Easy Hummingbird Nectar Recipe

Use our Easy Hummingbird Nectar Recipe and you’ll feel confident that you are giving your birds the best, and saving money, too!

There is nothing easier! Resist the urge to buy pre-made nectar, especially the red and or “flavored” kind that will have preservatives and artificial coloring in them.  Do not add food coloring to your nectar. Good feeders are usually red in color and that’s all the birds need to find the nectar.

Plain white sugar is all the birds need, as scientific study indicates that white sugar is more chemically akin to the nectar that is in flowers. Never use brown sugar, honey, beet sugar, agave, etc etc. While these are good for human consumption, the organic materials in these sweeteners will attract bacteria quickly.

We typically make up a quart of sugar water and keep it in the fridge so we can easily clean and refill our (3) feeders at home. Hummingbirds do not mind cold nectar, and you’ll appreciate how quickly and easily you can clean the feeders and get them back out again.

Equipment needed:

Teakettle or pot

Container to store nectar (we use a large Ball canning jar with a white plastic lid)

White table sugar

Water

Directions:

1 part sugar to 4-5 parts of water.

The recipe varies only by the volume of your storage jar.

Do not worry that it has to be exact, we are not baking a cake ;- )

Boil the water, add the sugar and stir to dissolve.

Allow to cool, then refrigerate for up to 3 weeks.