Here's Why You Should Never Use Red Dye To Feed Hummingbirds

If you are a bird watcher, a bird lover, or simply like having those little hummingbirds around your house, you have probably put red sugar water in a hummingbird feeder, and placed it outside your window.

We all have, I’m betting.

That’s fine and dandy, but there is something you probably need to know.

Some people think that the red dye in that pretty sugar water actually harms the birds.

Now, it has not been PROVEN that red dye hurts the hummingbirds, but it is definitely possible.

Red Dye #40 has proven carcinogenic and mutagenic (meaning that it induces tumors) in rats and mice.
Bird Watcher’s Digest

So, you know what, just leave that red dye out of your hummingbird feeders — just to be safe!

You don’t need a big ol’ jug of that red liquid there to attract those beautiful little birds.

You see, the birds don’t really NEED the sugar water to be red.

There are little red flowers on most hummingbird feeders that are used to attract the birds to the feeders.

All hummingbird feeders have red parts that serve to attract the birds, so the dye is unnecessary at best, and potentially harmful at worst. Artificial nectars have little if any added nutritional value over sugar water.
Bird Watcher’s Digest