Wondering how to feed hummingbirds flowers by hand?
Many readers have asked us how to feed hummingbirds flowers by hand. That’s because they know we’ve done it before. And most are folks who have attended our Growing a Hummingbird Habitat Garden seminar. So that means they’re growing the right flowers to feed hummingbirds. But, like you, not everyone knows ways to feed hummingbirds by hand.
So we’ve detailed how we feed hummingbird fledglings by hand without using feeders!
What flowers should I grow to feed hummingbirds?
The reality is: there are a lot of flowers to grow to feed hummingbirds. And the best way for you to find out our favorites is to attend our detailed seminar! Plus, in this program, we detail much more than just flowers to grow for hummingbirds. That’s because these special creatures need more from our gardens than just nectar-rich blooms.
But, there is one spring flower for hummingbirds I’m going to share here. That’s because it’s one that I’ve been able to use to hand-feed young hummingbirds!
How I’ve come to hand-feed hummingbirds without feeders…
Because I grow a Hummingbird Habitat Garden, hummingbirds are always nesting in our garden. And that means young hummingbirds are always flying about, especially in Spring. And the easiest hummingbirds to feed by hand are these fledglings!
I imagine this is true because they’re young, uninhibited, and very curious to learn. So if you’re patient, they’ll probably fly right up to you. And that’s a great time to feed hummingbirds flowers by hand!
My first experience feeding hummingbirds by hand…
The first time I was able to feed a hummingbird flowers by hand was the first year I discovered a hummingbird nest in my garden. (If you’re curious about that whole story, be sure to get in on my Growing Your Hummingbird Habitat Garden seminar now!)
One of the first days after the babies left the nest I was sitting on my front porch with a friend visiting. And we were watching the pair of youngsters zipping right past us. They were definitely interested in us. So I plucked a nearby columbine flower and held it at arm’s length. And we sat very still.
Within moments one of the hummingbirds took the bait! It flew up to that beautiful bloom, which I already knew to be a hummingbird favorite. And this was how I first learned how to feed hummingbirds flowers by hand!
The next time was a bit more traumatic…
A few years later, I was desperate to feed a young hummingbird that fallen from its nest before it was ready to fly. My dog actually found the baby and alerted me to it. Fortunately, she didn’t eat the poor thing!
So I scooped it up and tried to get it to eat. Obviously, it was hungry. I knew that sugar water wasn’t quite enough for the baby, but it was all I could manage at first. Alas, the baby wouldn’t sip from the dropper at all. And that sugar water just made a mess of its delicate feathers.
Thank goodness it was Spring and my columbines were blooming!
In a last ditch effort, I introduced the baby to my flowers. And thank goodness I knew I could feed hummingbirds flowers by hand this way! That’s because it took a little while for the baby to catch on, but it did begin to feed from the columbine.
What happened to this abandoned baby in the end?
Although I was able to get the baby bird to feed from my garden, I knew I didn’t have the ability to fully rehabilitate it. So I reached out to nearby animal rehabilitation programs, and I was able to get the bird transported there.
Once relocated to their trained and diligent facilities, the bird thrived. So how do I know this? I checked in regularly with the facility and made donations to help them continue to do good by all sorts of wildlife in need of assistance.
Want to learn more about ways you can help hummingbirds in your garden?
Check out this brief free hummingbird gardening video & get on the list today!
