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Hummingbird Feeder Ratios
Hummingbird Feeder Ratios. A hummingbird feeder contains a sugar water solution. If you mix the solution yourself, follow the ratios recommended by bird experts to ensure that the hummingbirds benefit from your feeder. Using the appropriate ratios also reduces pest problems that can discourage hummingbirds from using the feeder.
A hummingbird feeder contains a sugar water solution. If you mix the solution yourself, follow the ratios recommended by bird experts to ensure that the hummingbirds benefit from your feeder. Using the appropriate ratios also reduces pest problems that can discourage hummingbirds from using the feeder.
Standard
The standard recommendation for hummingbird nectar is a ratio of four parts water and one part sugar. This level of concentration mimics the average sucrose level in the nectar of flowers that attract hummingbirds. To prepare the solution, mix the water and sugar, then boil the mixture for two minutes to delay fermentation. After letting the sugar solution cool, pour it into the hummingbird feeder. If you have any remaining solution, refrigerate it for future use.
Diluted
Diluting the sugar water solution helps reduce pest problems. Reducing the ratio to five parts water and one part sugar helps keep bees away. You can further dilute the sugar water solution to a ratio of seven parts water and one part sugar if insects keep using the hummingbird feeder.
Concentrated
A sugar water solution that is stronger than four parts water to one part sugar can attract pests, such as bees and butterflies. These insects usually feed on the nectar of flowers with an average nectar content of 42 percent. The strongest sugar water solution you should make if you don't want to attract insects contains about three parts water and one part sugar.
Warning
Hummingbirds don't get any nutritional benefit from artificial sweeteners, so don't use them instead of sugar. Adding certain substances to the sugar water solution can harm the birds. Adding honey or using it instead of sugar can lead to the hummingbirds developing problems with mold and fungal disease. Although commercial mixes sometimes contain red dye, you should not add it to your homemade solution. Adding vitamins is also unnecessary and potentially harmful.
