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Hummingbirds are already migrating back earlier than expected, and if you set this up now, you can start attracting them before anyone else. If you love hummingbirds, then installing a hummingbird feeder in your yard is the most efficient and easiest way to catch their attention. In this guide, I will show you all the necessary steps and show you my pick on the hummingbird feeder I believe is the best.
When choosing a hummingbird feeder, you want to make sure it attracts humming birds the best. In my opinion, I highly recommend checking out this top pick humming bird feeder on amazon by Feed Garden here.
Features:
- Has 4 metal flower shaped feeding ports
- Uses a high quality glass container with attractive design
- Bee and Ant Resistant
- It has a leak-proof design so even in wind, it won’t spill
Pros:
- Is Bee and Ant resistant ensuring that it won’t deter hummingbirds from approaching the feeder
- Is weather-resistant so the nectar inside doesn’t spill out or slowly drain
- The glass has an attractive design improving the chance that humming birds arrive to your yard
- Has a wide mouth design so it is easy to clean and refill
Important Info: Always remember that every 2-3 days or especially when it is hot out, you need to clean out the humming bird feeder daily to ensure that no mold or deadly bacteria grows in the feeder in order to protect the birds.
Pro Tip: While there are a variety of different colors to choose from, I highly recommend the red colored hummingbird feeder as it attracts hummingbirds the best. Hummingbirds see red as a high energy food source.
I also found out that you should avoid picking a yellow hummingbird feeder as that attracts unwanted insects like bees, wasps, and yellowjackets.
Check it out
—>Feed Garden Humming Bird Feeder
Once you have acquired a hummingbird feeder, I will now show you how to make the hummingbird nectar, it is really easy!!!
Humming Bird Nectar:
The hummingbird nectar is the only thing you should ever give to the humming birds, as anything else can seriously harm them. When making the nectar, it’s best to follow the 1:4 ratio when creating.
Why the 1:4 Ratio?
The 1:4 ratio is best when making hummingbird nectar as it best replicates the concentration of nectar found in flowers. The sugar to water ratio is 20%, making it the best dilution for hummingbirds to drink as it prevents dehydration and avoids overworking the hummingbirds small kidneys.
How To Make Hummingbird Nectar
Ingredients:
-Cup of water
-1/4th cup of refined granulated white sugar (Only use this type of sugar with the nectar, any other types of sugar can harm the hummingbirds)
Ok if you have the ingredients, then we can start making the nectar. Trust me, you will be surprised at how easy this is to make.
- Take your 1/4th cup of sugar, and add it to your cup of water
- Stir until the sugar is completely dissolved
- Your done!!!
Important: Always make sure that the sugar in the water is fully dissolved, or you risk creating an uneven mixture that is more difficult for the hummingbirds to drink.
Pro Tip: If you want the sugar in the water to dissolve faster, you can boil your cup of water, or even just have your cup of water hot.
If you do decide to go with the hot water method, always make sure that the nectar is fully cooled down before adding it to the bird feeder as it could damage the feeder, or worse, harm the hummingbirds.
Caution: Never ever put red food dye or any other color dyes in your nectar, as that could seriously harm the hummingbirds.
Once all the safe and necessary steps are taken, you are ready to add your nectar to the feeder.
Ready To Use:
Now, if you are not feeling like making the hummingbird nectar, then there is another option for you. I recently found this great ready to use hummingbird nectar by Kaytee on amazon.
You can check it out here
Features:
- Ready to use
- It has added electrolytes
Pros:
- Its ready to use providing convenience
- The added electrolytes nourish and hydrate the birds more than homemade hummingbird nectar
Not only is this option great for people who don’t feel like making the nectar itself, it is really popular among hummingbirds as well. So you might even see more hummingbirds on your feeder than the nectar you make at home. You might even have some hummingbirds revisiting just because they love the nectar so much.
Experiment: Do a little test to see for yourself, for 1 week, try your homemade nectar and then switch to the Kaytee nectar to see which one attracts the hummingbirds the most.
If your are interested then check it out
Once you have your hummingbird nectar all ready to go, you may add it to your feeder.
Hang Your Hummingbird Feeder:
Determining where you place your hummingbird feeder is so important for you and the hummingbirds. You want to place it in your view so you can see them, and you want to place it in a safe area so the hummingbirds actually go to the feeder and do not get harmed.
Where To Hang Hummingbird Feeder:
The best 2 places to hang your hummingbird feeder would be:
- A Tree
- Garden Shepherds Hook
Pro Tip: Always make sure that the hummingbird feeder is under a partially shaded area so the nectar preserves its freshness.
When placing a hummingbird feeder, a tree is the best option as it provides partially shaded areas and is a great perching spot for the hummingbirds to rest.
If you are deciding to place your hummingbird feeder on a tree, you should:
- Place it at least 4 – 6 feet high above the ground, as if the feeder is too low, it could attract unwanted animals
- Avoid placing the feeder near dense cover, as that could put the hummingbirds in harm’s way to snakes or cats, it is recommended that you place it at least 10 – 15 feet away from dense cover.
- Make sure that the branch is sturdy and is not weak or decomposing
Important: Tree branches may have ants on them, so you’ll want to create an ant trap. If you are considering getting the recommended hummingbird feeder, then creating an ant trap is not necessary as the recommended hummingbird feeder is already ant proof.
However, if you decide to place your hummingbird feeder on a garden shepherds hook, you should:
- Make sure the garden shepherds hook is placed in a partially shaded area
- At least 4 – 6 feet above the ground
If you are choosing the garden shepherds hook option, you’ll be surprised by how good this garden shepherds hook by Feed Garden on amazon is. You can check it out here
Features:
- Includes 7 prongs located at the base
- Has an adjustable hook
- Is made up of high quality and heavy duty material
- Has different inch sizes to choose from
Pros:
- The 7 prongs create a more sturdy pole, ensuring that it doesn’t fall over
- The adjustable hook makes it easy to adjust based on your preference
- The high quality material ensures that the pole is sturdy
- The pole is really easy to assemble
Important: Always remember to make sure that you place your hummingbird feeder in a partially shaded area to preserve the nectar’s freshness.
Pro Tip: Any inch size you choose with this recommended garden shepherds hook is ok, as it is at least 4 feet above ground.
Check It Out
A garden shepherds hook provides more control and convenience when it comes to placing your hummingbird feeder.
If you followed this guide thoroughly and completed everything, then your yard should be hummingbird ready. Soon, you should be seeing not one, but multiple hummingbirds going to your yard to nourish up and/or rest.