Proper Care and Maintenance of Hummingbird Feeders

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We had a storm front come through yesterday, and I noticed a single male Ruby-Throated Hummingbird feeding on my flowers in the rain. He looked so sad that I decided I needed to restock the hummingbird feeder that some enterprising night creature (probably a possum or raccoon) had dumped on the ground last night. It was quite chilly yesterday (and supposed to drop to near freezing tonight), so I knew the little hummer would probably need the cheap energy provided by the feeder.

When I got it inside, I decided to thoroughly clean the feeder because not only was it dirty from falling to the ground, a little slime had started to build up under the tiny yellow flowers that serve as the openings to the feeder. This dirt and slime is potentially quite harmful to hummingbirds, so it’s important to clean it off.

Think of it from a hummingbird’s perspective: If you wouldn’t want to stick your tongue in that filthy little opening, why would your force your beloved birds to do so?

Same is true for the sugar water: If it’s cloudy or has been sitting in the sun for a week, would you drink it? No. So don’t tempt your hummingbirds to drink it, either.

Here are some good rules to follow for maintaining hummingbird feeders:

– Ensure your feeder is clean. If you wouldn’t drink from it, clean it. Sugar is food for many things, including bacteria and fungi. Clean your feeders weekly in cool weather and more frequently when it starts to get hot. Clean all parts, not just the exterior, and that may require you to dismantle it. I use dish soap to clean mine, ensuring that it is rinsed thoroughly and doesn’t leave any residue, but some people recommend using white vinegar or even bleach. Here is a good set of instruction for cleaning: http://www.wikihow.com/Clean-a-Hummingbird-Feeder

– When making food, always use a ratio of 4 cups of fresh water to 1 cup of pure, granulated white sugar. Be vigilant about keeping the proper ratios. Too much sugar can hurt a hummingbird’s internal organs, and too little does not provide sufficient calories. NEVER use artificial sweeteners or honey. (Honey can actually kill hummingbirds.) Boil the water, add the sugar and stir until all the granules have dissolved. Let it cool before pouring into the feeder. I recommend making the food yourself rather than purchasing premade mixes or nectar.

These may contain preservatives and artificial colors. Remember, sugar is food for nasty things, so manufacturers have to prevent those from growning while it’s sitting on the store shelf. Which brings me to: Don’t use artificial coloring. Some people maintain they are safe; others assert that some coloring and dyes are actively harmful. I ask, why take the risk? Artificial coloring is completely unnecessary. If you use a standard commercial hummingbird feeder, your birds will find it without coloring the water. It’s just not worth the risk.

– Change the sugar water frequently. We never fill ours all the way up so we have to change it often. I’ve seen recommendations to change food as often as daily in hot weather. I admit we don’t do it that frequently, but cloudy water is a sure sign it has gone bad. Keeping the feeder in the shade seems to help.

It does take time and effort to properly maintain a hummingbird feeder. If you can’t commit to keeping one clean and healthy, I recommend planting some low maintenance, easy care flowers that can provide them with food instead. That way you can enjoy the birds without putting their health at risk.

Meet Leslie Miller

Leslie Ann Miller shares 3.5 acres in rural Oklahoma with birds, butterflies and wide variety of animals. She is currently transforming her yard with plantings…

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