It can possibly kill hummingbirds.
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Hanging up ahummingbird feederis a great way to attract these beautiful feathered creatures to your backyard.
Food coloring or color additives isn’t needed to attract hummers and can potentially harm hummingbirds.
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Harming these winged animals is likely the last thing on your mind.
“This will serve as an attractant, so using red dye in the nectar just isnt necessary.”
According to theFood and Drug Administration (FDA),Red No.
However, Red dye No.
40 is common in commercial hummingbird sugar solutions or supplemental nectar.
Shortly after, theFDAprohibited red dye No.
3 from being used in cosmetics and medications in 1990 but continues to allow it in food products.
“It is best to try and steer clear of red-dyed hummingbird nectar,” says Karr.
An adult weighs around 0.1 to 0.2 ounces, says Smith.
Hummingbirds can drink a lot of nectar each day.
“A hummer will consume about 10 grams or more of nectar solution per day,” Smith says.
Read the label before you purchase a pre-made nectar for hummingbirds and avoid any products that have red dye.
Make Your Own Supplemental Nectar
Making sugary nectar is easy, simple.
You only need two ingredientssugar and water.
The sugar should be dissolved before adding to the feeder.
A Hummingbird Feeder Is All You Need
Hummingbird feeders are carefully designed to attract hummers.
Adding food coloring as an extra measure isn’t necessary.
“This is why good hummer feeders are red with yellow feeder ports.”
Karr adds, “Once the hummers find your feeder they will be repeat visitors.”
Keep it simple when you’re thinking about enticing hummingbirds to your yard.
A clean feeder is also essential to their health as the sugary nectar can mold and harm the birds.
“Keeping the feeders clean and filled with fresh nectar solution is extremely important,” says Smith.
Sugary nectar can ferment and occurs quicker in warm and hot weather.
Clean the feeder every 2-3 days, says Smith and check periodically that the solution hasn’t become cloudy.
Clean feeders daily in hot weathertemperatures above 90 F degreessince the sugary nectar will ferment faster.
