Setting up your yard to support hummingbirds and other birds means thinking through their needs and deciding how you will best accommodate them. So, you might wonder what is the best way to provide these birds with water. Could you use a hummingbird feeder to supply water?
You can’t put plain water in a hummingbird feeder. Hummingbirds do not drink plain water and will ignore it, and birds that do drink plain water will be unable to access it. You’re better off setting up a traditional birdbath if you want to supply backyard birds with water.
Why You Shouldn’t Put Plain Water in a Hummingbird Feeder
You shouldn’t put water in a hummingbird feeder because it will confuse the birds and go untouched.
Hummingbirds expect a colorful hummingbird feeder to have sweet nectar inside.
And when they find that it holds nothing but plain water, they will leave it alone and not come back.
Although most birds require water to drink, there are better ways to present it than in a hummingbird feeder.
In fact, most birds will not be able to access the water if it’s only available through a hummingbird feeder and require a wide, shallow water source like a birdbath.
Hummingbirds don’t drink water, as they get all of the liquid they need from their nectar-based diet. So, they do not need a plain water-filled feeder.
How To Set Up a Hummingbird Feeder the Right Way
The right way to set up a hummingbird feeder is to fill it with a sugar-water solution or nectar.
If you’re mixing the solution yourself, use a 4:1 ratio of water to sugar.
Boil the water to dissolve the sugar and then cool it before putting it out in the feeder for the birds to enjoy.
Make sure that you choose a feeder with enough ports to support however many hummingbirds you have in the area.
This Nature Anywhere Hummingbird Feeder from Amazon has four ports, which is plenty for most uses.
However, you may wish to place multiple feeders in your yard a short distance apart, particularly if you have bully birds to worry about.
It’s also important that you don’t overfill your feeders. Change the nectar every day, and what you don’t use in a day should be thrown away.
You can store nectar in the refrigerator for an extended period, but it has a much shorter shelf life once it’s been left outside in the feeder.
How To Provide Backyard Birds With Water
Providing backyard birds with water to drink and bathe in can bring more birds to your garden and keep them happy in all weather.
Just make sure that you set up the water so that they have safe access.
Set Up a Bird Bath
Birds use birdbaths for drinking from and bathing in, provided they are set up correctly. Consider these tips as you set up your birdbath to ensure that it’s installed properly:
- Put the birdbath in the shade to prevent the water from overheating and evaporating.
- Place the birdbath near vegetation so that birds have a place to perch not far away.
- Put stones or tree branches in the birdbath to allow the birds to stand and drink without getting wet.
- Keep the water shallow, reaching a maximum of two inches deep in the center and just half an inch to an inch at the edges.
- Install a fountain to provide movement, as this attracts birds and discourages the growth of algae and bacteria.
- Use a birdbath that sits on the ground, not one that sits on a raised stand or platform.
- Avoid concrete birdbaths, which can crack in cold weather.
- Change the water in the birdbath every day or two to avoid mosquito infestations and other unwanted growth.
- Choose a large birdbath or put several out at once to accommodate multiple birds.
- Scrub the birdbath thoroughly every week to remove algae, bacteria, and other unwanted buildups.
- Control the water temperature in the birdbath by installing a heater or ice, depending on the season.
Use a Water Mister
Some birds, like hummingbirds, prefer to fly through a mist of water rather than use a traditional birdbath.
To accommodate them, you can either purchase a water mister or build a DIY hummingbird mister using PVC pipe.
If you purchase a water mister, look for one like the Lifeegrn Mister from Amazon. This mister is gentle enough for small birds and easy to use.
Set Up a Water Dripper
Another way to grant hummingbirds access to water is to set up a drip system. A steady, gentle drip is enough to give these birds enough of a bath.
Especially if the bird can also rub against whatever leaf, rock, or another surface that has been wet by the dripper.
You can set up a creative water dripping rig on your own or purchase a dripper like the Raindrip PC2050B from Amazon.
This dripper is intended for watering plants in a garden, but you can also use it to water hummingbirds.
It attaches to a water system and provides a steady drip of fresh, cool water that these birds can use for bathing.
Why Aren’t Birds Using My Birdbath?
Birds aren’t using your birdbath because it doesn’t resemble a natural water source, they haven’t found it, or there isn’t a lot of bird activity in general.
Birds are more likely to use your birdbath if it resembles a puddle, makes some noise, and is installed during migration season.
You can also increase traffic at your birdbath by installing other bird-friendly features in your yard, like nesting boxes, feeders, and native plants.
When birds come to your yard for one resource, they’re more likely to stay to use another.
If the water in your birdbath has changed color, that could be a sign that it’s been taken over by algae, mold, or bacteria, all of which can drive away the birds.
Thankfully, this is easily remedied with a quick soapy clean, and freshwater.