# What's fermenting the sugar water in my hummingbird feeders? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 28, 2022, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-fermenting-the-sugar-water-in-my-hummingbird-feeders/968729 "2022-07-28T18:41:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![CC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f1d935/32.png) [@CC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CC)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2022, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-fermenting-the-sugar-water-in-my-hummingbird-feeders/968729/1 "2022-07-28T18:41:38Z")
Cornell Ornthology tells me to change the sugar water in my feeder “before it gets cloudy” (how would I know it’s about to get cloudy?) because the sugar water ferments and turns to alcohol. While I understand that yeast does that to sugar in the production of beer, etc., what could be fermenting inside the feeder? It’s just sugar and water. I don’t put yeast or other organic stuff in there. Just sugar and water. Is it just from random bacteria? I don’t get this. ---
**Author:** ![crowmanyclouds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crowmanyclouds/32/19884_2.png) [@crowmanyclouds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crowmanyclouds)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2022, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-fermenting-the-sugar-water-in-my-hummingbird-feeders/968729/2 "2022-07-28T18:48:35Z")
Wild yeast, the same thing you want to get when you start one of those water and flour bread starters. ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2022, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-fermenting-the-sugar-water-in-my-hummingbird-feeders/968729/3 "2022-07-28T18:49:50Z")
Wild yeast is everywhere. Also, if your feeder is in direct sunlight all the time, that’s encouraging fermentation. Move it to the shady side of the house if possible. ---
**Author:** ![Cardigan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cardigan/32/187_2.png) [@Cardigan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cardigan)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2022, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-fermenting-the-sugar-water-in-my-hummingbird-feeders/968729/4 "2022-07-28T18:50:45Z")
Yes, wild yeast. It does beg another question, though, do hummingbirds actually get drunk on fermented feeder ‘hooch’? ---
**Author:** ![2\_More\_Bits](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/2_more_bits/32/4148_2.png) [@2\_More\_Bits](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/2_More_Bits)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2022, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-fermenting-the-sugar-water-in-my-hummingbird-feeders/968729/5 "2022-07-28T19:05:46Z")
My understanding is that they won’t find it palatable and ultimately may not return to a feeder that they remember as having lousy food ---
**Author:** ![tofor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tofor/32/13727_2.png) [@tofor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tofor)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2022, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-fermenting-the-sugar-water-in-my-hummingbird-feeders/968729/6 "2022-07-28T19:15:55Z")
It’s probably not just fermenting either. Hummingbird nectar doesn’t have anywhere near enough sugar to keep nasty bacteria and molds from growing in it. So it seems likely that dirty nectar could make a bird sick. ---
**Author:** ![filmore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7993a0/32.png) [@filmore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/filmore)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2022, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-fermenting-the-sugar-water-in-my-hummingbird-feeders/968729/7 "2022-07-28T19:46:39Z")
The hummingbirds themselves can bring yeast and bacteria to the feeder when they come to drink. Anything on their beak can end up in the feeder and, as you can imagine, warm sugar water works as a pretty good incubator. This is one reason that some people want to get rid of hummingbird feeders. If they are kept clean they’re fine, but most people either don’t know or don’t make the effort. The hummingbirds can get infections that swell their tongues and they won’t be able to drink, and that causes the expected long-term consequence you could imagine. So if you have a feeder, keep it really clean. That means taking it apart and scrubbing it well so that any mold, mildew, bacteria, etc. doesn’t grow. ---
**Author:** ![CC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f1d935/32.png) [@CC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CC)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2022, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-fermenting-the-sugar-water-in-my-hummingbird-feeders/968729/8 "2022-07-28T19:59:30Z")
Will do. Thanks for the info. ---
**Author:** ![hibernicus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hibernicus/32/2802_2.png) [@hibernicus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hibernicus)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2022, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-fermenting-the-sugar-water-in-my-hummingbird-feeders/968729/9 "2022-07-28T22:15:07Z")
I used to make cider without adding yeast. If you store unpasteurised apple juice for a few days it will ferment. Yeast is everywhere. ---
**Author:** ![Yllaria](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yllaria/32/3452_2.png) [@Yllaria](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yllaria)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2022, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-fermenting-the-sugar-water-in-my-hummingbird-feeders/968729/10 "2022-07-28T22:32:25Z")
Life will find a way. ---
**Author:** ![Pardel-Lux](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pardel-lux/32/20182_2.png) [@Pardel-Lux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pardel-Lux)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2022, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-fermenting-the-sugar-water-in-my-hummingbird-feeders/968729/11 "2022-07-28T22:37:03Z")
Alcohol will find a way faster. Not in a straight line, perhaps, but faster. Reliably if sugar is involved. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2022, 12:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-fermenting-the-sugar-water-in-my-hummingbird-feeders/968729/12 "2022-07-29T12:48:08Z")
As already answered, it’s yeast, which is floating in the air already. At its simplest mead is made by mixing honey plus water. When I was in high school we mixed up water, sugar, and rice in a container and it fermented, We were able to distill at least 80 proof from it. ---
**Author:** ![HMS\_Irruncible](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hms_irruncible/32/7394_2.png) [@HMS\_Irruncible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HMS_Irruncible)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2022, 12:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-fermenting-the-sugar-water-in-my-hummingbird-feeders/968729/13 "2022-07-29T12:53:47Z")
> [@DCnDC](#): > > Wild yeast is everywhere. Also, if your feeder is in direct sunlight all the time, that’s encouraging fermentation. Move it to the shady side of the house if possible. I know the warmth would help fermentation, but wouldn’t the UV light kill microorganisms? I don’t know, just asking. ---
**Author:** ![HMS\_Irruncible](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hms_irruncible/32/7394_2.png) [@HMS\_Irruncible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HMS_Irruncible)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2022, 12:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-fermenting-the-sugar-water-in-my-hummingbird-feeders/968729/14 "2022-07-29T12:55:05Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > When I was in high school we mixed up water, sugar, and rice in a container and it fermented, We were able to distill at least 80 proof from it. You made shochu! How was it? ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2022, 12:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-fermenting-the-sugar-water-in-my-hummingbird-feeders/968729/15 "2022-07-29T12:58:09Z")
> [@HMS\_Irruncible](#): > > > [@CalMeacham](#): > > > > When I was in high school we mixed up water, sugar, and rice in a container and it fermented, We were able to distill at least 80 proof from it. > > You made shochu! How was it? - He doesn’t remember. ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2022, 1:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-fermenting-the-sugar-water-in-my-hummingbird-feeders/968729/16 "2022-07-29T13:04:36Z")
> [@CC](#): > > change the sugar water in my feeder “before it gets cloudy” (how would I know it’s about to get cloudy?) Are you only planning to refill your hummingbird feeder once? ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2022, 1:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-fermenting-the-sugar-water-in-my-hummingbird-feeders/968729/17 "2022-07-29T13:07:48Z")
Your high school let you distill alcohol? Damn, I wish my school had something like that. ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2022, 1:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-fermenting-the-sugar-water-in-my-hummingbird-feeders/968729/18 "2022-07-29T13:09:15Z")
> [@HMS\_Irruncible](#): > > I know the warmth would help fermentation, but wouldn’t the UV light kill microorganisms? Sure, eventually, but the yeast will survive long enough to ferment a significant amount of the solution before that happens. The alcohol itself will kill the yeast too if it reaches 10-15% ABV, or as little as 5% depending on the yeast. ---
**Author:** ![Pleonast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pleonast/32/1183_2.png) [@Pleonast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pleonast)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2022, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-fermenting-the-sugar-water-in-my-hummingbird-feeders/968729/19 "2022-07-29T13:37:14Z")
The best way to help out hummingbirds (and other wildlife) is to grow appropriate flowers. And not apply pesticides. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2022, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-fermenting-the-sugar-water-in-my-hummingbird-feeders/968729/20 "2022-07-29T14:10:50Z")
> [@HMS\_Irruncible](#): > > You made shochu! How was it? Dunno. I didn’t try it. But one of the other guys in the back of the room was cutting it with water and drinking it. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-fermenting-the-sugar-water-in-my-hummingbird-feeders/968729.md?page=2)