Hummingbird Food (Homemade Nectar)
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Creating your own hummingbird food at home is simple and rewarding. With just sugar and water, you can make a fresh and safe nectar that your feathered friends will love.
I’ve been making this recipe for my hummingbird feeders for years, and it’s always a joy to watch these tiny little birds enjoy the homemade nectar.
I know this is a step outside of my normal human food recipes, but since its summer and I am cleaning up all the squirrel and bird feeders, I wanted to share how I feed my birds!
Why Make Hummingbird Food at Home?
Making your own hummingbird food is not only cost-effective and you can make at any time but also ensures that there are no harmful additives.
Store-bought options often contain preservatives and red dye, which are unnecessary and can be harmful to birds.
Ingredients:
- 4 cups water
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- Feeder (this is the new Hummingbird feeder shown that we use)
How to make Homemade Hummingbird Food
Here’s my step-by-step guide, complete with tips and tricks to ensure you get the best results. If you head to the recipe card below and watch the video, you can see a real hummingbird in action!
Boil the Water: Start by adding 4 cups of water to a large microwave-safe bowl. Microwave the water for 6-8 minutes, or until it reaches a rolling boil.
Dissolve the Sugar: Carefully remove the bowl from the microwave (it will be hot!). Slowly stir in 1 cup of granulated sugar. Pour in a small amount initially because the sugar will boil and bubble up when you pour it into the boiling water. Continue to stir until all the sugar is completely dissolved.
Cool the Nectar: Allow the mixture to cool to room temperature. This is important as hot nectar can harm the birds.
Fill the Feeders: Once the nectar is cool, pour it into your hummingbird feeders. Each of my feeders holds about 1-1/2 cups.
Fill the feeder’s cylinder and then flip it over to allow the nectar to flow into the base. It may not look full when hung, but that’s normal.
Store Leftovers: Any leftover nectar can be stored in a covered container in the refrigerator. Homemade hummingbird food can last up to a week in the fridge.
Tips for Hummingbird Feeding:
- Sugar to Water Ratio: The ideal sugar to water ratio for hummingbird food is 1 part sugar to 4 parts water. This mimics the natural nectar found in flowers.
- How Long It Lasts: Hummingbird food should be replaced every 3-5 days in hot weather and weekly in cooler weather to prevent fermentation and mold.
- Fixing a Leaking Feeder: If your feeder leaks, try tightening all parts and ensuring it’s hanging straight. Sometimes, feeders can leak if they’re tilted or if the seals aren’t tight.
- Does Hummingbird Food Go Bad?: Yes, it can go bad. While we replace it weekly or less, if the nectar appears cloudy, develops mold, or has an off smell, discard it immediately and clean the feeder thoroughly before refilling.
Sugar to Water Ratios
| Cups of Water | Cups of Sugar |
|---|---|
| 1 cup | 1/4 cup |
| 2 cups | 1/2 cup |
| 3 cups | 3/4 cup |
| 4 cups | 1 cup |
- I have 9 animals so while I do not post pet recipes often, I try to occasionally when I make things for our own house. You can learn how to boil chicken for dogs and also how to make dog safe blueberry and banana muffins here.
Hummingbird Food (Sugar & Water Ratios)
Equipment
- Hummingbird Feeder This is the one shown
Ingredients
- 4 cups water
- 1 cup granulated sugar
Instructions
- Boil the Water: Start by adding 4 cups of water to a large microwave-safe bowl. Microwave the water for 6-8 minutes, or until it reaches a rolling boil.
- Dissolve the Sugar: Carefully remove the bowl from the microwave (it will be hot!). Slowly stir in 1 cup of granulated sugar. Add a small amount of sugar at a time, as it will bubble up when it hits the hot water. Continue to stir until all the sugar is completely dissolved.
- Cool the Nectar: Allow the mixture to cool to room temperature. This is important as hot nectar can harm the birds.
- Fill the Feeders: Once the nectar is cool, pour it into your hummingbird feeders. Each of my feeders holds about 1-1/2 cups. Fill the feeder's cylinder and then flip it over to allow the nectar to flow into the base. It may not look full when hung, but that’s normal.
- Store Leftovers: Any leftover nectar can be stored in a covered container in the refrigerator. Homemade hummingbird food can last about a week in the fridge.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Nutritional Disclaimer: The nutritional data provided here is auto-calculated and intended for your convenience only. As it’s generated via automation, its accuracy may be compromised. For precise nutritional insight, please compute the values utilizing the actual ingredients in your recipe through your chosen nutrition calculator or application.
Did You Make This Recipe?
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Tried and true!
Hi Megan, thanks for the comment. Glad this hummingbird food recipe worked well for your garden!
A tried and true recipe! Thanks for posting.
Just want to add that hummingbirds have delicate systems. I disinfect my feeder & put in fresh nectar every 24-36 hours in very hot weather, and every 4 days in cooler weather. I’ve also learned that hummingbirds seem to have long memories. If they don’t like the smell of my nectar (bacteria or mold) they’ll skip my feeder for the rest of the season. 😆