What is the correct recipe for hummingbird nectar?
A. Fill your hummingbird feeder with packaged hummingbird nectar or a sugar water recipe. The correct ratio is 1 part white sugar dissolved in 4 parts boiling water, allow to cool and store any excess in the refrigerator. (Boil the water before measuring to get the right proportions.) This mixture approximates the average sucrose content, about 21%, of the flowers favoured by our hummingbirds. Don’t ever use honey, raw sugar or brown sugar in your feeder. Hummingbirds can’t digest it as well. Fermentation & mold growth also occurs faster in solutions made from things other than white granulated sugar or packaged nectar mix. Do not use artificial sweeteners – it provides no calories or food energy. Red dye or food colouring is completely unnecessary. Q. How often do I need to clean my feeder? A. In warm weather, you’ll need to change the nectar every 2 3 days. In cooler weather you may be able to go as long as one week. Every time you change or refill your feeder, wash it with dishsoap
