Home >> Hobbies >> Birding

How to Make Hummingbird Food with Sugar

Hummingbirds are among the world's smallest and most beautiful birds. They get the energy they need to maintain their metabolism through nectar from flowers and sugar water from bird feeders. Many homeowners and gardeners hang bird feeders in their yard to attract hummingbirds to help pollinate their flowers and plants. There are many commercial hummingbird foods you can buy, but you can make your own food with sugar and water.

Things You'll Need

Sugar
Saucepan
Mild detergent
Toothbrush

Instructions

- 1
  Bring one part sugar and four parts water to a boil in a medium saucepan. Stir the mixture well to ensure the sugar dissolves.
- 2
  Boil the sugar water mixture for two minutes and remove from heat. Boiling the mixture will kill any mold spores present.
- 3
  Cover the sugar water solution and allow it to cool completely. Pour the sugar water into the bird feeder and hang it back in your yard.
- 4
  Check on the hummingbird feeder daily to make sure the sugar has not fermented. If you see signs of fermentation, immediately replace it because the hummingbirds will not eat it.

Birding