Feeding Hummingbirds

Feeding Hummingbirds – learn how to feed hummingbirds. What to feed, how to feed and more.

Watching little hummingbirds enjoy a meal is a thrilling and beautiful moment to capture. However, when you choose to care for these tiny birds in your region, there are a few tips that you should follow to keep them safe and healthy. Here we’ll explore the best feeders and nectar products, as well as some of the best practices when tending to these amazing creatures.

Top 5 hummingbird feeders

#1: Perky Pet 209B Glass Hummingbird Feeder

This feeder has the fantastic feature of a wide-mouth reservoir making it a snap to clean. The circular perch easily removes, so you can leave it up in the hot weather to give your hummers a break, and then take it down in colder weather to help them keep their body temperature warm. The red base will catch the attention of the hummers all over your region.

Check it out: http://www.hummingbirdsplus.org/PerkyPet209BFeeder

#2: More Birds Glory Hummingbird Feeder, 12-Ounce, Copper and Glass

If you want a beautiful hummingbird feeder at an affordable price, the More Birds Hummingbird Feeder is a fantastic choice! The brushed copper base and top gives the feeder a rustic look and the swirled glass gives it a touch of elegance. The lovely red flowers will catch the eyes of little hummers passing by. This easy to clean and refill feeder will make a great addition to your landscape.

Check it out: http://www.hummingbirdsplus.org/MoreBirdsGloryFeeder

#3: Best-1 32oz. Hummingbird Feeder

Best-1 makes feeding hummingbirds simple. Their base is interchangeable between multiple feeders and is simple to replace when needed. The 8 feeding portals for the hummers are wasp, bee and ant proof, so only the tiny birds will be the ones enjoying the nectar they need to survive.

Check it out: http://www.hummingbirdsplus.org/Best132ozFeeder

#4: First Nature 3055 32-ounce Hummingbird Feeder

The large mouth of the nectar vessel makes this feeder easy to clean and refill. The ten feeding portals are designed with a circular perch and bright red color, so once the hummingbirds spot the feeder, they can rest their wings while they dine. The large capacity of nectar that this feeder holds will make it easy to keep your hummingbird community full and thriving.

Check it out: http://www.hummingbirdsplus.org/FirstNature3055Feeder

#5: Aspects 407 Jewel Box Window Hummingbird Feeder

When you want to see your little hummers up close and personal, a window feeder is going to be a great option. The Aspects window hummingbird feeder holds 8 ounces of nectar and has an ant moat, 3 nectar feeding flowers and red coloring that will catch the attention of even the shyest hummers.

Check it out: http://www.hummingbirdsplus.org/AspectsWindowFeeder

Top 5 hummingbird food/nectar products

#1: Perky-Pet 224CL 2-Pound Bag of Instant Clear Hummingbird Nectar

This easy to digest formula is made completely with sucrose comes in a 2 pound bag, so you will have plenty formula ready to go. There is no dye added and the nectar is clear. All you have to do is mix with water and pour into your feeder. There is no need to boil or microwave the water, and that means no fuss and no mess.

Check it out: http://www.hummingbirdsplus.org/PerkyPetInstantClearNectar

#2: Hummers Galore®, Hummingbird Food, All Natural Hummingbird Nectar for Healthy Hummingbirds

You can purchase this nectar in units of 1, 3, or 6 jars. You can also decide how much nectar you want to serve at a time. The easy to pour, full container will make 64 ounces of hummingbird food. You’ll absolutely love watching your hummers leave the feeder with energy. Keep your hummingbird feeder full when you use this nectar because you’ll continue to see tiny visitors throughout the day.

Check it out: http://www.hummingbirdsplus.org/HummersGaloreAllNaturalNectar

#3: CentiMom Gourmet Hummingbird Food Kit

When you want a kit that has everything you need to clean, store and feed your little hummers, then look no further than this hummingbird food kit. Boasting 6 pounds of feed, a mixing bottle and measuring cup, you have the convenience of buying everything in one unit, rather than shopping around for separate items. The clear nectar is free of dyes, preservatives, artificial sweeteners and more. This makes a great gift for friends or you can splurge on a present for yourself!

Check it out: http://www.hummingbirdsplus.org/CentiMomGourmetFoodKit

#4: First Nature 3208 Powdered Hummingbird Nectar Concentrate 5.3-ounce packets

The powdered nectar is conveniently stored in six, 5.3oz packets that each yield 32oz of nectar once the water is added. The all-natural sugars used provides your hummingbird community with the safe and healthy nourishment that they crave. These are easy to store and the packets keep the freshness locked in.

Check it out: http://www.hummingbirdsplus.org/FirstNature3208PowderedNectar

#5: EZNectar All-Natural, Ready-to-Use Hummingbird Food

When you want to find an all-natural alternative compared to some of the hummingbird food available, this will be a great choice. There are no preservatives, dyes or electrolytes. Filtered water and pure can sugar are the only ingredients used. Plus, this nectar is a huge time save because it is ready-to-pour, so no mixing or boiling required!

Check it out: http://www.hummingbirdsplus.org/EZNectarAllNaturalFood

How to feed hummingbirds

Feeding hummingbirds is not a complicated task, but it does take a little knowledge and effort on your part in order to keep the hummers healthy. Many people get the impression that you just fill the feeder with nectar, sit back and watch the tiny birds dine. Here we’ll go over some important information that will ensure that your hummingbirds are safe and healthy when you’re caring for them.

Hummingbird feeding tips

#1: Pay attention to feeder positions.

If you want to grow the number of hummingbirds that come visit you, then it’s important that you properly position your feeders. Remember that bees and wasps love to eat in direct sunlight, so by putting your feeders in a shaded area, you’ll help distract the bees from finding it. Also, if you have multiple feeders, give them a good amount of space in between each one since hummers are very territorial about their food.

#2: Keep your feeder clean!

When you change out the nectar in your feeder, be sure that you clean it. For the safest and best results use hot water and a vinegar or bleach solution. You should avoid soap when you can. If your hummingbird feeder is dishwasher safe, then you should rinse it with hot water when it is done going through the cycle to be sure all of the soap is removed.

#3: Change out your nectar twice a week.

Even if your hummingbirds haven’t consumed all of the nectar you put out, you still must change it on a regular basis. If you find that you are wasting a lot of hummingbird food, then make less in the next batch until you have found the optimal amount. When the weather is exceptionally hot, the nectar will spoil faster, so you may need to change it every other day when it is over 90 degrees outside.

If you don’t change the nectar on a regular basis, the spoiled sugar solution can cause little hummers to develop a fungus on their tongues. They will no longer be able to consume food and this will result in them starving to death. Point being – keep your feeder clean and change out the nectar.

#4: Keep invaders away.

Bees, wasps and ants can becomes such pests that hummers will leave your area in search of easier to eat food. If you are having a problem with bees and wasps, you can relocate your feeder to spot a few feet away. The hummers will quickly find it, but it will usually take bees a few days. Place a small cup of old nectar on the ground where the feeder once was and the bees will be attracted to it. Gradually move it further away from that space to a new location.

When it comes to ants, find a feeder with an ant moat and use fishing line to hang the feeder. Ants can’t climb down this very easily. Be sure you don’t use pesticides to kill the invaders because hummingbirds will sense this and it can be dangerous for them. Plus, bees pollinate and are active members in our natural eco-system.

Feeding hummingbirds by hand

Feeding hummingbirds by hand is a blast. You can do this at birthday parties, family gatherings, or any time you want a touch of beauty in your life. There are many options out there for hand-held feeders. Select one that has splashes of red on it to attract the hummingbirds, and for best results, choose one that has a flower design.

The first step to feeding hummers by hand is to get them used to you. Stand still near hummingbird feeders that already have regular visitors. If you are away from your personal hummingbird community, then find a natural feeding area to stand near.

Next, find a comfortable place to sit and rest your arm. You may be there for a while and the more comfortable and still you are, the more success you will have feeding the little hummers. You don’t want to be shaky from holding your arm out.

Sit under your hanging feeder or near flowers with your hand-held hummingbird feeder and see if any little hummers come to you. If they don’t and they continue to eat from the other feeder, then remove it and wait for the first hummer to feed from your hand. Soon, you’ll have plenty of visitors and be able to see all of the amazing coloring and habits of the fascinating little creatures.

Migration patterns of hummingbirds

During the late fall and early spring, you’ll want to put out extra hummingbird food because of the migration patterns. Hummingbirds need extra meals during this time since they use so much energy to travel to places like Mexico. Their flight patterns are going to be longer and cover much more ground during this time of year, and you’ll get a few new hummers passing through as they travel.

Unlike other species of birds, you do not need to take your hummingbird feeders down at a certain times during the year. Hummingbirds will naturally migrate, and just because there is food to eat, does not mean that they will stick around. Some hummers leave later than others, so be sure that you leave the nectar out into early winter for them. Hummingbirds do not migrate together, but you’ll often see more of them feeding off of the same feeder during migration times.

Hummingbird eating patterns

Hummingbird eating patterns vary depending on your region, but you can spot migrating patterns based on the fluctuation of visitors you have to your feeders. The nesting season will generally occur in May, and unless the females decide to stay near your feeder, you’ll see them disappear for a little while. You will also see fewer hummingbirds come by your feeder during peak flower blooming times.

How to feed hummingbirds naturally

If you want to see hummingbirds visit your landscape on a regular basis, it will be important that you provide them with natural food sources. Start working on a flower garden and place hummingbird feeders near it. Here is a list of some of the best flowers you can plant in your garden that is sure to attract these beautiful birds.

• Delphinium. These summer blooms attract hummingbirds of all kinds. They are lovely to look at and can get up to eight feet tall, so they can be seen from far distances.
• Cardinal Flower. The ruby red flower petals make these perennials a perfect choice for your flower garden. They are easy to spot and hummers love eating the natural nectar from them.
• Salvia. Because their time period for blooming is long, hummingbirds will make these blooms a regular stop in their daily schedule. You have many colors to choose from and you’ll love the way they look in your flower garden or against your house.
• Hollyhock. This cool flower will attract little hummers and beautiful butterflies to your garden. All you have to do is pick your favorite hue and let them thrive in the summer.
• Butterfly bush. You can get these in a variety of colors and when properly cared for, they can get almost eleven feet tall. Hummingbirds love to feed off of these and they can last from spring until the beginning of winter.

Caring for hummingbirds is a fun and rewarding job. Pay attention and keep your nectar fresh, your feeders clean and your garden thriving, and you’ll be the hot spot for hummingbirds during migration, plus you’ll have regular hummers all summer long.