This works great, even without the food coloring. If you are putting the nectar in a feeder, they usually have red on them and hungry hummingbirds will have no problem coming to dine. I put a feeder out earlier than usual this year and was surprised to have a couple visitors right away.

Red coloring is NOT needed if your feeder is red. I NEVER use any type of coloring and have plenty of birds.

Please do not use red anything in the nectar recipe. All that is needed is sugar and water. Also you need to add the sugar prior to boiling the water so the sugar is also heated to a boiling temperature to kill any mold or mildew spores in the sugar. Check out any zoo or your conservation pages for the RIGHT way to feed those little guys.

Also remember during very hot temperatures changing the mixture every day or every other day may be necessary. They will not eat from a feeder that has ants crawling on it or dead ants swimming in the nectar, or a moat in the feeder is a necessary item as well.