How to Make Hummingbird Food : HGTV Gardens

Hummingbird lovers are undoubtedly familiar with the bright-red liquid food that typically fills the small birds’ feeders. But did you know you can make hummingbird food yourself? This super-simple cost-effective recipe will keep your backyard friends happily humming, and you can skip the trip to the store:

You’ll Need:

1 cup regular white cane sugar
4 cups water
Food coloring (optional)

Instructions:

Heat water to a boil
Turn off heat, add sugar
Stir until sugar is dissolved completely (liquid should be clear)

At this point, you have the option to add a few drops of red food coloring for a traditional-looking hummingbird cocktail. The jury is out on whether this is a good idea: some sources say that the food coloring is bad for birds, while other hummingbird enthusiasts have noted that birds will not approach their feeder unless the liquid is red. I would suggest trying the clear solution first to see how the birds like it.

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When the solution is done, let it cool, then fill your clean bird feeder! Store leftover solution in the refrigerator until it’s ready to use. The nectar will go bad fairly quickly, and be sure to clean out and refill your feeder every 3-5 days (possibly more often in very hot weather) so that bacteria doesn’t build up in the sugary solution.

It’s really as easy as that! Now get out there and enjoy watching your winged friends eat.

Also See: Hummingbird 101

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7 Comments About this Article

Donna Cohen
Humming birds do not prefer red food coloring. Would you want it in your glass of water? We feed literally 100's of birds a day, run three 6 feeder units right next to each other, using about a gallon of water a day. Do use reverse osmosis or filtered water, or boil it and let it cool first. We've actually used commercial nectar and they wouldn't drink it, we've also used red coloring, they drank is slowly and visited our neighbors more. When using no color they put on a show all day long, some times sharing with two birds to each little flower port.
Posted 1 month ago

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Beth Lounsbury
I have done the same thing.....commercial mixes don't attract birds, but the home made clear formula keep them coming all day!
Posted 1 month ago

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Bill Oliver
Home made humming bird "food" does appear to attract. However, one such gardener used a similar recipe, and, began finding dead humming birds around the yard. It was a mystery! After some research this gardener found that her recipe was nutritional-less!. As, nectar contains nutrients that keep the birds a-flappin. A commercial nutritional-ized certified humming bird formula was found... and, no more dead birds.
Posted 3 weeks ago

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Patti Ronk
I have been making this easy 1:4 ratio simple syrup for a long time with great success. My feeders have red colored feed ports so I never put coloring in the syrup. I would have to wonder what difference flower nectar provides as the birds also eat insects and flower nectar during the season. My biggest worry is always keeping the feeders and food disease free for my little friends!
Posted 3 weeks ago

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Susan Quellette-glick
i have used both, storebought, or homemade. Seems to me, the hummingbirds like homemade as opposed to storebought. they dont appear to like the red coloring any more than the clear,, and i figure its probably better for them to not have the coloring. they will be happy and healhty birds w me till october.
Posted 3 weeks ago

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beverly dehn
I have put out Humminbird feeders every couple of years w/commercial or homemade and I have never gotten any birds to come into my yard. I even have some plants that are suppose to attract the Hummingbirds. My cousin who is 30 miles to the west of me gets them all day long. Do they just like certain area's? I get all the other birds like Cardinals, Robins, Sparrows, etc.
Posted 3 weeks ago

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HGTVPaul
Good article and nice comments from our HGTVGardens members. I'm going to give it a try. I have just the right spot for a feeder.
Posted 6 days ago

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