Mix 1 part sugar to 3 parts water. Do not use honey or red dye. Clean feeder every three to four days and keep it out of the sun. You may want to buy extra feeders -- some for the yard and some for the dishwasher.

I am always conservative when it comes to this topic. Birds get less than 15% of their daily diets from your bird feeders. Hummingbirds are constantly eating from flowers and grabbing an insect here and there. They will get diversity in their diet from nature’s offering, your feeders are a great source of quick energy, so stick with a mixture of 4 parts water to 1 part sugar. See similar questions...

Mix four measures of water and one measure of white table sugar; stir until the sugar dissolves. Boiling the water before measuring may delay spoilage in the feeder by a day or so; if you do boil, allow the mixture to cool before filling your feeder. There have been reports that cane sugar is much preferred over beet sugar. Under no circumstances use honey, brown sugar, or artificial sweeteners. There is no need to color the syrup. See similar questions...

Select a hummingbird feeder with bee guards. These plastic devices allow the longer tongues of hummingbirds to reach the nectar. Bee guards prevent shorter insect tongues from reaching the nectar. Replace any dripping feeders. You can also do things to discourage ants from getting to your feeders. Laundry detergent applied with a paintbrush will work. Paint whatever surface the ants use to gain access to the feeder (but not the feeder itself). See similar questions...

Hummingbirds will usually return to southeastern Connecticut around April 15, but you can put the feeder up as early as April first to feed early arrivals. Leave the feeder up until the end of September or as long as hummingbirds still come to it. Hummingbirds flying south rely on temperature, day length and other environmental cues to start migration. Your feeder may help them survive an early cold snap, but will not keep them from making their southward journey. See similar questions...

Hummingbirds are notoriously aggressive and possessive about their food sources. You can try providing additional feeders close together or spreading the feeders apart but you will not be able to stop hummingbirds from exhibiting this aggression. You have to accept it as part of their survival skills. See similar questions...

many as 57 other species of birds besides hummingbirds are known to visit nectar feeders. Warblers, orioles, sapsuckers, chickadees and small woodpeckers have been known to stop for a drink. By all means put out a tubular feeder filled with Nyjer seed for goldfinches and another feeder with sunflower seed for house finches and others. Adding more hummingbird feeders will cut down on the competition. See similar questions...

The first commercial nectar feeder was developed in the 1950s, probably by someone at a company called Perky-Pet Products in Colorado. There hasn't been a lot of innovation since then, until recently when fanciful blown glass and copper trimmed feeders came to market. See similar questions...

Although there are many types of feeders available, most fall into two categories: bottle- type and dish-type. Bottle-type feeders are simply a bottle turned upside down, which sends the nectar into a small dish or tube. Bottle-type feeders come in all shapes and sizes, from a soda bottle turned upside down to a colorful hand-blown glass works of art. A dish-type feeder is basically a covered dish with feeding ports built into the cover. See similar questions...

Hummingbird feeders should be cleaned each time the nectar is changed. The nectar should be changedevery 3 to 4 days or if the nectar is cloudy, moldy of if contaminated by insects or dirt. Hummingbirds are extremely sensitive to the quality of the nectar. They will seek out a new source and possibly not return if they find sour, moldy, or dirty nectar in your feeder. See similar questions...

Hummingbirds are extremely selective when it comes to feeders, however, there can be a variety of factors determining their aversion to your feeder. It may be as simple as you may live in an area that doesn't attract hummingbirds because of a lack of the flowers, shrubs or trees they prefer. Conversely, you may live in an area that has too many flowers, shrubs, or trees that they like and are happy where they are currently feeding. Another major factor can be your nectar. See similar questions...

If you are using a bottle feeder with a tube, it is important that you fill the bottle completely full when refilling. If only filled partially, it will not be able to create the vacuum that prevents the nectar from dripping out of the tube. See similar questions...

Mix four parts water with one part sugar. Heat just to a boil and remove. Do not add red food coloring. Let the solution cool before filling the feeder. Change the solution often, especially during warm weather. See similar questions...

Hummingbirds will take sugar water from almost any container, so your choice of feeder should be based on your needs. Durability and ease of cleaning and filling are most important, but features that discourage ants, bees and larger birds may be useful in your situation. Feeders with lots of red color may be more visible to the birds, but all-red feeders make it difficult to tell when they need refilling. Avoid feeders with yellow parts as this color attracts bees. See similar questions...

Either method works fine, though it is recommended to avoid mixes with dyes or food coloring. It is often more cost effective to make you own, and it is quite easy. All you need to do is add 1 part table sugar to 4 parts boiling water. Allow the mixture to cool before filling the feeder and refrigerate any unused portion for up to two weeks. See similar questions...

It's preferable to hang hummingbird feeders apart from each other and away from seed feeders. Birds can be territorial about their food, and hummers are particularly feisty when it comes to sharing their nectar. Put up at least two hummingbird feeders, preferably out of sight of each other. That way the less dominant females will get a chance to eat without being harassed by the males. See similar questions...

A long-handled, stiff-bristle bottle brush works well to get down inside the hummingbird feeder. Use hot water and a mild detergent, and be sure to rinse thoroughly before refilling the bottle with a nectar solution. To make your own nectar, use one part white, granulated sugar to four parts boiled water. It is not necessary to add red food coloring because the red on the feeder will attract the hummers' attention. See similar questions...

No. White table sugar is the only human-made sweetener that, when mixed with the right amount of water, closely resembles natural flower nectar. Resist the urge to use other sweeteners, which spoil quickly and may not be good for hummingbirds to consume. See similar questions...