The 3 Best Hummingbird Feeders, Plus How to Make Hummingbird Food
If you’ve been feeding hummingbirds for any length of time, you’ve probably figured out that most hummingbird feeders are garbage. They’re cheaply made and always a pain to clean. And if it’s difficult to clean, you’re not going to do it as often as you should.
I’m all about making the little things as easy as possible so they don’t become chores. We want time to be able to do the fun stuff!
What to look for in a quality hummingbird feeder:
I’ve tested quite a few hummingbird feeders over the years, and found some things to look for when buying a new feeder:
1. The Color Red
Hummingbirds love the color red. You’ll have much better luck attracting them to a feeder that has at least a little red on it. You can often find hummingbird food with red dye in it, but DON’T buy it! The red dye is unnecessary, and bad for the birds. Plus, the pre-made food is ridiculously expensive. You can make it yourself for pennies.
2. Easy to Clean
Sugar water is going to mold quickly in the hot sun. So, you’re going to want a birdfeeder that is easy to clean so you can keep your hummers happy and healthy. Most feeders have narrow necks and funky shapes that make cleaning them thoroughly almost impossible.
3. Small Capacity
Because hummingbird food molds so rapidly, you want to change it fairly frequently; every couple days (at least twice a week) is ideal. So unless you have swarms of hummingbirds, those big 16 oz feeders are going to be overkill.
4. A Perch
Hummingbirds can eat while hovering, but they often enjoy taking a seat. Plus, you’ll be able to watch them better if they’re sitting still while they snack!
The Three Best Hummingbird Feeders:
Aspects HummZinger HighView 12 Oz Hanging Hummingbird Feeder, Amazon.com
1. Aspects HummZinger HighView 12 Oz Hanging Hummingbird Feeder - 429, Red
This dish feeder is a great basic feeder. It has a perch for the birds to rest on during feeding, and the top lifts off for easy cleaning. And because you don’t have to flip it upside down while it’s full or rely on suction like a bottle feeder, there is no spilling. This feeder has a large capacity at 12 oz, but you don’t have to fill it completely if your birds don’t eat that fast. If you have lots of birds around, they’ll have plenty of room to perch and eat on this larger feeder.
Duncraft Hanging Sphere Hummingbird Feeder With Red Perch, Duncraft.com
2. Duncraft Hanging Sphere Hummingbird Feeder with Red Perch
The Duncraft bird feeder is a great glass option. Another dish style, this feeder is easy to clean, has an attached perch, and red coloring to attract the birds. It has a significantly smaller capacity than the HummZinger, holding only 3 ¼ oz. It’s a great feeder is you only have a couple visitors.
Aspects ‘The Gem’ Window Hummingbird Feeder, Amazon.com
3. Aspects ASPECTS437 The Gem Window Hummingbird Feeder
The Gem Window Hummingbird Feeder is a fun way to see birds up close, perfect for kids and bird lovers alike. It has a perch and an easy to clean removable top.
How to Make Hummingbird Food
Making hummingbird food is a very simple project. It consists of sugar and water in a ratio of 4 parts water to 1 part sugar (ex., 1 cup water to 1/4 cup sugar). Bring the water to a boil and then add the sugar, dissolve and let cool. Alternatively, you can heat up the sugar and water mix in the microwave for 1 minute (may need an additional 30 seconds) until hot then mix to dissolve the sugar.
Be sure to change the sugar mixture at least twice a week, more often if you see mold or the mixture gets cloudy or discolored. Wash the feeder thoroughly with soap and water and if needed you can soak in hot water with a small amount of bleach.
