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Messages From The Heartland
loneleeb3:
--- Quote from: DavidInIndy on June 20, 2008, 02:55:19 pm ---Dilute the mix and then dump it in with sugar water? Is that what you mean Richard? Do you put red food coloring in the sugar water?
I might switch back to the concentrated mix again. That fruit punch smell is getting on my last nerve. :P
--- End quote ---
No, just mix the fruit punch with plain water to water it down some.
OR you can just make sugar water. You don't have to use food coloring. I never do.
The food coloring is more for people than the birds LOL.
Birds don't know from red water they just like the taste of the sugar! LOL
I have used just plain sugar water and have had tons of Humming birds~
David In Indy:
--- Quote from: loneleeb3 on June 20, 2008, 03:04:19 pm ---No, just mix the fruit punch with plain water to water it down some.
OR you can just make sugar water. You don't have to use food coloring. I never do.
The food coloring is more for people than the birds LOL.
Birds don't know from red water they just like the taste of the sugar! LOL
I have used just plain sugar water and have had tons of Humming birds~
--- End quote ---
My Mom used to do that. She'd mix water and sugar together. I've been buying the special mix at the store - at Wal-Mart mostly. It's called hummingbird "nectar" and it has many vitamins and minerals in it to keep the birds healthy. It comes in a large bottle, much larger than the other bottles of mix, because it is ready to use, with the water already added. The mix I was using previously came in a much smaller bottle, but I had to add water to it. It was very thick and sticky. That was the concentrated mix I accidently spilled on Cody. God that was a real big mess! >:(
loneleeb3:
--- Quote from: DavidInIndy on June 20, 2008, 03:13:14 pm ---My Mom used to do that. She'd mix water and sugar together. I've been buying the special mix at the store - at Wal-Mart mostly. It's called hummingbird "nectar" and it has many vitamins and minerals in it to keep the birds healthy. It comes in a large bottle, much larger than the other bottles of mix, because it is ready to use, with the water already added. The mix I was using previously came in a much smaller bottle, but I had to add water to it. It was very thick and sticky. That was the concentrated mix I accidently spilled on Cody. God that was a real big mess! >:(
--- End quote ---
Yeah, that stuff is messy!
Poor Cody!
At least it was just a cosmetic tragedy on his part! :D
I just opt for the cheaper route! LOL
Also, I had heard that the red dye was harmful to the birds. But who knows it could be an urban (or rural! LOL) legend!
David In Indy:
--- Quote from: loneleeb3 on June 20, 2008, 03:51:40 pm ---Yeah, that stuff is messy!
Poor Cody!
At least it was just a cosmetic tragedy on his part! :D
I just opt for the cheaper route! LOL
Also, I had heard that the red dye was harmful to the birds. But who knows it could be an urban (or rural! LOL) legend!
--- End quote ---
Yeah, I read about that too Richard. The red food coloring can be harmful to the birds. But the red coloring they use in the commercial hummingbird food is safe for them. I read up on it before I bought it because I didn't want to buy something that will hurt them. It defeats the whole purpose. :)
loneleeb3:
--- Quote from: DavidInIndy on June 20, 2008, 03:55:44 pm ---Yeah, I read about that too Richard. The red food coloring can be harmful to the birds. But the red coloring they use in the commercial hummingbird food is safe for them. I read up on it before I bought it because I didn't want to buy something that will hurt them. It defeats the whole purpose. :)
--- End quote ---
Well you are now the resident ornithologist!! ;D
I never looked into it LOL! Guess I threw the baby out with the bathwater and just used the plain ole sugar water.
I love wathing the hummers (thats what Elizabeth calls them) :laugh:
The feeders also attract bees and the hummingnirds will go after the bees! It's really fun to watch.
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