Does anyone feed the hummingbirds?

[neurosis]

Here in Washington State we have a species of humming bird that doesn't migrate for the winter.  I keep feeders out and during the fall/winter months, I have about 20 hummingbirds swarming around my deck.  

I'm trying to get them used to me, but so far they are a little dubious. Probably due to the 20 pound feline that is licking his lips behind me.  

I've been buying some clear colored hummingbird food from Kaytee but am starting to think about making my own.  I hear that it's a pain to keep from molding.  

Anyone here doing something like this?

[Matthew Hajicek]

Feed them to what?

[Del.]

We feed them during season. Be sure and change food often and wash container with soap and water after disassembled. The mold is deadly to them. We also like the ones with perches so they can rest while they eat.

[neurosis]

I have two set up now.. both have perches.  

These fuckers are mean to each other.  haha.

They are well known for their territorial behavior; the male makes elaborate dive displays at other birds and sometimes even at people. At the bottom of their dives, they produce high-pitched loud popping sounds with their tail feathers.

https://www.beautyofbirds.com/hummingbirdswashingtonstate.html">https://www.beautyofbirds.com/hummingbi ... state.html">https://www.beautyofbirds.com/hummingbirdswashingtonstate.html

[Incogneeto]

I had to put a backboard behind it.Kept shootin out the windows in The Neighbors Barn.

[neurosis]

I had to put a backboard behind it.Kept shootin out the windows in The Neighbors Barn.

This is a thread about hummingbirds, not your masturbation station.

[mowens]

I know the squirrels get really pissed when the bird feeders are empty.

[neurosis]

I don't think that squirrels go for hummingbird food.  Maybe ants?  

Squirrels like the seed.. I usually throw a bunch of peanuts out on my deck during the day.  I get blue jays, squirrels, some other breed of bird that I call "dumb dumb birds" because my cat probably eats more of them than he does his cat food.

[Incogneeto]

If ya wing em' They just fly in Circles.

[Tim Johnson]

My mom used to make her own hummingbird food but it was a red liquid. I don't know what was in it.

[Del.]

It's just sugar water.

[Incogneeto]

[quote="Tim Johnson" post_id=4425 time=1611348279 user_id=68]
My mom used to make her own hummingbird food but it was a red liquid. I don't know what was in it.
[/quote]

cinnamon schnapps.

[CADCAM3D5AXIS]

We just use sugar and mix it in with the water until it dissolves and they love it it is like 1/4 cup of sugar to 2 cups of water   maybe 4 to 1 i will get the mix from the cook when she gets home but you clean the feeder as said above every time and we have a few families that fight over it and we have one right outside the kitchen window so we can watch them,But once you start feeding them you have to continue through the winter because that becomes most of there food intake if you don't have a lot of flower bushes and trees around.

[RobertELee]

After a bit of research as I'd never heard of hummingbirds that don't migrate for winter. While 4:1 sugar water is standard, adding extra sugar in winter is a good idea to keep their energy levels up and it also will give you a lower freezing point in case the temp drops. No need to boil the water just warm it up to dissolve the sugar and let it cool.