humming bird food, changing color???? why???

Question

my husband loves humming birds.
he has a clear feeder with flower looking holes for the birds to get the nectar mix(looks like koolaide), the brand he gets is called:perky pet instant nectar, 6 pk box.each makes one quart.
well he hangs his feeder up with the bright red nectar but after 2 or 3 days it turns clear!!!!!
the birds are not near as attracted to it.
why is this?
its hanging on our porch (edge) but some sun can hit the container.
why is the color changing? has this happend to you?
is it just the color they love ?
any better ideas to keep his bird friends around?
he would spend alot if he changes it every couple of days.
thanks!!! candy cane.

Answer 1

I use exactly the same feeder. All I do is put sugar water in mine. The hummers come every day. Now here is a clue. Do not mix up more than 1/2 cup at a time and do not allow it to sit in the feeder for more than 7 days. You want it to remain fresh. It may very well be that the reason the hummers avoid it after it turns clear is because it is no longer good.

Answer 2

I feed hummingbirds. I use the same nectar product in full sun changed every three days. Mine does not change color. Hummingbirds are attracted to the red color. Do you have a lot of chlorine in your water? That may account for it. If not, you will have to change the nectar as soon as the color fades if you want the humingbirds to keep coming to the feeder. Buy the kind you mix with water yourself - not the liquid you have to add sugar to, it's a pain because it had to be boiled.
Mix four cups of water instead of 6 to an 8 OZ package so they don't have to feed so often. Make sure the feeder is kept clean and free of mold. That will kill hummingbirds as fast as syrup that has turned bad do to the sun. Wash the feeder with very hot water and an old toothbrush to keep it clean.

Answer 3

Its stale. Funny story I use the same thing....same feeder and all. I noticed that birds dont visit at all while it is clear so I would change every day or two. What you can do is use less of the nectar so the birds have to drink more but the scent isnt as strong. The more you use..the less the birds will drink so if you live in an area where they don't come out of hiding much...have a day with strong scent then use less and less

Answer 4

You do not need to spend a lot of money, make your own food. 4 C water 1 C sugar. Boil the water add sugar until it disolves. Keep the what you dont use in the refrigerator and change the feeder 2-3 times a week. You really do not have to make it red! I read somewhere that the red dye isnt good for their reproductive system, dont know if it is true but I dont use the red anymore and they still come around plenty.

Answer 5

I suggest that you buy a red feeder. It's better because you won't be exposing the hummingbirds to artificial ingredients. Instead, use 1/4 cup of sugar for every cup of pure water in a red colored feeder. This will make your birds healthier. It's also cheaper than buying the mix. I think you'll both be very happy with the results.

Answer 6

My elder brother lives in Castroville U.S.A. and he hangs the feeders up for the tint humming birds but all he mixes is just ordinary sugar and water which is totally transparent. Its not long that the birds are there feeding on the mixture. So I don t think colour has anything to do with it. Every time I visit from the UK I sit there for hours observing the birds like tiny darts. Save yourself the cost of colour and mix the same as my brother the birds still find it with no problem

Answer 7

You don't have to spend a lot. You're on the net. Do some research. It's not the color at all. In fact, don't buy that crap. It's just sugar water anyway. The color is not all that great for the birds, either. Look it up. There's lots of stuff at your fingertips. Don't ask the morons on here. But he does need to change it every few days... three or four, tops.

Answer 8

You can make your own Hummingbird food. I do. 1 cup of sugar to 4/5 cups of water. bring to boil(just). Clean feeder and put 3 drops of red food coloring, in top of feeder and add cooled sugar water. Hummingbird food goes bad in 3 days in the sun anyway. Have fun!

Answer 9

Make your own nectar. One cup of sugar, to four cups of water
Heat until the sugar melts, cool it down. Put in the feeder.
Do NOT put Red food coloring in it. Its not good for the birds.
They will find the nectar fast. You won't be able to make it fast enough. My hummer's love it...they are so tame, while I'm filling
the jar with nectar, they are landing on my head, and arms.
Just fill them when they are empty. (probably the next day)
Good luck and have fun....

Answer 10

I have the same feeder as your hubby and I have one that is red in color. my humming birds love the clear one because...I boil the water, its 1 cup water and 1/4 cup sugar, then let it get alittle cool b4 you put it in the feeder and then put in a few drops of red dye. the humming birds here hate the store bought feed, they love the 1 cup water and 1/4 cup sugar boiled better, mayyyy better. hope it works for you.