Hummingbird feeders - when to put out?

As soon as you are ready, I usually put mine out early to mid March

We leave then out year round. Plenty of overwintering hummingbirds along the gulf coast.

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why bring them in

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you dont want to shortstop them by providing a hot crop like sugar water

they may never leave

I'm in NWLA.

I run them from now (Mid Feb) through about October. I really don't see any until March, but just in case I get them out a week or two early.

The Spring migration is less birds than the fall when they travel back South with their young of the year. August-September is prime time.

quote:

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you dont want to shortstop them by providing a hot crop like sugar water 

they may never leave

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That's actually not a thing, just an old wives tale. A little sugar water is not going to change their innate drive to migrate.

Most overwintering hummingbirds along the gulf coast are actually not Ruby-throated hummingbirds who "short-stopped", but are vagrant species from out West.

You can read a bit more here, from the experts on hummingbird banding. Fred has captured a rufous hummingbird in FL that was 5 months later recaptured 3500 miles away in Alaska. Others are found overwintering in the same yard year after year.
These little guys are determined to go where they want to go.