How to Make Hummingbird Nectar and Refill a Feeder Fast

Hummingbird feeders have to be cleaned and refilled regularly, since the sugar solution ferments quickly outdoors. Some bird experts recommend going to extra lengths – such as boiling the solution – to make it last longer. But I find that during a hot summer, the stuff goes bad (or gets buggy) in 3-4 days no matter what.

Instead of spending time trying to make the perfect nectar, I set out to develop a system that gets fresh nectar to my birds in five minutes flat. And I don’t mean those tricks on TV, where it only takes five minutes if you’ve laid out and pre-measured everything beforehand. I mean FIVE MINUTES, from start to finish. And yes, I timed it! With this system, you can refresh the nectar as often as needed.

Got your stopwatch ready? It’s as simple as:

Step #1

Grab a 2-cup measure (or whatever you’ve got) and pour in about 1/2 cup sugar (a quarter full). If you’re trying to attract birds to a new feeder, you can increase the sugar up to 1 cup (half full).

Step #2

Fill the cup halfway with hot tap water, and stir until the sugar’s completely dissolved. Add a little more water if needed to dissolve all the sugar.

Step #3

Fill the cup the rest of the way (to the 2-cup line) with ice cubes, and set it aside to cool.

Step #4

Take down your feeder, dump it out, and rinse it thoroughly with hot water. I keep a little scrub brush by my sink, to get the dirt and mold out of the seams. If it’s super-dirty, I add some dish soap, but I find that if I do it frequently, a quick scrub with hot water is all it needs. If you’re super-savvy, you can just put this feeder in the dishwasher and pull out a fresh one! If you’re spending more than two minutes cleaning your feeder, you should buy a new one – the flat ones are very easy to clean and top-rack dishwasher safe.

Step #5

Stir your nectar, and pour it in. Don’t worry about the leftover slivers of ice – pour them in, or pour them out, whichever you prefer. They won’t last long anyway.

Step #6

Re-hang your feeder, and get on with life! I replace the nectar about every other day now, and both the birds and I are very happy.

Further Information

Hummingbird Migration Maps (hummingbirds.net)
Hummingbirds in the Garden
Hints from a Hummingbird
Landscaping Tips for a Bird-Friendly Yard

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4 Comments on “How to Make Hummingbird Nectar and Refill a Feeder Fast”

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Sheri L. Williamson Says:
March 24th, 2010 at 1:54 pm

Good instructions *except* about using hot tap water. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend against using hot tap water for drinking or cooking because it can contain much higher concentrations of lead from pipes and fixtures:

http://www.cdc.gov/nceh/lead/tips/water.htm

Hummingbirds can drink 2 to 5 times their weight in sugar water in a day, so the risks from lead-contaminated water are much greater for them than for us.

Water from a lead-free instant hot water dispenser should be okay, but a minute to a minute and a half in the microwave is usually enough to get the sugar dissolve, even starting with ice-cold water, and would still keep your prep time at 5 minutes or less.

It’s also not necessary to make the solution extra strong to attract the birds in the first place. They won’t know what’s in the feeder until they take the first sip anyway, and a solution that’s too strong may not provide them with adequate water during hot, dry weather. If you keep the solution on the weak side, the birds will need to visit more often to get the same number of calories, and the feeder will be less attractive to bees.
Julie Day Says:
March 24th, 2010 at 8:00 pm

Thanks for your insights, Sheri. Good point on the lead in the water! You’re right, a minute in the microwave would dissolve the sugar and not add much time. I’m not a real fan of microwaves, but it’s just as easy to put the teakettle on while you’re measuring the sugar.

People sometimes use a stronger solution during the early migration season, hoping to make a good impression on a traveling male – perhaps entice him to stick around. But in my yard, the hummingbirds don’t need any special favors (in fact, they’re downright greedy and demanding!) so I just use the 1:4 ratio all season long. If you do start out stronger, make sure to reduce the concentration by late spring. The lower 1:4 concentration is closer to the natural sugar content of plant nectar, and it’s always better to follow nature’s lead.
Waltman Says:
July 30th, 2010 at 2:37 pm

My home has no lead in its lines or fixtures. I also have a glass-lined heater. Hot water from the tap is perfectly safe on a reasonably new house.
Linda Finale, Sunnyvale,CA Says:
January 15th, 2011 at 2:28 pm

Thanks all, I’m a new comer to this kinda stuff. I love the fact that I can help the birds everyday. I am a property manager and I live there. There are many beautiful flowers and trees. The flowers don’t grow year round, so I wanted to help the birds. Thanks again to all, Best to everyone. LF

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