Homemade Hummingbird Feeder ( homemade hummingbird nectar)

How to Make a Hummingbird Feeder
Homemade hummingbird nectar
Here is all you need to make a hummingbird feeder.
Gatorade Bottle (or any other bottle you want to use as a container)
A Large Salad Dressing Bottle Cap (or any other bottle cap that is slightly larger and deeper than the Gatorade Bottle Cap)
Drill
A Napkin
Hot Glue Gun
Glue for the Hot Glue Gun.
Pliers (optional)
Aluminum Foil (optional)
Scissors (optional)
Non-Toxic Paint (optional)
Faux flowers (optional)

For these directions we will use an empty Gatorade Bottle as our tank and part of the base. We like the Gatorade bottles because the mouth of the bottle is large making it easier to clean with a Hummingbird Feeder Brush. It is also easy to change the tank out if the plastic yellow's in the sun and there are pre-made ridges in the bottle to wrap some string or wire around to hang the finished feeder up. You can make a hummingbird feeder with any old bottle that has a top you can modify and still screw it back on the bottle. Some suggestions, try an old soda bottle, a mason jar, or even an old water bottle.

Ok, let's get down to business. Take the top off of the Gatorade Bottle. We are going to completely rebuild this top to become the base of the hummingbird feeder.

Using your drill, carefully make a bunch of hole in the center of the top bottle cap. Still being very careful with the drill (and pliers if needed) work the holes through to make one big hole in the center of the bottle cap. Now, pick up the salad dressing jar. Keep the cap and throw away the jar. We are using the salad dressing jar cap because the cap is slightly larger and deeper than the Gatorade bottle cap.

Get the napkin and tear it in half. Push half the napkin through the center hole of the Gatorade bottle top, leaving a little sticking out. This is a temporary spacer to keep the Gatorade bottle top off the bottom of the salad dressing top while we glue them together. If we don't do this, the hummingbird nectar will not be able to flow into salad dressing top for them to drink. Place the Gatorade bottle cap with the napkin through the hole directly into the center of the salad dressing top.

Make sure the Gatorade bottle top is slightly below the rim of the Salad Dressing top like shown in the picture. You also want to try to keep the Gatorade bottle top as level as possible with the salad dressing top. Adjust the napkin as much as needed to get the spacing just right. Using the hot glue gun, build up four bridges that will glue the two lids together, keeping the Gatorade lid off the bottom of the salad dressing lid. By slowly building up the hot glue, the glue won't flow all over the bottom of the salad dressing lid. After the glue has completely dried, carefully take out the entire napkin. Inspect the two caps to make sure the Gatorade lid is floating off the bottom of the salad dressing jar. Also inspect the two caps to make sure the top of the Gatorade lid is below the rim of the salad dressing lid.

Take the Gatorade bottle and screw it onto your new bottle top. And you have the basics of a hummingbird feeder, without the flowers.

Now would be a good time to decorate your feeder. Remember to use red (and maybe yellow) as it is a hummingbird's favorite color. You can use silk or fabric flowers if you like when making your hummingbird feeder as long as the ink in the fabric does not run into the nectar when it gets wet. This would not be very good for the hummingbirds. Twine, string, rope, or wire can be used to create a mounting bracket for your homemade hummingbird feeder. If you need to drill and eye hook into the top of your hummingbird feeder to hang it up, make sure you re-seal the hole so that no air or water can leak.