Can you use store bought nectar to attract hummingbirds in any state, say, Ohio?

Question

If you live in the midwest, can you attract hummingbirds to your front porch in any neighborhood? I live in the city, but there are a lot of trees. I saw this cool red nectar in a department store, do I have to live in a certain neighborhood to get these unique birds to my porch? How will they know to show up? Can they smell it from miles away like sharks to human blood? Can they get signals from other birds. Has anyone ever attracted hummingbirds to their porch, and what state do you live in?

Answer 1

The hummingbirds are attracted to the area by the flowers there, not the hummingbird feeders. If you live in the city, I doubt if you can get them around a feeder. If you have any flowers around, just mix sugar 1part to 4 parts of water and heat to almost boiling to keep it from spoiling, let cool and put in a feeder and hang out of direct sunlight around some trees or flowers, they will find it. the storebought nectar doesn't do anything except cost a lot., I live in NE Texas on a lake.....Nuf Said

Answer 2

The red nectar that they sell in the stores is actually bad for the Hummingbirds. You can make your own nectar from home.
1 part Sugar
4 parts Water
Boil water then add the sugar and stir until it is dissolved. Let cool and add to feeder.
Be sure to clean and replace the nectar every other day.
If the feeder is left unattended a black mold will grow within the feeder. This black mold will kill the Hummingbird who ingests it.
Try to stay away from the fancy feeders and get ones that are easy to clean (all nooks and crannies).
Birds have an extremely poor sense of smell the Hummingbirds are attracted to the color red (which most feeders have red flowers attached to them).

Answer 3

Even though you live in the city, you may be able to attract hummingbirds. In Ohio during breeding season there is only once species, Ruby-throated Hummingbird. They should be arriving shortly. Baskets of flowers will help attract them. There are certain types that have more nectar in them, ask at your local plant nursery for suggestions.

As others said, don't bother with the store bought nectar. Its expensive and not healthy. Get a cool looking feeder and you don't have to worry about the red color in the nectar. By the way, hummingbirds do seem attracted to red in the United States, but in Ecuador there are more blue flowers and they will go for blue feeders there.

One thing I have found about Ruby-throats here is that they tend to come to feeders in town in spring, then during early summer when they are nesting, they disappear. They return in July after their chicks are raised. Good luck!

PS. If you get the right flowers you will get some wonderful butterflies, too!

Answer 4

Yes, I started putting out feeders (I lived in the suburds) and had 3 regular hummers that would come and fight over it. I suggest you make your own "nectar". 1 part sugar, 4 parts water. The stuff they sell in the stores is NOT good for them, the dye in it is harmful to the birds. You only need a feeder that is colored red to attract them, the nectar itself does NOT need to be red. Try putting it out and you may have some hummers. It may take them a little while to find it so don't give up...if you have some trees nearby they may be around. Just remember to change the solution often (at least once a week) The hotter the weather the more often you will have to change it and scrub out the feeder. Good luck and happy birding.

Answer 5

Homemade nectar is the best for the hummers. The store bought stuff is actually bad for them, because the "red stuff" is a dye. As the guy above said, boil 1 cup water, add 1/4 cup sugar, stir till it dissolves, let cool and the hummers will flock to your feeders. Put out a couple of feeders, be sure to change the nectar out at least once a week. There are alot of flowers that hummingbirds are attracted to also. Even if you just put them in pots. Contact your nearest Garden Center, and get their recommendations for your area. I'm in Ohio, and we onlly have one species of hummer, but I imagine you probably have more, and probably would get migrating species thru as well. Good luck with attracting them!

Answer 6

Sure you can use the store bought nectar, but why not make your own, it's cheaper! And yes, hummingbirds are attracted to flowers, but it is because of their color and sweet nectar. They will probably eventually detect the nectar in your feeder.

I use a mixture of 1 part sugar to 3-4 parts water. Bring this mixture to a boil, then let it cool. This prevents fermentation of the sugar. An important step is to add Red food coloring to the mixture after it cools. Add enuf to make your nectar a bright red. The color is another thing that attracts the birds!

It may take awhile for them to find your feeder, but once the find it, they will be back to feed again. Be sure not to let it run dry if the birds do begin showing up to feed.

Also, living in the midwest, where winters are cold, be sure to either take your feeders down or leave them empty during winter, as the birds migrate to tropical climates in winter. Leaving out a nectar source in winter could delay their migration and cause their demise, as they may be reluctant to leave the food source and die in the harsh winter.

Answer 7

1 cup of boiling water 1/4 cup of sugar (white table sugar) The basic recipe is four parts water to one part sugar. You may find that the sugar crystals dissolve best in boiling water. Remember to allow the water to cool sufficiently before hanging the feeder outside. Any left over sugar water can be stored in the refrigerator for several days. Nectar should be replaced a minimum of once a week and more often in the summer. If possible, its best to locate the feeder in the shade. Always clean your hummingbird feeder with mild detergent and rinse thoroughly each time you replace the nectar Check to make sure the feeding ports are clean and free of mold.

Answer 8

I've lived in Wisconsin my entire life (24 years) and that entire time, Ive never seen a hummingbird. Well my grandma bought a hummingbird feeder, and some store bought food for my mother, and my mother put it in her yard. I pulled in the driveway one day and sure enough, there was a hummingbird feeding on the nectar. He flew away as soon as he saw me but I was so amazed because I didn't even think we had them here. I say go for it. Buy some, set up a feeder in a nice quiet place in your yard..somewhere that you can see from inside because if you go outside to see them you'll scare them away....and wait and see what happens. Who knows, maybe you'll get lucky.

Answer 9

I live in the heart of LOS ANGELES and I have had great luck for years with a mix of 1part sugar, to 2 parts boiled water, and 6 drops red or orange food coloring in a humingbird feeder.

Answer 10

yep they love the red stuff and you should be able to attract humming birds with it. Worked for me...from the deep south
Katrina region. They go by sight and are attracted by color...thats why hummmind bird feeders are mostly red in color. Good Luck.