Make Your Own Hummingbird Feeders

To make hummingbird feeders, you can purchase pre-made plastic flower stoppers to put in glass bottles.. The metal I used is from a coat hanger. Just cut and bend it with pliers to the desired shape. I read in several places that the hummingbirds will be territorial about their feeders and like a place to stand so added a perch. Time will tell if the hummingbirds actually use it or not.

Recipe for Hummingbird Nectar:

1.  Mix four parts sugar to one part water.
• 4 cups water 
• 1 cup white granulated sugar 
2. Bring the mixture to a boil and then remove from heat.
3. Cover and cool.
4. Pour in feeder or store in the refrigerator.

Note: Do NOT use red dyes or any additives. Use only the regular white granulated sugar. There is no need to boil for an extended period of time. It drives off chlorine in the water and kills any mold or yeast spores in the sugar so the nectar will last longer.



  
  When to Change the Nectar

The nectar needs to be changed EVERY 7 DAYS if the temperature is below 70º outside. The hotter it gets, you may need to change it every 2-3 days or daily. It is easiest to refill if you keep a storage bottle of nectar ready in the refrigerator. One option is to thoroughly clean a 2 liter soda bottle and store nectar in that (1).

Rinse the feeder with hot water each time you change the nectar. If you see mold or other growth inside the bottle, try using vinegar to rinse the inside. Soap residue is not good for the birds and can cause your feeder to drip more.

Fill the feeder completely full with nectar, insert the feeder tube, and quickly invert. The tube works on a vacuum principle so must be completely full for the vacuum to work.

Where to Hang the Feeder

Put the feeder in shade or part-shade and out of the wind. Sun and heat can encourage growth inside the bottle. Wind can slosh the feeder and cause more nectar to drip out.