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Today we are making an easy homemade hummingbird food recipe.
My two favorite creatures in the summer are hummingbirds and fireflies. I have loved both since I was a little girl. The first thing I did when my husband and I moved into our first apartment was buy a hummingbird feeder. We lived in California at the time, and I had multiple hummingbirds feeding at a time for most of the year.
For years now, I have been making this easy homemade hummingbird food recipe, and it is great for attracting hummingbirds.
Most store-bought hummingbird food is red, and if you scroll through the ingredients, about 90% of it is dye and preservatives. Hummingbirds don’t need either one.
You can also purchase organic hummingbird food that just contains sugar and water, which is perfect! But, it is pricey.
The solution is to make this homemade hummingbird food at home anytime.
Be sure to stay tuned after the instructions for some important chemist tips on preventing bacteria growth and keeping other insects away.
Easy Homemade Hummingbird Food Recipe
Ingredients For DIY Hummingbird Food:
- 4 cups of water (regular tap water is perfect)
- 1 cup granulated cane sugar
- Hummingbird Feeder
Directions:
- Boil the water in a saucepan. Once boiling, add in the sugar. Stir until dissolved.
- Allow to boil for 3- 4 minutes (this is important to eliminate bacteria susceptibility). Yes, boiling 3-4 minutes creates a sticky, simple syrup. This creates the perfect nectar for hummingbirds. You can boil for 2-3 minutes if preferred, just NO less than 2 minutes for bacteria aspect.
- Remove from heat and allow to sit until room temperature.
- Add to hummingbird feeder!
Storing This Homemade Hummingbird Food Recipe
Store any leftovers in refrigerator for 2 weeks. Make sure the solution stays cool! You don’t want any bacteria to grow in this homemade food before pouring it into feeder.
Chemist Tips on Hummingbird Food
In the sun, warm sugar water can grow bacteria very easily. Sugar can also ferment in hot weather, so keep an eye on your feeder. If the mixture looks cloudy or milky, clean it out immediately.
The first thing to do is make sure you feeder is more in the shade. I started doing this a few years ago, and more hummingbirds came to the feeder. I have had the best luck keeping it tucked way in the trees like the picture below. I will also keep it near the honeysuckle or roses since they love to feed off the nectar from those plants too (for more tips on attracting pollinators, check out this post).
Clean out the hummingbird feeder every few days. Scrub with warm water and a little dish soap. Rinse thoroughly and allow to dry before filling with more hummingbird food.
Best Temperatures for Hummingbird Feeders
Since bacteria increases with higher temperatures here is a good rule of thumb for cleaning out your feeder:
- 60-70 degrees – every week is good
- 70-80 degrees – every 3 days
- 80-85 degrees – every 2 days
- Above 85 degrees – every day is best when temperatures are hot like this!
I have tested it out in my area which is 100 degrees in the summer, and it is essential to clean it out every day.
Keeping The Bees Away From Hummingbird Feeders
In addition to keeping bacteria away, bees are also a problem with hummingbird feeders. Cleaning it out every few days helps with this along with making sure you wipe the outside of the feeder after filling. Make sure there is no residue on the outside.
I also bought a new feeder which is made to keep bees away and attract more birds. Over the last ten years, I have tried out dozens of different feeders, and the ones with smaller flowers seem to attract less bees. I also like this one with smaller flowers!
Keeping Away Ants from Hummingbird Feeders
Ants also cause issues for many hummingbird feeders. It is difficult to keep them away, but the best option is making sure the feeder is clean on the outside. Ants will be attracted to sticky residue on the outside portion of the feeder. If there isn’t residue, ants won’t find their way in. Also, like we mention above, cleaning out your feeder often in hot weather will discourage ants from getting in the feeder.
Is this the same as store-bought hummingbird food?
Yes, this is the exact same. Most hummingbird food is clear now at the store, so this will be the same, but it is much cheaper just making it at home versus buying it.
I hope this comes in handy for you this spring and summer!
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Alexis is an investigative chemist sharing her expertise in cleaning, skincare, gardening, and home hacks. She personally tests out products like the best skincare products or home products then shares not only the science behind how it works, but also her personal results. She is the mom of two living in Texas with her husband. Find her on Instagram for fantastic videos, tips, and behind the scenes.
I had no idea this was so easy to make!! And that is good to know about changing it when it is really hot outside.
It really is so easy! And all the expensive options have the same ingredients 🙂
Sun. Thank you for this information. We want to help feed our little friends but want to offer the correct liquid. Be careful and stay well. Dorthea
I had no idea we had humming birds by us until I saw them out by the pool the other day. Now I really want to try this and see if I can get them closer to my window to get a better look! <3, Pamela Sequins & Sea Breezes
They really love this food! You should definitely give this a try 🙂
Hummingbirds and Fire Flys! Love them just like you do! We live in Florida and I have never seen either here. Maybe hummingbirds will show up after I try this.
Both are the epitome of summer! 🙂 I hope you can get some hummingbirds to your house this summer!
Wow… I didn’t know that hummingbird “food” was so easy to make – and that it didn’t have to be red. Great info about changing the food too! You make things easy to understand and apply… thanks!
I always thought it had to be red too! Thanks Laurie! 🙂
I don’t know if I get hummingbirds around me. I do have a bird feeder and love watching the birds visit though. Love this recipe!
I love watching the birds too! This recipe is so easy! 🙂
Thanks, Alexis! I just bought a feeder so this is just what I was looking for!
Thanks Suzy! Hope you enjoy making it 🙂
Do you use the same recipe in the Fall also? Thank you for your easy recipe for these lill fellers!! Love um!!
Yes I do! I always use this one 🙂
Do you know how to keep hornets and wasps away from hummingbird feeders? I had to stop feeding the birds, the hornets or wasps were all over the feeder.
Thank you for your help.
Marilyn Hutchinson
Hi Marilyn! Hornets and wasps are hard to keep away from feeders 🙁 A few things I have done is always make sure my feeder is clean. In the summer, I empty it out every few days and clean it making sure no residue is left outside. I also got a different feeder they can’t fit inside of. Other than that, they are really difficult to get rid of in the summer since they try to find a water source too.
To help the wasp and hornets, make a bee waterer, this will slow the problem of them only having the bird feeder to drink from. Very inexpensive! Buy the chick waterer that will screw on a glass canning jar and fill the dish part with marbles. Also keep fresh clean water!
Thank you ! I did not know (until I read your advise) that it is best to keep it out of the sun. I am in NM and it gets warm here.
It makes a difference! 🙂
Can I boil this in the microwave? Thanks!
Yes you can, but I have found it cooks quickly so it can burn or boil over. Just keep a close watch on it 🙂
Love this recipe so easy! Thank you for your advice it has made a difference for my little friends! Love my birds!
That’s great!!
Be mindful of putting feeders and bird baths near trees as cats like to use them as camouflage.
I don’t see the pictures of the hummingbird feeders you have used before or the one you like the best. Can you post pictures of them & especially your favorite?
Thanks!
It looks like Amazon changed the links, I just relinked them under the section “keeping bees away” I like the ones with smaller flowers best