As someone who’s been feeding these delightful little visitors for over four decades, I’ve learned a thing or two about what works and what doesn’t when it comes to hummingbird feeders. With sugar prices what they are these days, ensuring we’re not wasting our nectar is more important than ever.
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See Today's PriceHere are the most common mistakes that could drain your hummingbird feed budget.
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1. Using Red Dye in Your Nectar
You should also avoid using red food dye, as there are some concerns about the safety of red dye for the sensitive systems of tiny hummingbirds. The good news is that you don’t need red dye to attract hummingbirds to your feeders.
Some red elements on the feeder itself, such as red flowers, a red sugar water reservoir, or other red coloring, will attract hummingbirds just as easily as one filled with red dye. At Wild Bird Scoop, we recommend against using red sugar water, as there have been some concerning reports about the safety of red dye.
It has not been proven safe for hummingbirds, and any of the benefits associated with red dye can be achieved simply by using a red feeder.
2. Mixing the Wrong Sugar Ratio
The ratio of sugar to water for hummingbirds is one part sugar to four parts water. That’s ¼ cup of sugar to one cup of water in a homemade mix, or 80% water and 20% sucrose in a commercial mix.
Some people will mix a higher ratio of sugar into their water, mistakenly believing it will be sweeter and attract more hummingbirds. But this can actually make the nectar thicker, like a syrup.
Finally, consider your sugar-to-water ratio. Most hummingbird food recipes call for one part sugar to four parts water.
If your hummingbird food is short on sugar, it could be a less pleasant alternative to regular plants for your feathery backyard friends.
3. Filling Feeders to the Brim
However, it is not always necessary to fill a hummingbird feeder with nectar right to the top. If you have a large feeder and only a few hummingbird visitors, filling your feeders to capacity may just lead to a lot of waste.
Remember, whether or not the ‘nectar’ has been taken, the feeders will have to be emptied and refilled regularly.
4. Ignoring Leaks and Drips
Use bee-proof feeders or bee guards to make the feeders less appealing. Keep your hummingbird feeders clean and check them often for leaks, so bees don’t find an easy way in.
And most of all, make sure that you always clean your feeder on a regular basis. Make sure that sweet hummingbird food is well contained, and that there are not any leaks.
5. Placing Feeders in Direct Sunlight
Don’t place your feeder in direct sunlight; the nectar solution will go bad faster. But don’t put them in dense shade either; it will be harder for the hummingbirds to spot the feeders that way.
Direct sunlight all day will cause your nectar solution to ferment faster. The hotter the temperatures, the faster fermentation will occur, and the more often the hummingbird feeder needs cleaning.
Keep your nectar fresh for longer by keeping it in the shade.
6. Using the Wrong Type of Sugar
The only safe sugar for hummingbirds is refined white table sugar. Don’t ever use artificial sweeteners; they don’t give hummingbirds any energy.
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Also, avoid organic sugar, brown sugar, agave, honey, corn syrup, and other sweeteners, which present assorted health hazards for the hummingbirds. Be sure to not deviate from this recipe.
Brown sugars, powdered sugars, molasses, honey, beet sugar, or any other kind of sugar substitute and unrefined sugar, can encourage mold and bacteria growth and pose a major threat to the birds that you want to help.
7. Not Cleaning Feeders Regularly
Hummingbird feeders should be cleaned and refilled every 2-3 days at the minimum. Cleaning with hot water and replacing nectar helps keep feeders safe by preventing the growth of bacteria or attracting too many insects like ants and gnats.
It’s essential to keep your feeders freshly stocked and well-cleaned throughout the hummingbird season. Thoroughly clean feeders every day when the weather is hot and every other day at most.
8. Forgetting to Check Weather Conditions
Keeping fresh nectar out for your hummers is very important. If the sugar solution sits outside for too many days, especially in hot weather, it will develop mold or go rancid.
Putting fresh food out every couple of days is never a bad thing!
9. Using Tap Water Without Letting It Stand
Yes, you can use tap water to make hummingbird food. However, it’s a good idea to boil it or let it sit for 24 hours before using it.
This will allow any chlorine to dissipate.
10. Making Too Much Nectar at Once
Even refrigerated nectar can start to ferment or grow mold after a while. Instead of making large amounts that might go bad before use, smaller batches can be made more frequently.
I’ve learned that making just enough for 3-4 days’ worth of feeding is the sweet spot for freshness and convenience.
11. Using Decorative But Impractical Feeders
Select feeders with appropriate perches and raised feeding ports suited to a hummingbird’s slender beak and tongue. Fill feeders with homemade nectar using a 4:1 ratio of water to white granulated sugar.
12. Ignoring Ant Problems
The most effective method for most situations is to use a traditional ant moat to keep ants out of hummingbird feeders. An ant moat is a simple reservoir of water that ants cannot cross to reach the reward.
An ant moat will be effective in most locations as long as you keep it filled with water. Make an ant-proof moat – ants are also attracted to the sweet nectar.
They will crawl into the feeder and ruin it for the birds. To prevent this, make a moat out of water.
Place the feeder on a plate and fill the moat with water. The ants will be unable to cross and get to the nectar.
We recommend avoiding lubricant-based insect deterrents, such as vaseline, oil, or grease, as they can harm the birds.
13. Poor Winter Storage Practices
Improperly stored feeders can develop cracks and leaks during the off-season, leading to wasted nectar when you bring them back out. Clean feeders thoroughly before storage, ensure they’re completely dry, and store them in a climate-controlled space.
This prevents deterioration that could cause future nectar waste.
14. Overcrowding Feeders
If you want to put out two hummingbird feeders, make sure they are not within sight of one another. That is because hummingbirds are territorial, and they will try to guard both hummingbird feeders and prevent other hummingbirds from coming into their space.
If the feeders are spread apart, that is less likely to happen, and you should end up with more birds. Position feeders in shady areas out of direct sunlight to prevent nectar from overheating and spoiling.
Space them apart from each other to avoid territorial behaviors at your feeders.
15. Not Adjusting for Seasonal Changes
Bird feeding patterns change dramatically with the seasons, and not adjusting your nectar amounts accordingly leads to waste. During migration periods, you’ll need more nectar; during slower times, reduce the amount you put out.
Pay attention to your local hummingbird population’s patterns to optimize your feeding schedule.
Hummingbird nectar mistakes that waste money
| What you see | Likely cause | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Red sugar water | Dye added for attraction | Use a red feeder and skip the dye |
| Thick syrup | More than 1 part sugar to 4 parts water | Use the 1:4 mix, or 1/4 cup sugar per cup |
| Nectar dumped still full | A large feeder filled to the brim | Do not fill to the top if few birds visit |
| Bees at leaks | Drips on the feeder | Clean often and keep the syrup contained |
| Nectar fermenting fast | All-day sun | Shade, but not deep shade |
| Wrong sugar | Brown sugar, honey, agave, organic, or substitutes | Refined white table sugar only |
| Hot-weather spoilage | Unchanged nectar in heat | Clean every day when it is hot |
| Chlorine in tap water | Water used immediately | Boil it or let it sit 24 hours |
| Ants in the nectar | No water barrier | An ant moat kept filled; skip grease |
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