Junk food for hummingbirds
Why is this stuff "junk food"? Not because it's 99% sugar - that's what hummingbirds drink real flower nectar for. It's because this product like so much human junk food is laced with unnatural unnecessary and potentially hazardous chemicals. The description brags that it doesn't contain any artificial sweeteners (duh!) but if this really is the original Perky Pet formula it does contain the food coloring Red #40. This synthetic coal-tar dye is the single most popular food coloring in the world but it's actually banned in some countries over concerns about its safety. From a health standpoint it's important to remember that a hummingbird may drink more than *three times its weight* in nectar or feeder solutions each day. Even a relatively harmless chemical can have damaging effects at such high consumption rates.
Unnecessary additives such as dyes preservatives and flavorings are just one reason that hummingbird experts discourage the use of products such as this one. Another is cost. Even the dye-free "instant nectars" contain absolutely nothing to justify a price that's 5 to 8 times higher than that of ordinary white sugar (which is actually sucrose the natural sugar hummingbirds prefer above all others). A simple solution of 3 to 5 parts water to 1 part white table sugar is convenient inexpensive and much more natural for the birds. Remember to clean the feeder and change the solution every 2 to 5 days. For even happier healthier hummingbirds plant hummingbird-friendly flowers such as red salvias and columbines and keep your yard pesticide free to provide the tiny insects and spiders that they need for a well-rounded diet.More detail ...
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