Hummingbird Food

It's quite simple: add 1/4 cup of white granulated cane sugar to each cup of boiling water.

You must boil water (stovetop or microwave) and then add the sugar and stir until dissolved.

Boiling helps dissolve the sugar and kills off things that may make the sugar water spoil faster.

The recipe for hummingbird food must be cool before you add it to your hummingbird feeders! 

The sugar water can remain in your refrigerator for 2 weeks.

However, it spoils rather quickly outside in the hummingbird feeders.

This is why it is important that you replace it (and clean the feeder) every 2 days throughout warm weather and at least every 5 days the rest of the year.

You can usually tell when you've waited too long and the sugar is becoming spoiled; it will start to cloud.

Why do you usually see a red liquid in hummingbird feeders? 

Some people like to add a touch of food coloring to the sugar water.

It is not necessary to do this and is more for your pleasure than the hummingbird's.