With hummingbirds, more feeders are usually better than larger feeders. If the bee guards are yellow, they may, ironically, attract bees.

The fill hole should be large enough for you to be able to get a bottlebrush inside, and every crevice should be easy to scrub.īottle or tube hummingbird feeders can be glass or plastic, often with red plastic flowers and bee guards (little plastic screens that keep insects away from the sugar solution) on the feeding ports. The easier it is to clean a hummingbird feeder, the more likely you are to do it often and well. The best-sized feeders are those that are emptied every day or two by the hummingbirds you have. Bacteria and mold grow in sugar water, and sugar ferments, so hummingbird water should never be left out for more than two or three days, and changed daily in very hot weather. The two most important issues to consider in selecting hummingbird feeders are how easy they are to take apart and clean, and how large they are. It’s the flowers themselves that are brightly colored, not the nectar-and that’s why hummingbird feeders typically are designed with red parts to attract the notice of hummingbirds.

Nectar in flowers is clear, after all, and red food coloring may be harmful for hummingbirds. Note: There’s no need to add red food color to sugar water, or to use red-colored commercial mixes. But if you mix up larger batches and refrigerate part for later use, then it’s wise to make the mixture with boiling water. If you mix up small quantities of sugar water every day or two, there’s no need to boil the water.

Humming bird feeder plans