I have a bit of experience with this slop, er, product. A couple of years ago, someone called me to ask about hummer nutrition. I explained that I had no expertise in physiological matters. The person assured me they were trying to create a product that would be better for hummers than any of the artificial products on the market.

I think I said something like "what's wrong with plain old sugar and water?" The matter completely went from my consciousness until another person asked my opinion of such a "more natural" product. I believe I sent that person a couple of ... posts [from a fellow Humnet subscriber on the topic of hummingbird nectar additives].

Nevertheless, I got a call from the original person a few months ago. Seems the product "I had helped them with" was in production and he wanted to give me some. I didn't really want a case of it, but it was easier to accept that than to hunt up the product so I could read the label, etc. Seems the "Instant Liquid Nectar Concentrate" is manufactured for Perky-Pet by Kiko Foods, Inc. of Kenner, Louisiana. Subsequently, a case of it was delivered to my door.

It is actually designed to be sold with special (cheap-looking) feeders. One is supposed to pour the concentrate to a certain level of the feeder, fill with water, and hang for use.

The ingredients: Sugars (Fructose, Glucose, Sucrose, other Saccharides), Water, Natural Red Color. The label further reads: "Natural red color sourced from a unique blend of flower petals and insects." I've done my best to ignore the fact that they have used "source" as a verb, and would not purchase said product for that reason alone. These folks seem oblivious to the idea that there is nothing natural about red nectar nor about flower petals being part of a hummer diet.

The labelling did not specifically mention cochineal. How safe is that as a food product for humans? Has it been tested for hummers? Hmm.

I did not have many birds this winter, so it was difficult to come up with any kind of pseudo-scientific test. Nevertheless, I did want to see how hummers would react to it so I mixed up a batch exactly according to directions. The most popular feeder was a "Little Beginner" hanging from a small trellis near the back fence. I had several brands and designs of feeders up, all filled with a 1:3 cane sugar and water solution. I hosted 2-4 hummers through most of the winter. I also had a couple of Orange-crowned Warblers and a passel of House Finches.

To test the product, I took down all feeders except the popular one on the trellis. After all the birds were going to it, I put out a "Little Beginner" filled with the red slop in place of the regular one. I moved the sugar-water-filled feeder to the other side of the trellis, about 2 feet away.

Each of the hummers present that day first went to the feeder in its regular place. After one sip of the red stuff, they smoothly moved over to the sugar-water 2 feet away. None of the birds went to the new stuff as long as my regular solution was available.

Then, I removed the regular solution. Each bird went to the PP red stuff and ate as if there was no difference. I left it out for a couple of days and then reverted back to my accustomed 1:3 mix.

A few weeks later, I tried another "experiment". With 3 or 4 other feeders dispensing my regular syrup, I put out a single "Little Beginner" with the red stuff undiluted. I never saw a hummer try it, but the warblers and finches used that feeder exclusively.

It is easy to pour from the box, but only if one has one of the special pre-marked feeders. If one has to mix it with water in another container, it is only marginally easier than to dissolve granulated sugar. I find sticky, red stuff pretty nasty to handle.

It would be a stretch to say I tried the product with an open mind. However, I did let my birds give it a try. I would dispute the statement on the box that it attracts more hummingbirds.

NLN

Nancy L Newfield
Casa Colibrí
Metairie, Louisiana USA