Homemade, Dye-Free hummingbird nectar is so easy to make. Make your own with only 2 simple ingredients, in under 30 minutes.
Hummingbirds are some of my favorite backyard summer creatures. They have an aura to them that makes them seem like magical creatures, and they make you feel like a freakin’ Disney princess when you can lure them to your feeders.
Learn below how to make Homemade, Dye-Free Hummingbird nectar so your backyard is always full of these little birds!
For this recipe, you will need…
A large pot (for boiling the mixture)
4 cups of water (Does not have to be filtered. Tap works great!)
1 cup of cane sugar (Granulated white sugar works, no powdered sugar)
Stirring spoon of choice (I use a silicone spatula)
A super cute hummingbird feeder!
Let’s get started!
Place your large pot onto the right size of stove-top burner and turn the heat to medium to medium-low heat.
To the pot, add the 4 cups of water.
Again, the water does not need to be filtered. Tap water works just great!
Adding the Sugar to the Water
Next, add the 1 cup of cane sugar. “Morena” brand of cane sugar is our family favorite. We can find it at Aldi, Walmart, and anywhere else you grocery shop here in the Midwest.
If all you have is white sugar, that will work as well. The ratio remains the same. (1 cup cane sugar to 1 cup granulated white sugar) Powdered sugar will not work in this recipe.
Heat this mixture over medium or medium to low heat, stirring frequently, until all the cane sugar dissolves. This takes roughly 5-8 minutes.
Letting the Hummingbird Nectar Cool
After the sugar has completely dissolved, turn the burner off and move the pot over to the cool side of your stove-top.
Let the mixture cool for 25 minutes, or until room temperature.
If you’re in a hurry, place a towel in the fridge and place the large pot, housing the sugar-water mixture, onto the towel in the fridge.
Transferring the Hummingbird Nectar
Once the sugar-water mixture has cooled completely, transfer the nectar to your hummingbird feeders of choice.
Here are a few super cute options that will definitely attract these sweet birds!
Storing the leftover hummingbird nectar
Store this hummingbird nectar in the fridge in a covered, glass container. I use this glass carafe with a silicone lid, which works wonderfully.
This hummingbird nectar will keep for up to 1 week. After one week, dispose of any leftover nectar and whip up a new batch. If you notice any mold growing in or on the nectar, dispose of it as well.
How often should I change the nectar in the feeders?
Change the nectar every other day to ensure no mold grows inside the feeders.
Sugar water can also lure bugs like ants, so be sure to not only change the nectar out every other day, but clean the feeders by hand washing with a mild, scent free soap.
Why can’t I use red dye?
The short answer is, it is not necessary to attract hummingbirds.
It could also harm the birds more than it could help, as synthetic (or even natural) red dye is not biologically appropriate for the birds to consume.
Seriously, do NOT use any red colored dye. From fake red dye to natural beet juice. This will still hurt the birds.
Contrary to popular belief, the red color of the hummingbird nectar is not what attracts the birds to the feeders. It can be the color of the feeder itself, or even a few red accents on the feeder.
The birds will naturally be attracted to the color red, so choose bright, beautiful bird feeders to hold this nectar!
Enjoy the backyard birds!
Now that you know how simple this hummingbird nectar is to make, load up your hummingbird feeders and sit back to watch these summertime birds flock to your backyard!
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