HAND FEEDING THE HUMMINGBIRD

Observing the remarkable hummingbird doesn't have to be done from a distance. 
Imagine seeing these amazing creatures up close and person while hand feeding them.  Well, it can happen with three simple steps. 

1. A Successful Feeder-  We have tried many types and have found our favorites .  Here are some features to look for:
It should be attractive to the hummingbird, with red parts.Hummers love red. 
Find one that is easily cleaned for the bird's safety and your convenience. 
Provide a feeder with comfortable perches all the way around the feeder.  The more room the better.
2. The Right Nectar Mix- You can purchase a Nectar Mix , or make your own. Our Homemade Nectar Recipe is four parts water to one part sugar.  No brown sugar or honey.  Mix with hot water, boiled if you want, but do not add red coloring. It is not necessary, and some studies show that certain red dyes are harmful to birds.  Cool mixture before filling the feeder and store surplus in the fridge for up to 2 weeks.
3. PATIENCE! Yes, you may have to wait a while to experience this amazing sight.

First of all, get the hummers to use your feeders hanging in a convenient spot.  Once they have become comfortable and accustomed to eating at your feeders, take them down for 10 minutes at a time, out of sight.  Then start to offer nectar with a hand feeding tube, or simply hold your regular feeder.  Hold it close to the spot where your feeders were hanging.  Be patient.  They might just be curious at first, but soon they may begin feeding right from your hand.  One person reported that she and her children simply rest their fingers on the perches of the hummingbird feeder, and the tiny birds perch right on their hand to drink.  How amazing is that?

Some have tried tricks like wrapping red or pink flowers around their wrist or wearing a red hat.  Whatever method you choose, PATIENCE is your greatest tool.  But, what a reward.  GOOD LUCK!

MORE AMAZING HUMMINGBIRD FACTS:

Hummingbirds have about 1,500 feathers.

Hummingbird's wings move in a figure-eight pattern so that they can hover and fly in all directions.  Even upside down.

Hummingbirds beat their wings about 50 times a second.  No wonder they appear as a blur.

Hummingbirds have large muscles used for flight, which comprise about 25% of their body weight.

At rest, a hummingbird's heart rate is eight times faster than a human's.  While resting, a hummingbird takes about 250 breaths per minutes.

A hummingbird's tongue has grooves on the sides to help it catch insects, and it has 40-60 taste buds compared to a human's 10,000.

Hummingbird eggs are the size of a jellybean.

Hummingbirds will often return to the same flowers or feeders year after year, and the oldest recorded hummingbird was 14 years old.

CLICK TO SEE OUR FAVORITE HUMMINGBIRD FEEDERS 

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