Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire Hummingbirds

Since we have some experts, let me through out my situation.

Put up a Humingbird feeder 2 years ago - no birds.

Hmmm, there are plenty in the area, hey fly in my garage and then can't find their way out.

Last year, I cahnged to location of the feeder and the nectar and got birds!

This year, same feeder and same kind of nectar, but only have had a couple of fly bys. No regular birds. Down ere in Georgia, we should have plenty by now.

Who has ideas, tips?

I always add sugar to the nectar. They're sugar junkies. Make it sweet and they'll never leave you until the fall. If they don't eat it all right away, I'll dump it out after about a week or so and change it because it'll start getting funky.

OK, good point. I filled up a month + ago and they only took about 20% and left.

Two cups boiling water, one cup sugar. They love that stuff.

We had the first 2 hummers of the year, at our feeder yesterday.
Sugar water in a red feeder--

What part of the country are you in?

Hmmm. Been using 4 waters to 1 sugar for a long time, and I have lots of birds. miles

Boil the water. Change once a week if they don't drink all of it, it begins to go septic.

Got lots of them at my feeders.
I don't have a recipe, but I fill the feeder half way with sugar, and then use hot sink water to disolve til feeder is full.
It's sweet !!

I've had hummers for about 3 weeks now. I use 1:1 syrup. I don't fill feeder full and change it every 3-4 days. I have several feeders and have hummers on all of them.

This is our recipe as well. We never get more than four or so. Can't say I blame them, who the fugg wants to stay in Florida!

Hell , plant Honeysuckle in areas easily viewed, feed and water THEM. They'll do all the rest of the work,......I've got a big one in front of my kitchen window,....and it's a major attraction , they'll (hummers) nest there, so one has to be REAL careful whilst pruning.

Good reminder to dig out my red welding cap for the Summer,....talk about close up viewing !

GTC

My recipe also. Been feeding them for 26 years, always get plenty of birds. My first ones of the season showed up last week. Right on schedule.

They go for your red cap? Seriously?

Yes, 2-1 ratio, using cane sugar only and no coloring. Never use the store-bought nectar mix. Never use honey.

I hang my feeders under my eaves so they are out of direct sun. The birds have also learned that it's a dry place to perch and eat during a storm.

If I see evidence of mold or other funk, I clean the feeder bottles with a mild bleach solution, followed by an alcohol rinse, and then several hot water rinses.

Edit to add: Hatari, if I sit quietly on my deck, I've had them investigate a small red emblem/patch on my shirt front. It's so cool to have one hover two inches from me until he decides I'm no flower!

I'm doing some other cultivation out front (where the big honeysuckle abides), and with the winds here, have to stay on top of trellissing, and watering. It's a shady cool area in high Summer. Hell Man, when I'm out there working / fooling around they LAND on me.
.....my Gambels Quail are pretty tame, too.

If you can grow Mexican Red Bird of Paradise, you'll be SWAMPED in Fall hummers. My neighbor's got some adjacent to his welding and beer drinking area,....and it's a riot. I've got some started from seed,....and hope to see some action here in a year or two.

GTC

There are a few things out here that buzz, and fly about that one DOESN'T want landing on him,.....I'll have to own up to have had the odd scare thrown at me a time or two.

GTC

I'm guessing you do don't always smell like Chanel #5??

They know they can move faster than you, so they're not afraid of you. I've had them almost run into my head before. You almost need to wear safety glasses so you don't get eye put out or something. The best part is when you get a big male hording the feeder. That's when you get high speed mid-air dog fights going on.

I think it's safe to say that I never smell like Chanel #5!

The birds soon get used to you if they see you often enough. Just don't make sudden moves and they'll go about their business while you watch them.