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For those of you who like to use the 'raw' or turbinado sugars beware that they have a higher iron content and can actually be poisonous to hummers.
"Turbinado is refined using the same process as white sugar; the only difference is that in white sugar all the molasses and other non-sugar parts have been removed. The iron content in turbinado can be up to five times higher than in white sugar. This is a good thing for humans, but the tiny Hummingbirds can develop iron poisoning if you include turbinado in your homemade humming bird food. Using white sugar for your homemade humming bird food is therefore a safer solution."
I found several sources... Hummingbird Feeders
The Hummingbird Society (http://www.hummingbirdsociety.org/HB101/feeders.htm - broken link)
Homemade Humming Bird Food (http://www.hummingbird-food.info/homemade.php - broken link)
Today I was researching "Sugar in the Raw" or Turbinado to make Hummingbird food, (I am not sure if "Florida Crystals are the same as those two), BUT I found 2 sites that say that you shouldn't use those to make Hummingbird nectar.
The two links are below and state the Iron content in "Sugar in the Raw" or "Turbinado" is the not healthy for Hummingbirds. So here's the links for you to compare the info. I don't know who's right or wrong, just passing info on.
I have a couple of hummers that are still hanging around.
We have only one feeder out now but the question is, does it go bad after awhile?
We've had this batch out now for about a week and the 2 coming around seem to be drinking it but I didn't know if I should change it out again.
I know they'll stop coming around soon so I didn't want to stop doing it altogether. Haven't seen any today though.
Depends on the temperature and whether the feeder gets a lot of sun. (=higher temperature!) You can usually tell it's going bad because it will start to get a little cloudy.
My hummers are all gone now but while I had those two little guys still hanging around I did change the feeder even if it wasn't empty at least once a week. It only takes a second and it's not worth the risk!
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