![]() The article mentions that several published studies have found that the sucrose concentration of the nectar in hummingbird flowers is 23.9%. Using this same solid+liquid methodology, the 1:3 sugar-to-water ratio produces a sucrose concentration of 22.5%. Using the proper solid+liquid formula, the 1:4 sucrose-to-water ratio actually produces a sucrose concentration of 17.9%. I’ll answer them to the best of my ability. Kat, I just love your kind heart and your concern for the well-being of our hummingbird friends! You asked a couple of excellent questions. Have you heard of any vitamin or protein ingredients that one can add to make it a better food? My hummers are at the feeders all day, and I worry that we’re giving them pure energy but not a balanced food.” Here’s What I Replied I’m trying to eat less sugar myself, and can’t see that it’s the best food for any animal. Everything I find online uses the 1:4 ratio, so I’m wondering why you use a more concentrated syrup?Īs a retired vet, I can see where using the thicker syrup might cause the bird to overdose on sugar (if it depends on feeling full to stop eating).Īlso, I’ve been feeling uncomfortable about using a pure sugar solution to feed them. I’ve been making mine for years, but have always used 1 cup sugar to 4 cups water, not 1:3 like the article says. “After reading the page about making hummingbird food, I’ve got a question. “Is a 1:3 Hummingbird Food Ratio Really Best?” In response to the post, conscientious TGN Community member Kat wrote in with the following concerns. In it, we included a recipe for hummingbird nectar that called for 1 part refined white sugar to 3 parts water. ![]() Not that long ago, we posted an article on homemade hummingbird food. Honey, when mixed with water, spoils rather quickly.Image by Bryan Hanson from Pixabay Hummingbird Sugar Water Ratio: Hit the 1:3 Sweet Spot ![]() You should also avoid using honey as a sweetener in your hummingbird food recipe. Also, do not use brown sugar, agave syrup, molasses or any artificial sweeteners. Do not use organic (raw) sugar as this has iron in it which could be harmful to the hummingbirds. ![]() You can use just simple white sugar for your hummingbird sugar water ratio. You can store any of this unused DIY hummingbird food in an airtight container in the fridge. Let this hummingbird feeder mixture cool on the counter and then fill the feeder with it. Stir until the sugar is dissolved and the water is clear. This hummingbird feeder recipe has you bringing the water to a boil and then slowly adding the sugar. It is just a sugar/water ratio of 1 to 4. This is a very quick, easy and simple process. It is much simpler, easier, healthier and cheaper to just make my own with this hummingbird feeder recipe. It may contain additives or coloring that could be harmful to the birds. I don’t like to buy the pre-made hummingbird food in the store. Now, you just need some food to put in the feeder. They are usually brightly colored to look like a flower to the bird to help attract them. This is good because, amazingly, hummingbirds eat half their weight each day in nectar. Check out my post about how to make your own DIY hummingbird feeder!įeeders are wonderful for the birds because it can give them a steady source of food at times when the flowers aren’t blooming as much. You can also make your own feeder pretty easily. You can buy fairly simple and inexpensive ones like this, or more fancy ones like this. Hummingbird feeders are great things to have. Those specially shaped beaks are perfect for extracting the sugary sweetness of a flower! So we just need to make our own DIY hummingbird food in order to attract them. Hummingbird food is pretty simple, while hummingbirds get most of their nutrients from eating insects, they get all of their energy from eating the nectar of flowers. This is as easy as learning how to make hummingbird food. But, the reality is, hummingbirds are actually very easy to see as long as you know how to attract them. I have inherited that wonder from her and my heart starts to beat a little faster when I see hummingbirds as well. It is almost like witnessing a unicorn or a fairy, except these beautiful creatures actually exist! I think that she felt like there was something very special, almost magical about catching a glimpse of these birds flying by our window. When I was young, few things made my mother more happy than looking out our kitchen window and seeing a hummingbird flying around. Now it is easier than ever to attract these beautiful birds with this homemade hummingbird food recipe. Hummingbirds are so much fun to see flying around in your backyard.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |