Hummingbird basics 101

If you want to attract more hummingbirds to your yard, provide them with the correct habitat.

Bushes, trees for shelter.

Water source or mister.

Nectar sources from flowering plants. Because of the hummingbird's long tongue, the hummingbird likes to feed from flowers which look like trumpets.

Have other plants which will attract some needs. Hummingbirds also eat small insects.

A fun thing to do is provide your little visitors with hummingbird feeders.

No need for red nectar.

Simple recipe for sugar water is:

One part sugar
Four parts water

Simple mixing this together is all that is needed and this will be fresh for a few days. However, hot tempatures may make the sugar water ferment quicker which can be hsrmful to birds.
Change water every few days. To make nectar last longer, the sugar mixture can be boiled first. Of course cool off before putting in feeders or refrigerator. If putting in refrigerator warm before putting in feeders and back outside.

Note red dye is thought to be harmful to hummingbirds. Since, you don't need it don't use it.

Hummingbirds are attracted to red, so a trick tou can do is a hang a red ribbon on feeder. I like using the little red bows which come out at Christmas.

When choosing feeders get some with roosts and some without.

In cold weather don't use feeders with roosts. The bird will sit and then gets chilled and then falls off perch helplessly.

Don't concentrate the water sugar mixture more than 1 to 4, since too much sugar can be bad. Harmful to birds and also tends to attract more bees.

I also like to choose feeders which can easily be cleaned and filled. This means wide mouth on feeder. Easier to clean and easier to fill. Some of the fancy feeders IMO make horrible feeders.

Keep it simple and it seems to work best for yourself and the birds.