On our farm, we’re always trying to look beyond the daily production of our landholding and see our acreage’s potential. I am particularly interested in change the nature of our farm from the traditional hayfield we purchased to add more habitat to promote the wildlife species that could potentially call our farm home.
One of the first native species we spotted here at our Texas farm was the hummingbird.
Now, I just love hummingbirds. They’re fascinating creatures and get their names from the sound their wings make when they beat them. These wings move so fast as they move or hover, they make a humming sound.
So in order to encourage these marvelous little creatures to visit our farm property, we went to town and, like many people, bought a hummingbird feeder. We also bought the traditional hummingbird food, which is purported to simulate the taste of nectar.
The problem? The hummingbirds didn’t like this food we purchased and provided for them. And, as a result, they didn’t visit the hummingbird feeder we put out for them.
Read more: Grow some green bird flower, a different kind of hummingbird plant.
Making My Own Hummingbird Food
I still really wanted these cool little birds to come sup at our homestead, though. So I set out to find a recipe the hummingbirds would enjoy. There are plenty of recipes available on the internet, books and other information resources.
But I I happened to have easy access to a recipe I knew worked, so I called up my dad and asked him what he put in his hummingbird feeder.
It turned out my dad had been given this recipe from someone else years back. Hummingbirds love the food, and it’s both inexpensive and simple to make.
Read more: Check out these 8 cool facts about hummingbirds.
Recipe
Here’s what you’ll need to make hummingbird food sure to please your hummingbird visitors.
- 4 parts water
- 1 part sugar
That’s it! Just mix up the water and sugar, put it in the feeder and watch the hummingbirds dine on your offering.
You may note that this mixture is clear, as opposed to the red stuff you get in the store. All I can figure is the additives that give the commercial feed its color also puts hummingbirds off the taste.
Check out the video above for more tips on how to mix homemade hummingbird feed as well as some fun footage of the little beauties who frequent our farm.
