The way that hummingbirds are able to flit around so quickly is memorizing to watch. They’re in your yard one minute and quickly gone the next. Keep them around by using this hummingbird nectar and clever feeder that allows you to easily clean and sanitize it all spring and summer long:

Hummingbird Nectar

Ingredients:

Maintain a 1:4 sugar to water ratio.

1/4 cup sugar

1 cup water

Directions:

Use clean, unchlorinated tap water. Heat the water to boiling (to kill any bacteria). Stir in sugar until dissolved. Allow the hummingbird nectar to cool to room temp before placing in feeder. Refrigerate any unused portion of the hummingbird food for up to a week.

Hummingbird Feeder Safety Tips

Change your hummingbird nectar at least every three days, especially in warm weather.

Watch out for mold growth or fermentation. Clean the hummingbird feeder thoroughly and clean and refill more frequently. Use non-toxic dish soap or a vinegar water solution and rinse well.

Take special care to clean around each feeding port with a cotton swap, old toothbrush or pastry tube brush. The little nooks and crannies around the opening are the most like spots for debris buildup and mold growth.

The Best Hummingbird Feeder

One thing I've noticed about most hummingbird nectar feeders is that they are terribly hard to clean.

I finally came across the Hummzinger Mini at a specialty wild bird shop.

This feeder is composed of a hanger and two pieces shaped roughly like hollow doughnut halves. The two halves clamp and unclamp, leaving the center open for easy cleaning. In the center of the reservoir, there's a separate reservoir that can be filled with water to deter ants.

Have you made this hummingbird nectar? What other tips do you suggest for keeping hummingbirds healthy?

Article Source: Common Sense Home