I pray to God people listen to you and others saying ONLY granulated white sugar and water. We need to save the hummingbirds! And yes, please plant more and more flowers for them. Thank you Robbie. ❤
I am glad that you mentioned planting flowers because some people don't know how important flowers are to hummingbirds, butterflies, and bees. I think me having so many flowers is what attracts them to my place.
Thank you for your reminder, Robbie. Hummingbirds have very delicate and special bodies; they can only digest white sugar water, nectar from flowers and insects they select. We see things like this in human too; some people cannot eat certain food and may end up sick. Respect the body's uniqueness.
I now have 16 feeders out, but I only fill them 3/4 of the way full, and they are being emptied pretty fast, depending on their location. The ones on the ends of my porch are emptied every day. The ones in the middle of my porch are emptied every other day. I think that I have more hummingbirds this year than I did at this time last year, so I bought 4 more feeders today because I know I will need them by the end of the season. I want to thank you for strongly encouraging and teaching people the importance of feeding hummingbirds correctly. It's so important that people know. ❤😊😊❤
Someone in my neighborhood has a full feeder of red dye nectar. It is still full. The hummingbirds are constantly emptying my feeders with 1 cup sugar to 4 cups water. I change the feeders every day or every other day depending on how much they eat. Those are some smart. Hummingbirds!
oh i’m so glad i’ve nothing to worry about! when i saw your warning i was VERY concerned. i use the exact recipe you read in this video and its all i’ve ever used. i really really hope your message gets to a lot of people!!! this is a situation where a “👍” can be super important. THANKS!!!!❤ I LOVE ALL BIRDS!!!
Thank you Robbie from a hummingbird goober in Kentucky. My feeders are up cleaned daily , fresh made with boiled water and pure cane sugar from spring through fall.
Thank you so much for reminding everyone to feed them properly. You want the right food for you and your fur babies to eat. So do it right and feed the hummers right. Zoe is adorable.
THANKS ROBBIE, the Humming Bird is one of TRINIDAD and TOBAGO's national bird and it's so nice to hear you speak about our bird. I love watching you build houses for them and I pray that other people don't destroy them. in TRINIDAD THEY FEED ON THE HIBISCUS FLOWERS A LOT.
Amen!!!!!!!!! Thank you for your continued diligence educating everyone on God’s beautiful creation. I love and admire your passion getting the truth out and breaking down myths.
Thank you so very much for this. It grieves me so much when I see someone on facebook talk about natural sugar or honey. And I cant talk them out of it.
Bless you! I live in the far north and just saw my first hummingbird feeding on my flowers! I was hesitant to feed them, but now I know the correct method! I remember,growing up in the south, that they loved the hollyhocks growing in my grandmother’s yard!
We have a Texas Hibiscus that the hummingbirds LOVE, and I try to plant as many flowers for the bees, butterflies and hummingbirds as possible in our clay soil. I always have used this recipe, but, regrettably, I'm afraid I haven't changed and cleaned the feeders often enough! I will certainly rectify this! THANK you for your great information...and I love your painted flower pots, too!
You have created a wonderful site here. i always enjoy seeing all the hummers you cater too; your inventive feeder projects. I am always especially amazed at how many hummers feed perfectly happily in close proximity together!!!! I've never experienced that in my garden; they are soooooo competitive and defensive of their food sources. Today you brought a VERY IMPORTANT message about how to properly feed so people don't harm these beautiful little creatures. Thank you!!!!
Thank you for continuing to share this information for those looking to learn! You taught me and I do my best to *gently* educate others when the opportunity arises! I love your no-nonsense, no extra steps or frills methods! I see a lot of over zealous people saying you need to use boiling water for the nectar, you need to soak your feeders in hydrogen peroxide, etc. I follow your advice and common sense logic that we should clean the feeders as if we are preparing them for toddlers or babies - plenty of hot water and normal dish soap with lots of rinsing and then air drying! Exactly as I did my baby bottles when I had babies. And our tap water is perfectly fine to make nectar; no need to boil it first!
What a beautiful place where you live Robbie ! I love the Mountains and vast rural countryside .. Thanks for all you do for the hummingbirds and to help us be Guardians of the Hummers and other birds
Thank you Robbie, I think you will reach many bird enthusiasts & in turn you will help save these precious little birds! God Bless you for this important informational video!!🙏❤️🙏❤️
I cannot thank you enough for making this video and for showing the best feeder ever. The First Nature feeder. It, by far, is the easiest take apart, clean, and fill.
Thank you for being so emphatic about this! We only have one feeder, but we clean it religiously and restock the food every other day. This is so important. I hate it when I go into Walmart and see so much dyed Red hummingbird nectar bottles.
I pray that people stop killing God's beautiful hummingbirds. If they are not going to feed them the correct mixture of food, they need to stop!! If they aren't going to clean the feeders and replace the food regularly, they need to stop feeding our little angels! I have fought with family members and others over this issue.. It makes me sick to my stomach how irresponsible some people are. I pray that they listen to you, Robbie ❤
I guess I haven't been changing and refilling my feeders often enough. I live in a cool area but I need to clean and refill them more often. Thank you for the information.
Thank you for putting this information out there for people who don't know what they are doing!!! My grandmother taught me how to make humming bird food when i was 8 n i still make it the same for the last 32 years!!!
Thank you so much. The way this report says to feed them is exactly the way I have fed them for years and years. People don’t listen. They think they know everything.
Yeah. I feed my bees in winter and heating the water makes things easier. But at a 4:1 mix it should dissolve fully faster in cool water than some of my ratios for bees. The key is mixing hard and someone even said they bubble air in as they mix and it's supposed to aid the sugar dissolving.
We had three female Rubythroated hummers coming to our feeder last year. Talk about territorial! I was sitting on the front porch watching the feeder where there was a single hummer feeding. Suddenly, another hummer appeared and dive bombed it. Then it was like an old fashioned airplane dog fight, chasing each other up, down…everywhere. So happy they’re back. I looked up the feeding mixture on line to feed them the right stuff. Hope to get more hummers with a second feeder.
Speaking of territorial, you will have better luck with 2 feeders if they are out of sight of each other. Had a rufus humming bird starve trying to guard 2 feeders. Sad lesson.
Thank you for educating people Robbie. This is such an important video. For those of us who love these little birds. Thank you for putting out this video ❤
Robbie, you are the guardian angel of hummingbirds ❤. I adore these little miracles and designed my garden specifically for them, the bees and butterflies. My feeders are out only as a supplement when the natural nectar supply isn't sufficient. Each year I have 2 or 3 families that nest in/or around my garden and that is because I follow your advice to the letter. PLEASE don't ever stop advocating for our beloved hummingbirds! ❤
Good Job Robbie, just granulated sugar and water is ok. I feed hummingbirds for more than 10 years and It works ok and I do exactly what you are saying. You are doing an excellent job. God Bless You.
This worries me that people might feed them wrong. We have only seen two here and I'm worried. I bought extra just so I could keep rotating them, with white cane sugar. Thanks for this message, Robbie!
Amen!!! This is so important and definitely bears repeating many times over. My Uncle Lou in California told me already back in the 1980's how to mix the food for hummingbirds. He said its a 4 to 1 ratio....1 part plain white sugar with 4 parts water, and he said NOT to add any red food color, because it was bad for the birds. Just a simple 4:1 ratio...that's it! He also had so many hummers coming to his feeders. I've always remembered that and have tried to let others know that might be feeding hummers. I see the bottles of so called nectar in the stores and it makes me sad, because people buy that and its not really good for the hummers. Thank you, Robbie for spreading the word. ❤❤❤
Thanks Robbie. I appreciate your information as to being mindful of these precious birds and making sure they're drinking the right mixture of water to granulated white sugar..
Our hummingbirds will let us know that if our sugar is old or stale. I know I've been there. I don't use sugar only for making sugar water for them. Thanks Robbie for sharing your info about 1 c of white sugar and 4 c water. Keep us & our hummingbirds in your prayers we have a lot of bad storms coming in 24-48 hrs.
This lady is giving the best schedule to use in changing out Hummingbird feeders. If we wait until 'the Hummers' no longer' feed at a feeder; it may be to late for the Hummer's. Sugar water goes bad quickly; especially if the feeder is in the sun; and, if that occurs the Hummingbirds die.
Thank you Robbie. I shared this with my friend in NY, who also appreciates the little hummingbirds. We talk about them almost every day. ☺️ Blessings 🤗🌹
THANK YOU for this!!! People don't research enough before taking on a huge responsibility that they don't realize the dangers of. ❤ I hope people see this that need to see this!
Years ago i had a passionate discussion here in middle TN with a woman who was convinced adding vitamin E was making her hummers extra strong. Wish i"d had this to show her. She clearly thought i wasn't open to change. No, not when we already know what is safe & works well. Sigh.
Thank goodness I have never been truly tempted to try other sweeteners for my hummers. I have considered them, but not seriously. Thanks so much for your hummer videos.
Hello from Oregon. I’ve been a lifelong feeder of hummingbirds. I stopped using red food die in my feeders 40 years ago. And regarding what’s found in flower nectar it is composed of one disaccharide (sucrose) and two hexoses (glucose and fructose). And apparently, plant species that have flowers that use hummingbirds, moths, butterflies and long tongued bees as pollinators have sucrose in the larger amount of the three sugars. I agree with you that they do well on white sugar syrup with no food coloring. They get protein from gnats, small spiders and other tiny flying insects. In the summer They mostly use our feeders to supplement their diet of nectar and bugs.
I totally agree with you, I’ve been feeding hummingbirds for years, I love ❤️ them so much, I’ve even told people the same, I can’t believe how many people use red food die for color smh, poor little fellas 😢😢😢😢😢 flew of and died, thank you 🙏 so much for posting this wonderful video.
Glad to have verification that i'm doing it right! 4/1 water sugar Period. We make 4 cups sugar/1 gallon water & store it in the fridge. I do boil the water because it dissolves all that sugar easier & more thoroughly & sterilizes it.
I just plant a lot of flowers. They’re often hanging around in my garden especially for the Salvia it seems. It’s more fun to view them in the flowers plus it’s their natural food.
I once had a bird who'd use the feeder but then would take a taste of some of my tubular flowers on the patio. Maybe SHE didn't love the taste of white sugar! :D
One thing to keep in mind. Pure cane sugar can contain mold spores. When making humming bird food, the water sugar mixture should be brought to a boil, covered and allowed to cool. Just like when doing home canning, wipe the sealing surface of the feeder with a towel moistened with white vinegar, after cleaning and prior to filling, then after being filled.
yup, i have not eaten processed sugar since the 80's and thought i would use organic raw sugar for hummingbird food until i researched it and found out, to my surprise, that you have to use white sugar. i have tons of hummingbirds in my orchard. more each year. i have to add a few feeders each year. no where near how many you have though, wow 😍
I read about this many years ago, and that honey can cause tumors on their beak. I haven't left out a feeder for many years now, but I was wondering about organic white sugar? Maybe it isn't right too because it might be slightly less processed or refined, I don't know. I just worry about the pesticides in the environment and their residue. I'm glad you're spreading the word, thanks. 🌼
Wow, good to know. I have always used a 1 to 3 ratio. I will now add that other cup of water. I also only wash them out about once a week, but my feeders are not in the sun. When I used to fill them all the way up, they did get mold growing on the inside before the week was up. Now I only put enough in to last a few days. I also discovered my hummingbirds prefer Domino sugar which is cane sugar over the store brand sugar which is beet sugar. So I now only feed the real cane sugar which seems to be why I have more than I've ever had. Who knew that hummingbirds only want the best, no store brands for them if they had a choice. Thanks for sharing.
Beet sugar has roundup in it. I don't know if they have made gmo cane sugar yet. They are probably working on it... Roundup damages everyone's gut microbiome. I can actually smell roundup when I open a bag of m&M's these days. I'm very sensitive to it.
You have so many lovely hummingbirds. I have only one. It has been enjoying all 4 feeders. I live in an area that I think some hummingbirds destined to the mountains didn't quite make it so a few migrate here. I consider it a crowd wgen I have 3 swooping to claim their territory.
That’s so disturbing to think anyone is using something other than cane sugar! We love our hummingbirds , I hope people listen to this video and it is understood❤
What the stores have out there is some mix with that Perky Pet thinks is beneficial minerals so people are only trying to do what the stores offer for "free."
Wow this is such a powerful video! Thanks sooooo much, I learned so much in these few minutes and really appreciate it. I LOVE hummingbirds. I’m only used to seeing 1 or 2 based on the flowers I have, but now know how to do a feeder. I just may try it 👍🏾
Might I add that it is very important that the sugar water solution be completely dissolved before feeding. Always BOIL the solution for AT LEAST 15 minutes, then cool completely before filling feeders. Cool completely means it is NOT hot or warm! Keep feeders clean and refill feeders frequently! Feeding hummingbirds is a commitment. 🌺
Great video! I already knew about red dye etc. but I’m sure there are plenty who need to know this information. I have 3 feeders out and only 2 hummingbirds so far here in Northern Nevada. (Use to live in southern ca)
@@maryfrey Interesting. I put out flowers as well. I have trumpet vines. But they aren’t in bloom yet. I’ll keep watching 😂 Good luck to you there in Ohio.
@@susanm7354 Thank you, Susan. I've put out flowers, too...petunias and lantana, and I'm planting some bee balm this weekend and hope it helps when it blooms. So far, they haven't come to the petunias and Lantana. Very strange.
@@maryfrey I have petunias out too. I was just watching a video on how to prune them to get more blooms. I planted two lantana a couple of years ago but they didn’t make it. I may try planting them again. Northern Nevada weather can be harsh at times.
Gawd yes, hummingbirds are very territorial. I’ve seen them dive bomb each other. My dad would make a one-to-ratio between sugar and water. Geez, the hummingbirds have to take a number for the feeders. They’re so fun to watch.
ohmygosh..I've seen that warning places and HEEDED IT!! WHITE SUGAR!! I BOUGHT WHITE SUGAR ESPECIALLY!! I don't use the red dye either and they love it.
I do use the right formula and I don't Necessarily change it out like she is suggesting but I only use a glass feeder and it is always in the shade and out of the rain during the winter. I don't use a Plastic Feeder. To me a Plastic Feeder is not as clean as glass and gets Mold much easier than glass. The birds seem to empty the Feeder in three to four days max. So I hope that I'm doing a good job. I only have one Feeder with about 5 to 6 Birds. Never anymore than that. Oh! I do use Boiling Water but just enough to melt the Sugar and then finish it with cold water to cool it down and put it in the fridge for a little while to cool it down a little more. I use a wisk to mix it well.
We boil filtered tap water, add the correct ratio of granulated sugar, stir to dissolve and cool while cleaning the feeders to refill. We make two batches at once and refrigerate what we don't use that day. In the winter in the Phoenix cement and asphalt jungle with no flowers, we needed 4 or more feeders well spaced apart with the correct food half full and cleaned and refilled every other day this year. The hummers have their favorites in the yard, and yes, each has a bully who sits on a overlooking twig and guards it. Dawn and dusk there are so many hummers the bullies can't win; while they chase 1 off, another hummer comes and feeds. And in the first and last minutes of the daylight, there can be 3 or 4 feeding peacefully on each feeder. At that time it is critical to get the last food of the day before their long night, or the first feed after awakening, so they don't fight. It is calmer midday as they come in one by one, but the bullies are never far away. In the summer, at least half if not more of the tiny acrobats have migrated north and we have flowers they love, so we cut back to just 2 feeders in the best spots that have shade almost all day. That satisfies the demand and the bullies don't guard as much. They are busy feeding from flowers some of the time like the other hummers. Our problem is beautiful woodpeckers, finches and towees that land and tip nectar out to lick up, since their beaks don't fit. I wouldn't mind except it wastes so much nectar and the finches poop next to feeding slots. I have to really watch that the feeder isn't empty by the time the hummers want their final feed of the evening. If those other scamps have tipped it all out below what their beaks and tongues can reach I have to do a quick refill. I'm lucky not to have ants because of so much nectar getting on the outside and underside of the feeding platform where the moisture evaporates making sticky hard clear sugar drops. Putting up suet cakes for the big birds and nyger feeders for the finches doesn't dissuade them from going after the hummer's food. They just enjoy both. The woodpeckers hang from the bottom of the feeders half of the time, so a canopy wouldn't keep them off. I'm still trying to figure out what to do about them, so any suggestions are welcome.
Very Very good video - I hope millions of people watch it and learn. and you statement about the asphalt jungle is so true - everyone keeps blaming the wrong things for climate change - blacktopping every acre on planet Earth and the fashion industry making over 100 billion articles of clothing and over 20 billion pairs of shoes every single year creates more destruction to planet Earth than anything!
What's been fun for me is watching a female go after the small flying bugs that fly up when I'm watering my garden. She sure does get a lot. I'm sure she's feeding babies because she flies away and always cones right back.
We turned 2/3 of our front yard into a beautiful Texas style cottage garden, salvia, phlox, lantana, sage, bee balm, butterfly weed, crepe myrtle, the hummingbirds, bees and butterflies love it. (all hardy plants so we dont have to use anything nonnorganic, only occasional neem oil on our David Austin roses for the aphids that eat them. ) We don't even have to keep hummingbird feeders, clean, refill etc. - they just eat from flowers the way God made them to. Hubby doesn't have but a small patch of lawn to mow. All the neighbors love it when they take their dogs for a walk, so much prettier and more interesting than boring suburban lawns. I don't understand why everyone doesn't do this. 🤷♀️ It's a bit of work up front but almost no maintenance, just throw some compost on every spring.
I pray to God people listen to you and others saying ONLY granulated white sugar and water. We need to save the hummingbirds! And yes, please plant more and more flowers for them. Thank you Robbie. ❤
Wow, amazing all the hummers you have! Appreciate the information. ♥️
I am glad that you mentioned planting flowers because some people don't know how important flowers are to hummingbirds, butterflies, and bees. I think me having so many flowers is what attracts them to my place.
Granulated CANE SUGAR, not beet sugar! Check the bag of sugar for only CANE sugar! Many of the generic sugar is beet sugar.
No god we trust! No evidence no gods! Stop with the imaginary sky being already!
Which one?
Thank you for your reminder, Robbie. Hummingbirds have very delicate and special bodies; they can only digest white sugar water, nectar from flowers and insects they select. We see things like this in human too; some people cannot eat certain food and may end up sick. Respect the body's uniqueness.
Hard to imagine cleaning 70+ feeders every other day... 🤔
I'm sharing your video with all my friends
What flowers attracts the hummingbirds
@@janethomas7382 Hummingbirds like red, orange, pink, yellow and purple colours, so any flowers of that they will come.
I now have 16 feeders out, but I only fill them 3/4 of the way full, and they are being emptied pretty fast, depending on their location. The ones on the ends of my porch are emptied every day. The ones in the middle of my porch are emptied every other day. I think that I have more hummingbirds this year than I did at this time last year, so I bought 4 more feeders today because I know I will need them by the end of the season.
I want to thank you for strongly encouraging and teaching people the importance of feeding hummingbirds correctly. It's so important that people know. ❤😊😊❤
@@jwater63 oh, thank you so much❤️
I'm so glad you keep telling us all how important it is to feed our birds correct.
Someone in my neighborhood has a full feeder of red dye nectar. It is still full. The hummingbirds are constantly emptying my feeders with 1 cup sugar to 4 cups water. I change the feeders every day or every other day depending on how much they eat. Those are some smart. Hummingbirds!
I’m so glad you shared this. I just read where a hummingbird had died because honey was used.
I have my first hummingbird nest. What a fantastic sight.i have been subscribed for many years.
so luckyyy
oh i’m so glad i’ve nothing to worry about! when i saw your warning i was VERY concerned. i use the exact recipe you read in this video and its all i’ve ever used. i really really hope your message gets to a lot of people!!! this is a situation where a “👍” can be super important. THANKS!!!!❤
I LOVE ALL BIRDS!!!
Thank you, Robbie! I’m glad you made this announcement. 💜
Thank you Robbie from a hummingbird goober in Kentucky. My feeders are up cleaned daily , fresh made with boiled water and pure cane sugar from spring through fall.
Thank you so much for reminding everyone to feed them properly. You want the right food for you and your fur babies to eat. So do it right and feed the hummers right. Zoe is adorable.
THANKS ROBBIE, the Humming Bird is one of TRINIDAD and TOBAGO's national bird and it's so nice to hear you speak about our bird. I love watching you build houses for them and I pray that other people don't destroy them. in TRINIDAD THEY FEED ON THE HIBISCUS FLOWERS A LOT.
Amen!!!!!!!!! Thank you for your continued diligence educating everyone on God’s beautiful creation. I love and admire your passion getting the truth out and breaking down myths.
Thank you so very much for this. It grieves me so much when I see someone on facebook talk about natural sugar or honey. And I cant talk them out of it.
Bless you! I live in the far north and just saw my first hummingbird feeding on my flowers! I was hesitant to feed them, but now I know the correct method! I remember,growing up in the south, that they loved the hollyhocks growing in my grandmother’s yard!
We have a Texas Hibiscus that the hummingbirds LOVE, and I try to plant as many flowers for the bees, butterflies and hummingbirds as possible in our clay soil. I always have used this recipe, but, regrettably, I'm afraid I haven't changed and cleaned the feeders often enough! I will certainly rectify this! THANK you for your great information...and I love your painted flower pots, too!
You have created a wonderful site here. i always enjoy seeing all the hummers you cater too; your inventive feeder projects. I am always especially amazed at how many hummers feed perfectly happily in close proximity together!!!! I've never experienced that in my garden; they are soooooo competitive and defensive of their food sources. Today you brought a VERY IMPORTANT message about how to properly feed so people don't harm these beautiful little creatures. Thank you!!!!
Thank you for continuing to share this information for those looking to learn! You taught me and I do my best to *gently* educate others when the opportunity arises! I love your no-nonsense, no extra steps or frills methods! I see a lot of over zealous people saying you need to use boiling water for the nectar, you need to soak your feeders in hydrogen peroxide, etc. I follow your advice and common sense logic that we should clean the feeders as if we are preparing them for toddlers or babies - plenty of hot water and normal dish soap with lots of rinsing and then air drying! Exactly as I did my baby bottles when I had babies. And our tap water is perfectly fine to make nectar; no need to boil it first!
Yesss!! Thank you for being a constant voice for the birds Robbie!! 💓
I hope people that feed hummingbirds see this video ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤
Made me Smile 😊
Thank you and share this video too ❤️😊
What a beautiful place where you live Robbie ! I love the Mountains and vast rural countryside ..
Thanks for all you do for the hummingbirds and to help us be Guardians of the Hummers and other birds
Thanks! keep up the good work
OMG, Thank you So Very Much Cynthia! This is so greatly appreciated. Again thank you so very much!!!! ❤
Thank you for the generous Super Thanks!!! ❤
Thank you Robbie, I think you will reach many bird enthusiasts & in turn you will help save these precious little birds! God Bless you for this important informational video!!🙏❤️🙏❤️
I cannot thank you enough for making this video and for showing the best feeder ever. The First Nature feeder. It, by far, is the easiest take apart, clean, and fill.
Thank you for being so emphatic about this! We only have one feeder, but we clean it religiously and restock the food every other day. This is so important. I hate it when I go into Walmart and see so much dyed Red hummingbird nectar bottles.
THANK YOU! For. Showing us how to enjoy our beautiful birds!!!
I pray that people stop killing God's beautiful hummingbirds. If they are not going to feed them the correct mixture of food, they need to stop!! If they aren't going to clean the feeders and replace the food regularly, they need to stop feeding our little angels! I have fought with family members and others over this issue.. It makes me sick to my stomach how irresponsible some people are. I pray that they listen to you, Robbie ❤
Relax, it’s not worth fighting with anyone…
If God was real, would he really make onions kill dogs and alternative sugars kill hummingbirds?! God isn’t real! But hummingbirds are!
I guess I haven't been changing and refilling my feeders often enough. I live in a cool area but I need to clean and refill them more often. Thank you for the information.
Thank you for putting this information out there for people who don't know what they are doing!!! My grandmother taught me how to make humming bird food when i was 8 n i still make it the same for the last 32 years!!!
Thank you so much. The way this report says to feed them is exactly the way I have fed them for years and years. People don’t listen. They think they know everything.
Oh my! Thank you for reminding people. I use the correct formula. And change it often. Please people, listen to this important information. ❤
Thats exactly how I’ve been feeding my visitors for years. I do heat it up to make sure it’s really dissolved, then refrigerate.i ❤️ hummers!
Yeah. I feed my bees in winter and heating the water makes things easier. But at a 4:1 mix it should dissolve fully faster in cool water than some of my ratios for bees. The key is mixing hard and someone even said they bubble air in as they mix and it's supposed to aid the sugar dissolving.
We had three female Rubythroated hummers coming to our feeder last year. Talk about territorial! I was sitting on the front porch watching the feeder where there was a single hummer feeding. Suddenly, another hummer appeared and dive bombed it. Then it was like an old fashioned airplane dog fight, chasing each other up, down…everywhere. So happy they’re back. I looked up the feeding mixture on line to feed them the right stuff. Hope to get more hummers with a second feeder.
Speaking of territorial, you will have better luck with 2 feeders if they are out of sight of each other. Had a rufus humming bird starve trying to guard 2 feeders. Sad lesson.
Thank you for educating people Robbie. This is such an important video. For those of us who love these little birds. Thank you for putting out this video ❤
Robbie, you are the guardian angel of hummingbirds ❤. I adore these little miracles and designed my garden specifically for them, the bees and butterflies. My feeders are out only as a supplement when the natural nectar supply isn't sufficient. Each year I have 2 or 3 families that nest in/or around my garden and that is because I follow your advice to the letter. PLEASE don't ever stop advocating for our beloved hummingbirds! ❤
Good Job Robbie, just granulated sugar and water is ok. I feed hummingbirds for more than 10 years and It works ok and I do exactly what you are saying. You are doing an excellent job. God Bless You.
This worries me that people might feed them wrong. We have only seen two here and I'm worried. I bought extra just so I could keep rotating them, with white cane sugar. Thanks for this message, Robbie!
That is a great idea that is what I'm going to do to make it easier. Longer soaking feeders too.❤❤❤❤
Amen!!! This is so important and definitely bears repeating many times over. My Uncle Lou in California told me already back in the 1980's how to mix the food for hummingbirds. He said its a 4 to 1 ratio....1 part plain white sugar with 4 parts water, and he said NOT to add any red food color, because it was bad for the birds. Just a simple 4:1 ratio...that's it! He also had so many hummers coming to his feeders. I've always remembered that and have tried to let others know that might be feeding hummers. I see the bottles of so called nectar in the stores and it makes me sad, because people buy that and its not really good for the hummers. Thank you, Robbie for spreading the word. ❤❤❤
Thank you!
Sharing this on my social media.
You have beautiful birds and your care for them is lovely!
Thanks Robbie. I appreciate your information as to being mindful of these precious birds and making sure they're drinking the right mixture of water to granulated white sugar..
Our hummingbirds will let us know that if our sugar is old or stale. I know I've been there. I don't use sugar only for making sugar water for them. Thanks Robbie for sharing your info about 1 c of white sugar and 4 c water. Keep us & our hummingbirds in your prayers we have a lot of bad storms coming in 24-48 hrs.
This lady is giving the best schedule to use in changing out Hummingbird feeders. If we wait until 'the Hummers' no longer' feed at a feeder; it may be to late for the Hummer's. Sugar water goes bad quickly; especially if the feeder is in the sun; and, if that occurs the Hummingbirds die.
Thank you Robbie. I shared this with my friend in NY, who also appreciates the little hummingbirds. We talk about them almost every day. ☺️
Blessings 🤗🌹
Thanks for sharing! ❤️
Hi Robbie!
Thank you so much for helping us care for our beautiful hummingbirds and birds.!!!!👏👍💐😉
Robbie, thank you so much for your wonderful video. It only confirms what we have done for years is proper. Simple is best. Thanks again💗👍👍
THANK YOU for this!!! People don't research enough before taking on a huge responsibility that they don't realize the dangers of. ❤ I hope people see this that need to see this!
Years ago i had a passionate discussion here in middle TN with a woman who was convinced adding vitamin E was making her hummers extra strong. Wish i"d had this to show her. She clearly thought i wasn't open to change. No, not when we already know what is safe & works well. Sigh.
Cement jungle hit hard ♥️ so true, even the smallest space can accommodate some pollinators! Plant plant plant!!
A huge thank-you for setting us straight. I love hummingbird's and will not feed them unless I do it right
We all should share this video, even if a person isn’t feeding them they might know someone that is.
Thank goodness I have never been truly tempted to try other sweeteners for my hummers. I have considered them, but not seriously. Thanks so much for your hummer videos.
Hello from Oregon. I’ve been a lifelong feeder of hummingbirds. I stopped using red food die in my feeders 40 years ago. And regarding what’s found in flower nectar it is composed of one disaccharide (sucrose) and two hexoses (glucose and fructose). And apparently, plant species that have flowers that use hummingbirds, moths, butterflies and long tongued bees as pollinators have sucrose in the larger amount of the three sugars. I agree with you that they do well on white sugar syrup with no food coloring. They get protein from gnats, small spiders and other tiny flying insects. In the summer They mostly use our feeders to supplement their diet of nectar and bugs.
Well, thank god YOU agree with her...
Last year my I had numerous birds. This year I’m lucky to see one
That happened to me last year, this year they are back in numbers.
I totally agree with you, I’ve been feeding hummingbirds for years, I love ❤️ them so much, I’ve even told people the same, I can’t believe how many people use red food die for color smh, poor little fellas 😢😢😢😢😢 flew of and died, thank you 🙏 so much for posting this wonderful video.
Thank you so much for that important information🙏Hope the friends will listen and keep these beautiful little birds healthy and alive ☺️
I've heard of people using regular sugar but use it 2 to 1!...Robbie...thx for bringing this up....you're the you tube expert....
Glad to have verification that i'm doing it right! 4/1 water sugar Period. We make 4 cups sugar/1 gallon water & store it in the fridge. I do boil the water because it dissolves all that sugar easier & more thoroughly & sterilizes it.
I just plant a lot of flowers. They’re often hanging around in my garden especially for the Salvia it seems. It’s more fun to view them in the flowers plus it’s their natural food.
I once had a bird who'd use the feeder but then would take a taste of some of my tubular flowers on the patio. Maybe SHE didn't love the taste of white sugar! :D
I, to did my research on hummingbirds. I have been making my own for a couple for a couple of years. I love watching them.
I call you the queen of hummingbirds.
One thing to keep in mind. Pure cane sugar can contain mold spores. When making humming bird food, the water sugar mixture should be brought to a boil, covered and allowed to cool.
Just like when doing home canning, wipe the sealing surface of the feeder with a towel moistened with white vinegar, after cleaning and prior to filling, then after being filled.
I use tap water, but I bring it to a boil, then add the white sugar, and mix it til dissolved. Then it cools, I put it in a container in the fridge.
Same 🙃
She said that u don't need to boil the water?
@@travelace6 I think it's a good idea to always boil the water. Helps the sugar to fully dissolve and also helps purify the water even more!
yup, i have not eaten processed sugar since the 80's and thought i would use organic raw sugar for hummingbird food until i researched it and found out, to my surprise, that you have to use white sugar. i have tons of hummingbirds in my orchard. more each year. i have to add a few feeders each year. no where near how many you have though, wow 😍
You are a jewel, Robbie!!! Thank you for the truth.....for hummingbirds...
Thank YOU 😊 ❤️
I read about this many years ago, and that honey can cause tumors on their beak. I haven't left out a feeder for many years now, but I was wondering about organic white sugar? Maybe it isn't right too because it might be slightly less processed or refined, I don't know. I just worry about the pesticides in the environment and their residue. I'm glad you're spreading the word, thanks. 🌼
Wow, good to know. I have always used a 1 to 3 ratio. I will now add that other cup of water. I also only wash them out about once a week, but my feeders are not in the sun. When I used to fill them all the way up, they did get mold growing on the inside before the week was up. Now I only put enough in to last a few days. I also discovered my hummingbirds prefer Domino sugar which is cane sugar over the store brand sugar which is beet sugar. So I now only feed the real cane sugar which seems to be why I have more than I've ever had. Who knew that hummingbirds only want the best, no store brands for them if they had a choice. Thanks for sharing.
Beet sugar has roundup in it. I don't know if they have made gmo cane sugar yet. They are probably working on it... Roundup damages everyone's gut microbiome. I can actually smell roundup when I open a bag of m&M's these days. I'm very sensitive to it.
Thank you for this great information for the little hummingbirds!
So nice of you, Thank you ❤️
God bless you what a real treat
You have so many lovely hummingbirds. I have only one. It has been enjoying all 4 feeders. I live in an area that I think some hummingbirds destined to the mountains didn't quite make it so a few migrate here. I consider it a crowd wgen I have 3 swooping to claim their territory.
Thanks for the reminder! I was keeping mine out too long!
The hummingbirds in my yard feed on flowers that I grow. Bee balm. Phlox. Honeysuckle. Foxglove. Cheers from Montreal
Thank you Robbie, I have learned so much from you. ❤️💞❤️
That’s so disturbing to think anyone is using something other than cane sugar! We love our hummingbirds , I hope people listen to this video and it is understood❤
Often white granulated sugar is not cane sugar, but beet sugar.
@@heatherpahl6927 oh really how weird the major brand I buy , by C&H reads real big Pure Cane Sugar in the United States
This “woke” society is always thinking it can reinvent the wheel and that they know BETTER…arrogance to our destruction…
@@heatherpahl6927That’s what we’ve had forever! Even “back in the day” it was beet/white sugar.
What the stores have out there is some mix with that Perky Pet thinks is beneficial minerals so people are only trying to do what the stores offer for "free."
Thank you very much! I have 4 humming birds right now. Super territorial over their 4 feeders, lol. Last year i even had a tune of them 😍
Thanks for spreading the info and helping to save the birds.
Wow this is such a powerful video! Thanks sooooo much, I learned so much in these few minutes and really appreciate it. I LOVE hummingbirds. I’m only used to seeing 1 or 2 based on the flowers I have, but now know how to do a feeder. I just may try it 👍🏾
Thanks Robbie! Been using your recipe for decades ❤
Thank you Robbie I hope they listen to you ❤ I agree with you.
Might I add that it is very important that the sugar water solution be completely dissolved before feeding. Always BOIL the solution for AT LEAST 15 minutes, then cool completely before filling feeders. Cool completely means it is NOT hot or warm! Keep feeders clean and refill feeders frequently! Feeding hummingbirds is a commitment. 🌺
Thank you Robbie ♥️ I will share this video with the hummingbird groups that will let me❤
Thankyou so much for telling people ta takecare of hummingbirds
Thank goodness I’m doing everything right!! I love my hummingbirds!!! Thank you for the info!!
Thank you for putting out this life saving information!❤️👍
I rise my feeders with a little vinegar hope that's ok..
As long as you rinse it, that’s perfectly fine ❤
Rinse and rinse and when you think you've rinsed it enough,rinse some more ! 👍
Thank you for your video I’ll always do the proper thing! I love hummingbirds!!!
I am jelly of all your hummingbirds. Thanks for the info
Great video! I already knew about red dye etc. but I’m sure there are plenty who need to know this information. I have 3 feeders out and only 2 hummingbirds so far here in Northern Nevada. (Use to live in southern ca)
I am in Ohio and they've been really scarce here the past 2 years. 😟
@@maryfrey Interesting. I put out flowers as well. I have trumpet vines. But they aren’t in bloom yet. I’ll keep watching 😂 Good luck to you there in Ohio.
@@susanm7354 Thank you, Susan. I've put out flowers, too...petunias and lantana, and I'm planting some bee balm this weekend and hope it helps when it blooms. So far, they haven't come to the petunias and Lantana. Very strange.
@@maryfrey I have petunias out too. I was just watching a video on how to prune them to get more blooms. I planted two lantana a couple of years ago but they didn’t make it. I may try planting them again. Northern Nevada weather can be harsh at times.
You are so right, Robbie. Add to that, do not give your dog or cat chocolate. God bless you!!!!❤
Gawd yes, hummingbirds are very territorial. I’ve seen them dive bomb each other. My dad would make a one-to-ratio between sugar and water. Geez, the hummingbirds have to take a number for the feeders. They’re so fun to watch.
Thank you Robbir for putting that info out there.
Even Martha Stewart had the recipe wrong 😳!
JO JO IN VT 💞
ohmygosh..I've seen that warning places and HEEDED IT!! WHITE SUGAR!! I BOUGHT WHITE SUGAR ESPECIALLY!! I don't use the red dye either and they love it.
Thank you WARRIOR Robbie!!!
You are so welcome, was not sure how this would go over for some, Thank You ❤️
Robbie, thank you for your post! Is there anything we should do different to help them prepare for migration?
I do use the right formula and I don't Necessarily change it out like she is suggesting but I only use a glass feeder and it is always in the shade and out of the rain during the winter.
I don't use a Plastic Feeder.
To me a Plastic Feeder is not as clean as glass and gets Mold much easier than glass.
The birds seem to empty the Feeder in three to four days max. So I hope that I'm doing a good job. I only have one Feeder with about 5 to 6 Birds.
Never anymore than that.
Oh! I do use Boiling Water but just enough to melt the Sugar and then finish it with cold water to cool it down and put it in the fridge for a little while to cool it down a little more. I use a wisk to mix it well.
Thank you. Advice to heed to keep them alive and well. ♡
Thank you so much ❤️
We boil filtered tap water, add the correct ratio of granulated sugar, stir to dissolve and cool while cleaning the feeders to refill. We make two batches at once and refrigerate what we don't use that day.
In the winter in the Phoenix cement and asphalt jungle with no flowers, we needed 4 or more feeders well spaced apart with the correct food half full and cleaned and refilled every other day this year. The hummers have their favorites in the yard, and yes, each has a bully who sits on a overlooking twig and guards it. Dawn and dusk there are so many hummers the bullies can't win; while they chase 1 off, another hummer comes and feeds. And in the first and last minutes of the daylight, there can be 3 or 4 feeding peacefully on each feeder. At that time it is critical to get the last food of the day before their long night, or the first feed after awakening, so they don't fight. It is calmer midday as they come in one by one, but the bullies are never far away.
In the summer, at least half if not more of the tiny acrobats have migrated north and we have flowers they love, so we cut back to just 2 feeders in the best spots that have shade almost all day. That satisfies the demand and the bullies don't guard as much. They are busy feeding from flowers some of the time like the other hummers.
Our problem is beautiful woodpeckers, finches and towees that land and tip nectar out to lick up, since their beaks don't fit. I wouldn't mind except it wastes so much nectar and the finches poop next to feeding slots. I have to really watch that the feeder isn't empty by the time the hummers want their final feed of the evening. If those other scamps have tipped it all out below what their beaks and tongues can reach I have to do a quick refill. I'm lucky not to have ants because of so much nectar getting on the outside and underside of the feeding platform where the moisture evaporates making sticky hard clear sugar drops. Putting up suet cakes for the big birds and nyger feeders for the finches doesn't dissuade them from going after the hummer's food. They just enjoy both. The woodpeckers hang from the bottom of the feeders half of the time, so a canopy wouldn't keep them off. I'm still trying to figure out what to do about them, so any suggestions are welcome.
Very Very good video - I hope millions of people watch it and learn. and you statement about the asphalt jungle is so true - everyone keeps blaming the wrong things for climate change - blacktopping every acre on planet Earth and the fashion industry making over 100 billion articles of clothing and over 20 billion pairs of shoes every single year creates more destruction to planet Earth than anything!
What's been fun for me is watching a female go after the small flying bugs that fly up when I'm watering my garden. She sure does get a lot. I'm sure she's feeding babies because she flies away and always cones right back.
Thank you Robbie....I've shared this video everywhere online I go to!!
We turned 2/3 of our front yard into a beautiful Texas style cottage garden, salvia, phlox, lantana, sage, bee balm, butterfly weed, crepe myrtle, the hummingbirds, bees and butterflies love it. (all hardy plants so we dont have to use anything nonnorganic, only occasional neem oil on our David Austin roses for the aphids that eat them. )
We don't even have to keep hummingbird feeders, clean, refill etc. - they just eat from flowers the way God made them to.
Hubby doesn't have but a small patch of lawn to mow.
All the neighbors love it when they take their dogs for a walk, so much prettier and more interesting than boring suburban lawns. I don't understand why everyone doesn't do this. 🤷♀️ It's a bit of work up front but almost no maintenance, just throw some compost on every spring.
thank you, i was relived to find out I'm doing it right
Thank you so much for the valuable information❤