I have never heard of an additive. I wouldn't think there was one either. How hot does it get?

No there is no additive that can be used safely to preserve the nectar. If your feeder isn't being emptied within 2-3 days then I would only use a small amount of nectar in the feeder. Some of my feeders are 8 ounce feeders and I only put 3-4 ounces in them. That way I am not wasting as much nectar in those feeders.

Penny

Same thoughts here, I change the nectar every 2 or 3 days if they drain it or not, but I try to put in only as much as will be used in that time period especially early in the season untill more arrive for us here in the east. But the same thing would prevail for year round hummers you know how many hummers you have in your area and adjust the nectar accordingly.

This is a thought provoking subject. I guess the trick is to not have more feeders out then you can support. I don't check my feeders every 2 or 3 days. I don't think it is possible to have a life or maybe a job. I do think it is important to maintain them as clean as possible. I scrub and then soak in a weak bleach solution. I have ordered two new HummZinger feeders. They are so easy to clean and durable. Next I will buy a plastic bucket with a lid to bleach in. I have got to figure out how to speed wash.
I maintain feeders year round and really never know how many will come to dinner. I can not take the chance of the feeders going dry because there is little else out there for them to eat. It is better for them if I am a bit late cleaning then if the feeder goes dry. My birds move. I had babies all summer. They left and now I have a bunch of dive bombing guys. I had two new short round ones show up this week. But that's just what's going on this side of the house. Sometimes it's a consistent amount of syrup gone and then suddenly they start draining the feeders. When it's cool the feeders can go longer. When it's hot mold grows fast and the sun can heat the syrup up. It's important to check the midday temperature. I guess it's like gardening. I can grow anything in spring on the east side of the garden. I have to work harder in August on those flower beds that get the western sun.
But this is just me. I am lactose intolerant and ferment milk in my cabinet for 2 days with kefir to use in smoothies. Fermented milk may sound gross but I like it. The earth is teaming with life. I am personally physically sick when I eat preserved foods. My feeders may not always be spotless but they are never empty. I try to be alert and use common sense.

the nectar they take from flowers....does it spoil? If not, what does the nectar contain to keep it spoiling. It must be full of bugs and crud and would cause bacteria to grow in it. Why couldnt the same additive be used in artificial nectar? Is the exorbinantly priced store bought nectar contain a preservative?

I have 12 48 oz feeders. In the summer peak I go through 1 gal a day of 4:1 mix. I have year round birds and in the winter maybe 1qt a day. Espcially in winter I only fill 1/4 or less.

I have not looked at what the store nectar has in it. I can see plainly that it has red additives so would never conceder buying it. Don't know what happens with flowers but raw milk and honey naturally have ingredients that keep them from spoiling. Seeds and nuts have 'anti-nutrients' to make them harder to digest. A sugar solution will naturally ferment. There are yeasts and molds in the air. I can't eat preservatives so my birds aren't getting it. There are no natural chemicals just things like sulfur dioxide, butylated hydroxytoluene, butylated hydroxyanisole, tert-butylhydroquinone, and propyl gallate ect. We can scorch the earth with chemicals but I would rather live with a little bit of mold and yeast but again, thatÂs just me.
rkruz, you have a lot of birds! What do you do when you go on vacation? I am wondering if my dog sitter will fill feeders? What area of the country do you live in? I am zone 9 and I have wondered how low a zone hummingbirds can winter in. I had a little trouble this year with the feeders icing. I was pouring it into a measuring cup and micro waving it. I have a friend that says she use to live on a ridge that was a 'fly way'. On weekends at the right time of year she could spend the whole day tending the feeders.

I live in southern California. Near Disneyland. At peak in spring and late summer when migrating birds come through I have counted 30 birds sitting at the feeders and probably that many more hovering around or sitting in nearby trees. As we have birds year round, this winter (now) I think I have seen more birds then in some winters. Maybe 10 birds sitting at feeders at any one time. These feeders are spread out over our back yard patio. For about 17 years now we have had these feeders out and been very consistent 365 days a year. When we have first time company it is an amazement for them to experiece how close you can get and how many there are. On occassion a bird will land on the feeder while I am carrying it out to hang. I know I have Rufus (a few here now so they must have decided to be year round), Allens and I have seen Blackheaded. The books I have are not very helpful with pictures to help me identify all the birds types. If we are gone on vacation, we have the neighbors fill the feeders each day.
Which so many feeders to fill, it would be great to have the nectar last longer so that is why I ask about the preservative.

What is a good book to aid in bird identification?

I don't believe one would want to introduce a preservative into a formula that wasn't found naturally in the food. I can only imagine such an ingredient would be potentially harmful. I would recommend cutting back on the amount you put in the feeder at one time.
I am inclined to think that the amount of nectar found in flowers is so minute, that there isn't time for it to spoil. Perhaps Mother Nature herself has created a preservative found only in the wild!

Here is a link that might be useful: Midwest Hummingbirds

what preservative is found naturally in the food?