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<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/span>What possible bad can come to hummingbirds from feeders?<\/span><\/h2>\nScience writer Anita Sanchez has an article on her blog that plainly states her sentiment. The article is entitled, “Why hummingbird feeders are a terrible idea.” (source<\/a>) She has two main arguments against feeding hummingbirds.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/whatbirdsareinmybackyard.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/Hummingbird-by-Chris-F-300x224.jpg\")
Hummingbird Feeder by Chris F<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nRed food coloring<\/h3>\n
The first reason Sanchez lists for saying that hummingbird feeders are bad for hummingbirds is the growing possibility that red food coloring may be harming hummingbirds.<\/p>\n
The Audubon Society’s Hummingbird FAQs (source<\/a>) recommends against adding food coloring to hummingbird nectar. Its brief reason is that red food dye “could” be harmful to birds.<\/p>\nWhat does the Hummingbird Society have to say about red food coloring? (source<\/a>) Well, its page on feeding hummingbirds gives the recipe to make it yourself and then has the words in bold: “No red food coloring!” with no further explanation.<\/p>\nRed dye number 2 (Amaranth) was banned in the United States in 1976 (Wikipedia article here<\/a>). Its use was replaced by Red dye number 40 (Allura Red AC) (Wikipedia<\/a>). There is no definitive proof that red food coloring is bad for hummingbirds. Nevertheless, coloring the hummingbird nectar red is not necessary. Hummingbirds are attracted to the color red and red flowers. Most hummingbird feeders have red feeder ports or decorations that are ample to get the birds’ attention and interest.<\/p>\nSome commercial hummingbird nectars contain red food dye. But making your own hummingbird food is both easier and cheaper. There’s no need to add red food coloring. Since most recipes advise against adding food coloring, the practice of doing so is becoming less common. Since you have complete control over whether your hummingbird food has dye or not, I don’t consider this a valid reason not to feed hummingbirds.<\/p>\n
Not keeping the feeder clean<\/h3>\n
Sanchez’s second argument that feeding hummingbirds is bad for them has to do with feeder cleanliness. She says she’s too lazy (her words) to keep her feeders clean on a regular basis. Here, I’d have to agree with her. If you are unwilling to wash your hummingbird feeder to keep diseases away, then the hummingbirds would be better off without your feeders.<\/p>\n
The hummingbird nectar may become cloudy with bacteria. Mold may grow on the inside of the feeder. Thus, feeders need to be cleaned often.<\/p>\n
The Audubon article mentioned above recommends cleaning 2 times per week in hot weather, once per week in cooler weather. It also recommends cleaning every time the feeder is emptied by hungry hummingbirds. Do not refill a hummingbird feeder without cleaning! Audubon recommends hot water, or a weak vinegar solution, rather than soap, which may leave a harmful residue.<\/p>\n
The Hummingbird Society says to use mild detergent (not soap). Okay, there’s a difference that I’ve always wondered about. The dishwashing liquid I use to hand wash the dishes is evidently a detergent (as is the laundry detergent), while the hand soap (bar or liquid) is a soap. Soap contains fats (animal or vegetable). So it’s okay to use liquid dish soap<\/span> detergent to clean the hummingbird feeders. Rinse well.<\/p>\nWhen choosing a hummingbird feeder look for one with a wide mouth that allows you to reach inside with a scrub brush. Find one without many nooks and crannies that are difficult to clean. Some hummingbird feeders are dishwasher safe and may be more thoroughly cleaned this way every so often.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/whatbirdsareinmybackyard.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Hummingbird-frank-cone-2629372-240x300.jpg\")
Hummingbird by Frank Cone<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/span>What other problems can cause hummingbird feeders to be bad for hummingbirds?<\/span><\/h2>\nOver at The Spruce (source<\/a>) writer Melissa Mayntz mentions two other hummingbird feeder mistakes that can be bad for hummingbirds.<\/p>\nUsing the wrong sweeteners for hummingbird food<\/h3>\n
The only acceptable human-provided hummingbird food nectar contains refined white sugar. You may personally believe you consume too much overly-processed foods and sugar. However, refined white sugar is pure sucrose diluted with 4 parts water to perfectly match the nectar of plants upon which hummingbirds feed.<\/p>\n
As Mayntz notes, using any other sweetener besides sugar is bad for hummingbirds. Raw sugar, molasses, and honey are especially bad for hummingbirds.<\/b> These either directly impact the health of hummingbirds or encourage the growth of other pathogens detrimental to hummingbirds.<\/p>\n
Candidiasis<\/i> is an infection from fungus that hummingbirds get from unclean hummingbird nectar. It develops quickly in nectar made with honey. Never feed hummingbirds honey! It is the same yeast that causes vaginal infections and the disease thrush in humans. In hummingbirds the tongue swells and won’t retract. It is almost always fatal in wild hummingbirds.<\/p>\n
Sugar content in natural flower nectar does vary. But homemade nectar in your hummingbird feeders should stick close to 1 part sugar to 4 parts water. [See my article on hummingbird food nectar recipe<\/a>.]\nLess sugar than the 1:4 ratio and hummingbirds won’t be attracted to the feeders. More than 1:3 sugar to water ratio is too strong and is bad for hummingbird liver and kidneys. Higher sugar concentrations may also spoil more quickly, as Mayntz notes.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/whatbirdsareinmybackyard.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Hummingbird-philippe-donn-1133957-300x200.jpg\")
Hummingbird by Philippe Donn<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nHummingbird feeder insect pests<\/h3>\n
Hymenoptera<\/i> are insects that include wasps, bees, and ants. Most species can sting, as well as bite. These are the primary competitors of the hummingbirds for your hummingbird food nectar.<\/p>\n
Bees and wasps can be kept away from hummingbird feeders by the design of the feeding port. The hummingbird nectar should not be near the opening. Thus, only the long bill and tongue of the hummingbird should be able to reach down through the feeding port to the liquid.<\/p>\n
Bees are attracted to yellow, hummingbirds to red. Choose a hummingbird feeder with red and no yellow, especially at the feeding port.<\/p>\n
Red food coloring<\/h3>\n
The first reason Sanchez lists for saying that hummingbird feeders are bad for hummingbirds is the growing possibility that red food coloring may be harming hummingbirds.<\/p>\n
The Audubon Society’s Hummingbird FAQs (source<\/a>) recommends against adding food coloring to hummingbird nectar. Its brief reason is that red food dye “could” be harmful to birds.<\/p>\n What does the Hummingbird Society have to say about red food coloring? (source<\/a>) Well, its page on feeding hummingbirds gives the recipe to make it yourself and then has the words in bold: “No red food coloring!” with no further explanation.<\/p>\n Red dye number 2 (Amaranth) was banned in the United States in 1976 (Wikipedia article here<\/a>). Its use was replaced by Red dye number 40 (Allura Red AC) (Wikipedia<\/a>). There is no definitive proof that red food coloring is bad for hummingbirds. Nevertheless, coloring the hummingbird nectar red is not necessary. Hummingbirds are attracted to the color red and red flowers. Most hummingbird feeders have red feeder ports or decorations that are ample to get the birds’ attention and interest.<\/p>\n Some commercial hummingbird nectars contain red food dye. But making your own hummingbird food is both easier and cheaper. There’s no need to add red food coloring. Since most recipes advise against adding food coloring, the practice of doing so is becoming less common. Since you have complete control over whether your hummingbird food has dye or not, I don’t consider this a valid reason not to feed hummingbirds.<\/p>\n Sanchez’s second argument that feeding hummingbirds is bad for them has to do with feeder cleanliness. She says she’s too lazy (her words) to keep her feeders clean on a regular basis. Here, I’d have to agree with her. If you are unwilling to wash your hummingbird feeder to keep diseases away, then the hummingbirds would be better off without your feeders.<\/p>\n The hummingbird nectar may become cloudy with bacteria. Mold may grow on the inside of the feeder. Thus, feeders need to be cleaned often.<\/p>\n The Audubon article mentioned above recommends cleaning 2 times per week in hot weather, once per week in cooler weather. It also recommends cleaning every time the feeder is emptied by hungry hummingbirds. Do not refill a hummingbird feeder without cleaning! Audubon recommends hot water, or a weak vinegar solution, rather than soap, which may leave a harmful residue.<\/p>\n The Hummingbird Society says to use mild detergent (not soap). Okay, there’s a difference that I’ve always wondered about. The dishwashing liquid I use to hand wash the dishes is evidently a detergent (as is the laundry detergent), while the hand soap (bar or liquid) is a soap. Soap contains fats (animal or vegetable). So it’s okay to use liquid dish soap<\/span> detergent to clean the hummingbird feeders. Rinse well.<\/p>\n When choosing a hummingbird feeder look for one with a wide mouth that allows you to reach inside with a scrub brush. Find one without many nooks and crannies that are difficult to clean. Some hummingbird feeders are dishwasher safe and may be more thoroughly cleaned this way every so often.<\/p>\n Over at The Spruce (source<\/a>) writer Melissa Mayntz mentions two other hummingbird feeder mistakes that can be bad for hummingbirds.<\/p>\n The only acceptable human-provided hummingbird food nectar contains refined white sugar. You may personally believe you consume too much overly-processed foods and sugar. However, refined white sugar is pure sucrose diluted with 4 parts water to perfectly match the nectar of plants upon which hummingbirds feed.<\/p>\n As Mayntz notes, using any other sweetener besides sugar is bad for hummingbirds. Raw sugar, molasses, and honey are especially bad for hummingbirds.<\/b> These either directly impact the health of hummingbirds or encourage the growth of other pathogens detrimental to hummingbirds.<\/p>\n Candidiasis<\/i> is an infection from fungus that hummingbirds get from unclean hummingbird nectar. It develops quickly in nectar made with honey. Never feed hummingbirds honey! It is the same yeast that causes vaginal infections and the disease thrush in humans. In hummingbirds the tongue swells and won’t retract. It is almost always fatal in wild hummingbirds.<\/p>\n Sugar content in natural flower nectar does vary. But homemade nectar in your hummingbird feeders should stick close to 1 part sugar to 4 parts water. [See my article on hummingbird food nectar recipe<\/a>.]\nLess sugar than the 1:4 ratio and hummingbirds won’t be attracted to the feeders. More than 1:3 sugar to water ratio is too strong and is bad for hummingbird liver and kidneys. Higher sugar concentrations may also spoil more quickly, as Mayntz notes.<\/p>\n Hymenoptera<\/i> are insects that include wasps, bees, and ants. Most species can sting, as well as bite. These are the primary competitors of the hummingbirds for your hummingbird food nectar.<\/p>\n Bees and wasps can be kept away from hummingbird feeders by the design of the feeding port. The hummingbird nectar should not be near the opening. Thus, only the long bill and tongue of the hummingbird should be able to reach down through the feeding port to the liquid.<\/p>\n Bees are attracted to yellow, hummingbirds to red. Choose a hummingbird feeder with red and no yellow, especially at the feeding port.<\/p>\nNot keeping the feeder clean<\/h3>\n
<\/span>What other problems can cause hummingbird feeders to be bad for hummingbirds?<\/span><\/h2>\n
Using the wrong sweeteners for hummingbird food<\/h3>\n
Hummingbird feeder insect pests<\/h3>\n