I found this article today and it freaked me out a little bit. One never knows what to believe any more, there's so much information out there in cyberspace, but I thought I should post this here, either to have all your birders de-bunk the information, or to inform everyone who might not know. Basically it's saying that unless you take care of your hummingbird feeders properly, you can kill the little ones: Hummingbird feeders must be kept clean and free from mold and fungus, or your tiny friend could develop a serious and deadly fungus infection. This infection causes the tongue to swell, making it impossible for the bird to feed. Losing the ability to consume nectar, the cute little bird faces starvation. http://www.realfarmacy.com/your-fee...mmingbird-populations-heres-how-to-save-them/
Oh yes, it's true and it's also true that you don't need to add red dye to their syrup. Hummingbirds are attracted to the color red, but will feed on almost any source of nectar. We change the nectar every other day during hot weather (90 or above) because it ferments. In cooler weather, we change it when it looks cloudy, or when the little sippers deplete the supply. About other birds--if you put out feed and it rains, either spread the feed out to dry or change it out. Seeds ferment also, and can cause problems for birds.
I don't have hummingbirds here but always make sure that our bird feeders and their contents are always clean, dry and free from mould. They get fresh water every day too as it can become slimy in warm weather.
http://www.hummingbirds.net/feeders.html .Everything you need to know about hummingbirds . Fermentation will not harm a hummingbird. One of their primary sources of food is over ripe fruit and that is naturally fermented.
Wow that is great info. I usually only put a small amount of sugar water in my hummer feeder. Then I wash them out before each refill. I would hate to kill one of those little cuties.
....if you have red on the feeder that will attract them or if you are just starting to feed you could use a red flag to attract them to your feeder. Just having hummingbird plants will bring them to your yard also.... my favorite plants to have for them are the hot lips salvia and the cigar plant....they love fuschia, even the butterfly bush . If you have a favorite plant to have for them could you please list them for someone that doesn't know about them. I am still waiting for them to arrive at my Wisconsin home...I have had the sugar water out for a while and clean it and put fresh in it every 3-4 days. Still cold here so I hope they stay warm.
