when feeding hummingbirds, is it ok to use honey or brown sugar instead of white sugar to mix with the water.?

Answer 1

No, honey makes them sick as it grows bacteria and brown sugar does not have what they need. Stick to the white sugar mix or get a commerically prepared mix without the food color if you can.

Answer 2

No - use only granulated white sugar, not brown sugar, powdered (confectioner's) sugar, and especially not honey.

"When making hummingbird nectar, blend water and white table sugar in a 4 to 1 ratio (4 parts water to 1 part sugar). Add the sugar to boiling water. Bring the mixture to a boil again while stirring to dissolve the sugar, then let cool...
Don't use anything but white, granulated table sugar. No powdered or brown sugar, honey, molasses, red-food coloring, artificial sweeteners or nutrients should be used." http://www.cedar-works.com/newsite/feeder_care.html

Answer 3

Honey can contain botulin which can be fatal to the hummers. This is the same reason honey should not be given to human babies. Brown sugar has a little more minerals than refined white sugar which can settle out of solution clogging the feeder and making it harder to clean.

Answer 4

Brown sugar is the unrefined version of white sugar so, personally, I would think it is fine. Honey on the other hand is produced by bees from pollen so in my opinion it would be an unnatural food source for hummingbirds even if you dilute it with water.

Answer 5

i would use caution,,honey could possibly block there airways.