How to Make a Hummingbird Feeder From a Plastic Bottle

Feeding the birds can be rewarding and entertaining, and no backyard birds are more sought after than hummingbirds. It is easy to make a hummingbird feeder from a plastic bottle and not only can you enjoy these flying jewels, but you are also recycling materials and helping local wildlife in just a few simple steps.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Plastic soda or water bottle (20 ounce)
• Heavy guage copper wire
• Red beads (optional)
• Hummingbird nectar
• Screw on hummingbird feeder base
• Plant hanging hook

1. Empty and clean the plastic bottle thoroughly. Rinse all cleaning solution out of the bottle and let it dry completely.

2. Wrap the copper wire around the bottle, starting with a narrow loop that securely fits around the bottle’s neck. Continue wrapping the wire around the bottle in decorative swirls and spirals, stringing red beads along the wire if desired for extra color.

3. Secure the copper wire over the base of the bottle, leaving a loop in the center for hanging. The wire should be securely fastened on opposite sides of the bottle so it will hang straight.

4. Make hummingbird nectar with a solution of four parts water to one part white table sugar. Alternatively, commercial nectar mixes, concentrates or solutions can be purchased.

5. Fill the bottle two-thirds full of nectar. Do not overfill the bottle because nectar will expand in heat and could cause leaking that will attract insects.

6. Screw on the feeder base. Bases can be purchased from pet stores, bird supply stores, nature stores, and online retailers. Saucer models as well as stopper feeding tubes are available.

7. Invert the bottle quickly so the base is at the bottom. Some nectar may leak out as the bottle is inverted but any dripping should stop right away. If the leak continues, check the seal where the base is attached to the bottle and tighten if necessary.

8. Use the plant hook to hang the feeder by the wire loop outside near a window so you can get an up close view of feeding hummingbirds. Hanging the feeder in the shade will help keep the nectar fresh for longer periods.

Tips & Warnings

• While it is possible to puncture a bottle’s cap to make a hummingbird feeder without buying a base, there will be many more leaks and drips without the proper accessories. Hummingbirds will also be more comfortable feeding from an attached base.
• It is not necessary to add red food coloring to the hummingbird nectar to attract the birds. The red beads and any red on the feeder base will provide plenty of color to get the birds’ attention, and fewer chemicals in the sugar solution is a healthier option for the birds.
• Make multiple feeders to attract more hummingbirds and to minimize aggression as birds protect the feeders.
• Ants, bees, and wasps will be attracted to dripping or leaking nectar. Hang the feeder from a gutter or use an ant moat and insect guards to discourage bugs from sipping the nectar.
• Hummingbird feeders should be cleaned and the nectar changed every few days, especially in hot summer weather when the sugar water will ferment quickly. Fermented nectar can grow mold that is fatal to hummingbirds.
• Do not use honey, molasses, or artificial sweeteners to make hummingbird nectar. These products are not healthy for the birds and do not provide the nutritional sucrose they require.

Resources

• Hummingbird Nectar Recipe
• Hummingbird Feeding Tips

[Magentaslb]

on 9/18/2009 Thinking of making one of these to see if I can lure any hummingbirds to my fire escape! 5*s