You do not need to boil the water to allow the sugar and water to combine. Frequently Asked Questions Do I Need to Boil the Water? In cooler climates and in early Spring and early Fall, you might be able to leave your hummingbird feeder out 3 to 4 days without noticing mold growth. During the summer time, and in hot and humid climates, you will need to change your hummingbird food every 2 days to prevent mold growth. The frequency of changing your hummingbird food depends on the time of year and your climate. How Often Should I Change Hummingbird Food? If your water comes to boiling, that is fine, just remove it as soon as possible. That is a personal preference of mine because I don’t want to waste time heating the mixture any longer than necessary.
In this DIY, I suggest heating the water until bubbles form on the bottom of the pan and not boiling the water. This is a printable how-to card so that you can print it to save for later.
Here is the easy recipe for how to make hummingbird food. This is the ratio that has been handed down to be over the generations of my family, and also the sugar to water ratio that the Audubon Society’s hummingbird food recipe uses, as well. 4 cups of sugar and 16 cups water (Gallon)Ī small batch of 1/4 cup sugar to 1 cup water is generally the best amount for a single hummingbird feeder of standard size.2 cups sugar and 8 cups water (Half a Gallon).Using the same ratio, those measurements would be: It is easy to make larger batches of hummingbird feed to store in your refrigerator or to use in multiple feeders. For example, 1/4 cup sugar mixed with 1 cup water. The best hummingbird food sugar to water ratio is 1 part granulated white sugar to 4 parts water. Many hummingbird feeders are red, which means you don’t need to use food coloring to attract the birds.