Hummingbird feeder ratio is the proper comparison numbers to attract these small birds to your yard. The flapping wings of hummingbirds moves at 90 beats a second at average – sure it counts as a workout that can burn their calories fast. That’s why these birds need to eat a lot to maintain their momentum. As a matter of fact, they need to feed every 10 to 15 minutes from 1,000 to 2,000 flowers each day.
There is way to help these precious hard workers by providing them with the nutrients they need. The favorite meal of hummingbird is nectar – a sweet treat that can be created at your home just by a couple of simple ingredients. You have opportunities to watch these beautiful little birds fly around by putting this DIY delightful recipe as a nectar complement to feeder at your yard.
To create the right hummingbird feeder ratio, you need 1:4 proportions of sugar and water. Simply boil the water then add sugar once you remove it from heat. Stir well until all the sugar dissolves. After the mixture has cooled down completely, pour it into the feeder. Watch as the adorable birds visit your feeder when they realized there’s sweet liquid inside to drink from.
A note to keep for is to only use refined white sugar. Granulated sugar contains sucrose, which will mimic natural nectar chemical composition when mixed with water. Raw sugars have harmful level of iron while honey encourages fungal growth even though it is natural and organic.
It is advisable to clean out and change the feeders after couple of days to prevent mold growth. If you cannot regularly maintain it that often for some reasons, it is enough to look after the feeders once a week during cooler seasons and twice a week during warmer seasons. Locate the proper hummingbird feeder mix ratio inside a place with low-activity areas, away from reachable places by kids or pets. As hummingbirds are typically very territorial and shy creature, it is also best to choose close location to trees because they love to perch on branches and look out for predators.
Using red dye in the mix of homemade nectar is not recommended. Red color might attract more of the birds because it reminds them of brightly colored flowers that contain lots of nectar. However, adding the dye into your hummingbird feeder ratio might be harmful and unnecessary for the birds’ health.
