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Glad hummingbird feeder with red plastic base hung in flower garden.
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Hummingbird Food Recipe

Learn how to attract beautiful hummingbirds to your backyard garden or yard with this homemade hummingbird food recipe!
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 4 minutes
Total Time 9 minutes
Servings 4
Author Jessica Robinson

Ingredients

Hummingbird Nectar

  • 1-2 cups granulated sugar
  • 4 cups water

Instructions

  • Add the tap water and granulated sugar to a large saucepan over medium to low heat.
  • Stir with a spoon occasionally so the sugar doesn't burn. Bring the solution to a boil.
  • Let the sugar water cool to room temperature before filling your feeders.
  • Refrigerate any extra sugar solution in a pouring pitcher or airtight container for up to 2 weeks.

Notes

Hummingbird nectar tips:

While some recipes recommend a 1:4 ratio, we like to use a little more sugar in our hummingbird nectar. We recommend you test which ratio works best for you and what the hummingbirds in your yard prefer.
Be sure to change the sugar water regularly -- before it gets cloudy, or about twice a week in warm weather.
Wash hummingbird feeders with a few drops of dish soap and a few tablespoons of white vinegar each time you change out the sugar solution. This will help keep them clean and prevent hummingbirds from getting sick.
To clean hummingbird feeders:
Use a bottle brush with a few drops of dish soap and/or a tablespoon of white vinegar to thoroughly clean the feeders. A soft nail brush to gently clean out the feeding ports well. It's also helpful to soak the pieces of the feeder in soapy water for 20-30 minutes.
Rinse your feeder well with warm water several times before refilling with sugar solution.