I bought the hummingbird feeder already but didn't know the correct way to do the nectar. Great info!

I can't help but notice your beautiful planter also

I must say 'yes' to the pure cane sugar. Even hummers know which is the best sugar.

When I've paid attention, I notice they will turn up their beaks if it isn't pure cane sugar.

Timely tip as many of us are already seeing these visitors. Thanks.

I have been using the "recipe" for my hummers for a while now. Lately I haven't seen them come for a snack. Soon the flowers will lure them away from me. I just have a couple that come around, wonder where their friends are.

I thought that you pour the sugar into the pot while in still on the stove and the heat is still turned to high, just when/after it comes to a boil. I never knew that I had to take it off the heat and stove.

Seems like it's ok with my Hummers.

Just wanted to mention that the Humzinger brand feeders are a lot easier to clean than the bottle type ones. They're dishwasher safe, and have an ant moat. I've never had ants get in to mine. And it has a perch.

http://www.hummzinger.biz/humm...

Karen

I do what you do Marilyn, I boil the water then stir the sugar while still on the stove, but just enough to stir it in and dissolve. Then I remove it promptly from the stove to cool down.

Thank you, Gigi.

I use a tea kettle to boil the water in, then add the boiled water to the sugar; but either way probably gets you the same result? It's better than the red dye food colored nectar that you usually get at the store - not good for the hummingbirds.

Pod, I've heard that they won't touch the beet sugar. I just had my first two male ruby red throats show up two days ago and had to rush to get the feeder up. It's been a slow start for spring for us up here, even the scarlet honeysuckle is barely budding out. The night they arrived, our temps went down to 36F! I was happy when they showed up at the feeder the next morning.

I usually use 1 cup of sugar to 4 cups of water and mix it and boil it together for several minutes. I cool it, then put it in a big bottle and keep it in the refrig so it is handy whenever needed. I like to have it cold from the refrig as our heat warms it quickly here . The Hummers seem very happy and have rewarded me with building a nest 3 times on a hanging piece of yard art that is on the patio.

Awwwww :), these are very encouraging posts. I have yet to hang my hummingbird feeder and see or photograph my first hummingbird in my yard. My aunt puts petroleum jelly on the string so ants can't get near your mix.

My feeder

tarev said:I do what you do Marilyn, I boil the water then stir the sugar while still on the stove, but just enough to stir it in and dissolve. Then I remove it promptly from the stove to cool down.

Exactly!

Gigi

If that's the "push - pull" feeder, I got four of them one year and found that they leaked, so I took them back to where I got them. Maybe it was just me (not doing it correctly) and/or maybe they've fixed the problem.

Not sure but I think I only have to open the cap but may still leak. It was on clearance at Walmart.

I've always had the best success with single tube feeders. I find they fight over multiple feeding stations and only one gets to eat most of the time anyway.

But my best reason for using the single tubes is our heat. I have to change the food if the feeder doesn't get emptied quickly anyway. These single tube feeders are easy to clean quickly and I keep a spare set of them ready to go. I fill the extras and go out to hang them as I remove the empty ones.

Linda (Quietyard) I like that name BTW. I had read that when hummers nest and raise offspring in an area, they will all return next season. Sounds like you will have heavy traffic for years to come with the repeated nesting. Good for you!

Hi Kristi ! Thank you for commenting on my Quietyard Name !

I do indeed have lots of Hummingbirds. While sitting in the sun a few days ago one came and fluttered over my blondish hair for several seconds. I could feel the breeze from the wings. I think it was trying to decide if the hair would make good nesting material !

Karen

I love it... just trying to decide if you were a pretty flower.

It is so fun to hear the buzz of the first hummers. I ran in and told my husband when I heard the first one this spring. He said ~ oh, I've been watching them at the feeder for a week now. Coulda, shoulda told me!