How to Be a Hummingbird’s Best Friend: Feeder & Care Tips

It is almost hummingbird season here in Indiana and Kentucky. If you'd like to be a good friend to the magestic little creatures when they arrive, we've got some tips.

How to Be a Good Friend to Hummingbirds in Indiana and Kentucky

As the weather warms up and spring starts to creep in, you may be ready to put up your feeder to attract hummingbirds to your property. Before you do, there are some things you really should know to be a good friend to the hummingbirds. Honestly, even if you are an experienced hummingbird watcher/feeder, you might find some of these tips to be quite useful.

Keep Your Hummingbird Feeder Clean the Right Way

Before you put your feeder out for the season you should wash the feeder thoroughly, but before you do, know that the National Audubon Society warns you to avoid using dish soap. They say dish soap can leave behind residue that is harmful to hummingbirds. Instead, it's recommended that you use plain, hot tap water. If you do want to use something other than just hot water, use a weak dilution of vinegar and water.

Hummingbird Feeders Should Be Emptied and Cleaned Twice a Week - at Least

The National Audubon Society also encourages you to empty and clean your hummingbird feeder at least twice a week, especially if it is hot outside. If the weather is on the cooler side, cleaning once per week is sufficient. However, they say if the hummingbirds are emptying your feeder more frequently than twice a week, you should clean the feeder every time you refill it.

READ MORE: Here's How to Track the 2025 Hummingbird Spring Migration

Avoid The Red Hummingbird Nectars Frequently Sold in Stores

Now that you have your feeder out and clean, it's time to fill it but don't rush off to the store just yet. Many commercial nectar solutions sold in stores are manufactured using red dye to act as an attractant for hummingbirds. Unfortunately, that dye may actually be incredibly harmful to our beautiful little winged friends.

What Should You Feed Hummingbirds?

Instead of buying premade, and artificially colored nectar, try this recipe from the National Audubon Society:

Mix 1/4 cup of white sugar with 1 cup of water. On the stove, bring the mixture to a boil and then let it cool.

You now have a safe and delicious nectar to fill your hummingbird feeder. You can use that same 1:4 ratio to make a larger batch that can be stored in the refrigerator. The National Audubon Society does advise that any stored, refrigerated nectar be allowed to warm up to room temperature before placing it in your feeder.

Other Things to Avoid When Feeding Hummingbirds

Now that we know soaps and red dyes are not only unnecessary but also potentially dangerous, what else should we avoid in our feeders? You want to stay away from anything that is not plain, white sugar. Don't use  sweeteners like brown sugar, honey, molasses, syrups, or any other types sweeteners - both natural and artificial.

Other Tips to Make Your Yard a Haven for Hummingbirds

Now that you're ready to welcome hummingbirds into your yard, here are a few more quick tips to help you and the hummingbirds coexist.

1. Hang the feeder(s) in the shade. The sun and heat can cause the nectar to ferment.
2. If you hang more than one feeder, make sure they are not in line of sight of one another.
3. Make sure you have water available too. Aside from snacking on nectar, hummingbirds do like to bathe in dripping or misting water.
4. Nix the yard chemicals. While you may want to keep mosquitoes, ants, and spiders at bay, those insects are a dietary staple for hummingbirds, young and old.

Happy Birding!

Now that you are an expert in all things hummingbirds, take some time to enjoy the warmer weather and watch your new friends that come to visit your yard.

[Source: Hummingbird Central; Audubon.org]