:04 · answer #2 · answered by eggman 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Mix sugar and water in a 1:4 ration: 1 cup sugar and 4 cups water. It's best if you boil the water and let it cool to sterilize it. Also don't add food coloring - it's not needed and may be harmful. Enjoy the hummers!
2006-07-19 19:39:10 · answer #3 · answered by Anne Teak 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Ya, sugar and water but I put red food coloring in it
2006-07-19 19:37:32 · answer #4 · answered by linnygirl06 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
2 cups sugar to 1 cup water heat and stir until sugar is melted cool and put in feeder
if you want it to be red put in red food color
2006-07-19 19:37:14 · answer #5 · answered by someone 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
sugar and water...
~The Infamous Kelso...~
2006-07-19 19:36:59 · answer #6 · answered by Kelso... 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋