What Is Hummingbird Food With Brown Sugar?

Sucrose in Flower Nectar and Commercial Sugars

• Nectar is an almost pure source of a sugar called sucrose. White, granulated sugar is the product that most closely resembles the sucrose found in flower nectars preferred by hummingbirds. Never use artificial or alternative sweeteners for hummingbirds. Brown sugar and other sugars should not replace granulated white sugar in the feeders. Brown sugar is white sugar sprayed with molasses, an iron-rich byproduct of sugar refining. Turbinado sugar, found primarily in health food stores, is processed the same way as granulated sugar, but less of the molasses is removed from the sugar so there is less sucrose available and it contains up to five times the amount of iron that white sugar does. The high amount of iron can kill hummingbirds.

Commercial Hummingbird Food

• Commercially available hummingbird food mixes are more expensive than white, granulated sugar and have a variety of dyes and preservatives added that are not necessary. Even products with added vitamins and minerals are not necessary because hummingbirds will balance their sugary diet with the insects and spiders they eat.

No Thanks to Honey

• Honey is a naturally made product but the bees use nectar from flowers that hummingbirds don't usually feed from. The nectar preferred by bees does not have the chemical composition that hummingbirds need. Furthermore, the nectar is changed even more by the bees when they turn the nectar into honey, according to the Southeastern Arizona Bird Observatory. Another downfall to honey is that it can contain spores that will make hummingbirds sick.

Food and Feeders

• Mix three to five parts of water to one part sugar and boil for a couple minutes in a pot on the stove or in the microwave. This will help preserve the food. Cool the mixture completely before filling your feeders. Refrigerate leftovers. Hummingbird food should not be mixed with red dye. Nectar is, after all, colorless and the birds can find it just fine. Color used to attract hummers should be on the outside of the feeders, just like the flowers found in nature. Clean feeders at least once a week with boiling water and a bottle brush. Vinegar can be used if mold is a problem but avoid soap because the birds do not like the taste if any residue is left behind.