Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!rutgers!ucsd!ucbvax!decwrl!shelby!lindy!news
From: GC.SUL@forsythe.stanford.edu (Sullivan)
Newsgroups: rec.birds
Subject: hummingbird feeders and nectar
Message-ID: <3842@lindy.Stanford.EDU>
Date: 14 Jul 89 00:11:09 GMT
Sender: news@lindy.Stanford.EDU (News Service)
Lines: 24

Regarding hummingbird nectar, please, the only thing you should be
putting in the feeders is a mixture of 1 part ordinary sugar to 4
parts water.  A higher concentration of sugar will cause liver and
reproductive problems.  This most closely approximates the sugar
concentrtion found in flower nectar and both are sucrose sugar.
Make sure the sugar dissolves entirely and refrigerate the unused
portion.  Make sure the feeder is cleaned twice weekly    and the
nectar changed and keep the feeder in the shade.
NEVER put honey in a feeder because not only is the sugar content
far too high, but honey is a more complex sugar and spoils very
quickly.
I hate to sound bossy about this but it HAS been researched and
deviations on sugar proportions, etc, can be deadly to hummingbirds
with their high metabolisms.  No red food color should be
added-again it is not good for them.  If your feeder does not have
red on it (to attract them over), you can add some with red nail
polish.
And, don't forget, the best thing to do is to plant flowers that
attract then in addition to the feeders

Karen Sullivan
Hummingbird Gardens Nursery

Oh yes, homemade feeders are fine