Many people enjoy watching hummingbirds visit their yards and gardens. To attract these tiny birds, offering them fresh nectar is key. You can purchase pre-made nectar mixes, but making your own is easy, affordable, and allows you to control the ingredients. This article will compare the pros and cons of buying versus making hummingbird nectar to help you decide which option may work best for you.
What hummingbirds need from nectar
Hummingbirds get most of their nutrition from flower nectar. Their extremely high metabolism requires them to consume up to half their body weight in nectar daily. Artificial nectar offered in feeders must provide the same nutritional benefits as natural nectar. There are three key considerations when it comes to hummingbird diet:
Sugar content
The main nutrient hummingbirds need is carbohydrates in the form of sugars. Most experts recommend making nectar that is 20 to 25% sugar concentration by volume. This approximates the average sugar content found in natural flower nectar. Too little sugar doesn’t provide enough fuel. Too much can damage the birds’ liver and kidneys.
Sugar type
Hummingbirds metabolize sucrose and fructose sugars effectively for energy. Glucose is less ideal since they can’t as readily digest it. The best homemade nectar uses plain white cane or beet sugar, which contains mostly sucrose. Never use honey, agave, or artificial sweeteners which don’t provide the correct nutrition.
Water
Obviously, an artificial nectar solution needs water. But tap water may contain chemicals like chlorine, fluoride, or calcium that can be harmful. Filtered or natural spring water is best. Just ensure the water is clean. Boiling and cooling tap water before mixing nectar is another option.
Benefits of buying pre-made nectar
There are some advantages to purchasing commercially made hummingbird food versus making your own:
Convenience
Pre-made nectar is fast and easy – just open the package and fill your feeder. For busy people who don’t have time to mix up batches, the convenience factor may be appreciated. No need to measure, mix, boil water etc.
Consistent quality
Reputable brands use tested recipes to create consistent nectar with appropriate sugar content and ingredients. This takes the guesswork out of trying to get the proportion of sugar to water correct.
Versatility
Many pre-made mixes are sold as powders. This allows flexibility in the concentration by adding more or less water. Liquid concentrates also come in different dilutions to fill feeders.
No measuring or fuss
Opening a package eliminates the slight mess that comes with making nectar. There’s no need to measure out sugar, deal with stirring or dripping, or clean up supplies.
Doesn’t spoil as fast
Since homemade nectar must be refrigerated and tossed out after a week, packaged mixes last longer when stored. The shelf life is typically 9-12 months unopened.
Benefits of making your own nectar
While bought nectar saves prep time, homemade offers some key benefits too:
More natural ingredients
You control exactly what goes into homemade nectar. No preservatives, dyes, artificial flavors etc. Just simple sugar and water. You can even use organic ingredients.
Cost savings
Basic white sugar and water are cheap. Making your own costs a fraction compared to buying pre-made mixes and concentrates, especially for multiple feeders.
Appealing taste
Natural nectar may taste better to hummingbirds than commercial products. Custom blends using raw sugar or organic brown sugar appeal to some birds more.
Control over concentration
Tailor the exact percentage of sugar to match flowers blooming in your yard. Water volume adjusts consistency. This can encourage more hummingbird visits.
Can make only what’s needed
Mix small batches as needed rather than having extra pre-made nectar sit and possibly go bad. Make it fresh each time.
Better for the environment
Homemade avoids excess packaging waste from plastic bottles, pouches, and bags used in commercial nectar.
Cost comparison of buying vs. making nectar
To get a true sense of the potential cost difference, let’s compare some real-world prices:
| Nectar Type | Amount | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Homemade | 1 cup sugar plus 4 cups water | $0.30 |
| Pre-made powder | 0.21 oz powder makes 24 oz nectar | $1.00 |
| Pre-made liquid concentrate | 16 oz makes 48 oz nectar | $3.99 |
As the table illustrates, homemade nectar is by far the cheaper option per volume of finished product. The initial investment in a large bag of sugar is offset by how many batches it yields. Making your own costs pennies per serving, adding up to big savings over time.
Is homemade actually better?
The low cost is not the only potential benefit to homemade nectar. But does it actually provide any advantage regarding hummingbird health or feeder activity? A few key considerations:
More natural sugar
White cane or beet sugar has primarily sucrose, similar to flower nectar. Many commercial mixes add corn syrup which increases glucose or fructose levels. This difference may affect how efficiently hummingbirds digest the sugar.
Avoiding additives
Some pre-made mixes contain added colors, preservatives, and thickeners like gums. Homemade avoids any non-nectar ingredients. But few studies prove these extra additives cause harm.
Potential for mold
Homemade nectar spoils faster, so mold is a concern without careful cleaning. However, commercial nectar isn’t immune from developing mold if left unfreshed too long. Proper feeder maintenance is key either way.
Taste preferences
Some avid birders insist their hummingbirds drink noticeably more homemade nectar. They report the birds strongly prefer it. But scientific research on nectar taste discrimination in hummingbirds is minimal.
Concentration control
With homemade, you can tweak sugar percentages to match natural nectar. But if buying quality brands and mixing properly, commercial nectars should contain suitable sugar levels too.
So while homemade gives slightly more control, both options are nutritionally sound if used properly. The impact on actual feeder activity is dependent on individual birds’ preferences.
Guidelines for proper nectar use
To maximize health benefits for hummingbirds and feeding success, here are some tips to follow whether you buy or make nectar:
Use fresh nectar
Freshness is crucial. Toss homemade batches after one week. Don’t make huge volumes that sit too long. With commercial nectar, don’t exceed expiration dates or leave sitting diluted longer than two weeks.
Thoroughly clean feeders
Every time you refill, take feeders apart and clean all parts with hot water and no soap. Rinse well and let dry fully before refilling. This prevents dangerous mold.
Avoid food coloring
Don’t add red or any food dye to homemade nectar. Coloring provides no benefit and may be harmful to the birds.
Prevent fermentation
In hot weather, nectar ferments faster, making alcohol toxic to hummingbirds. Refrigerating unused portions and changing nectar more frequently prevents this.
Use proper ratios
Carefully follow label instructions for mixing commercial nectar concentrates. With homemade, measure carefully – 1 part sugar to 4 parts water is best.
Avoid leaks/bees
Leaky feeders not only waste nectar but attract bees and wasps which can chase hummingbirds away. Ensure a tight seal and hang away from eaves and tree branches where insects nest.
Give birds a choice
Trying both homemade and commercial nectar formulas allows hummingbirds to show their preference. Offer two feeders with different nectar types and see which one empties faster.
Conclusion
Providing hummingbird nectar, whether homemade or store-bought, brings these special birds close for viewing and photography. The option you choose depends on factors like convenience, cost, ingredients, and personal observations of bird preferences in your area. Following proper nectar handling is key. With some experimenting of homemade versus commercial mixes, you can determine what works best to attract hummingbirds to your feeders. The birds benefit from having a nutrient-rich, fresh nectar source readily available to fuel their high energy lifestyles.
