topic Re: Bird Bath in Pet Lovers

Bird Bath

Imaoldhippie — Sat, 12 May 2018 13:33:10 GMT

Is there anything we can put in the water in the bird bath that will keep the water from getting stagnet and turning black, that wont hurt the birds?

Re: Bird Bath

Krimpette — Sat, 12 May 2018 13:39:45 GMT

I always keep a "Water Wiggler" in my bird bath. My only problem of late is, the squirrels seem to like to little rubber grommets that swirls around and sometimes upend the Wiggler and chew off the grommets! Go figure! Today, I'm replacing the grommets with some aluminum foil to see if I can outsmark those critteers! I got my Water Wiggler at my local bird store, but I think they're available at several places on line...including Amazon.

Re: Bird Bath

Imaoldhippie — Sat, 12 May 2018 13:43:21 GMT

Never heard of a Water Wiggler, but I will definitely try it. Thanks so much.

Re: Bird Bath

Krimpette — Sat, 12 May 2018 13:48:59 GMT

@Imaoldhippie. It's the dome-shaped one that is battery-operated and keeps the water moving. It takes 2 D batteries, but I find that they last most of the summer. I've been using such a device for many years now. The birds also like the moving water. Good luck! (Just checked Amazon and it's about $30. I believe that's about the price I paid at my local bird store. And I will say that the manufacurer provides awesome service. I've contacted them a couple of times or more requesting the armature that holds the grommets, as well as additional grommets. They've always sent me a packet of a few at no charge! (Hopefully, my new plan of aluminum foil willl work!). I think you'll like the product!

Re: Bird Bath

Witchy Woman — Sat, 12 May 2018 13:53:22 GMT

@Imaoldhippie

I have to refresh my birdbaths every other day due to evaporation and the birds splashing it out.

The water never has time to turn!

Every few weeks or so, I clean them out completely to keep the algae from growing on the bottom surface.

Re: Bird Bath

Imaoldhippie — Sat, 12 May 2018 14:04:56 GMT

@Krimpette......................Thanks again, I just ordered a mini water fountain from Amazon. It got excellent reviews. Hopefully it will keep hubby from having to scrub the bird bath so often.

Re: Bird Bath

MalteseMomma — Sat, 12 May 2018 14:23:52 GMT

I have to change my bird bath water 3 or 4 times a day ,they use it soooo much all year round.

During winter it is heated and looks like a suna with Ice forming all around it! They love it and I love watching them

Re: Bird Bath

SeaMaiden — Sat, 12 May 2018 17:18:23 GMT

@Imaoldhippie

Really, just spray them out daily.... it is not healthy for the birds to drink and bath in stagnent water...... I take a brush to mine once a week with a touch of dish soap and clean them,.,,, rinse REALLY GOOD AFTER CLEANING. Then refill.

On Amazon there are some products to add to birdbaths to keep them clean saying they are non toxic to birds for birdbaths BUT DO NOT USE THEM... the ingredients are very bad and not safe at all! squirrels also drink this water and it will also harm them...

Just keep clean water in them.

Re: Bird Bath

godi — Sat, 12 May 2018 17:42:06 GMT

We always keep copper pennies in the bottom of ours. Works well in our bath. Heard this from our neighbor who is 102 and he’s done this as long as he can remember. Any penny before 1960. We still scrub it once a week though. 🦅

Re: Bird Bath

SeaMaiden — Sat, 12 May 2018 17:48:37 GMT

@godi wrote:
We always keep copper pennies in the bottom of ours. Works well in our bath. Heard this from our neighbor who is 102 and he’s done this as long as he can remember. Any penny before 1960. We still scrub it once a week though. 🦅

@godiHow interesting! I do not think so have a copper penny though.....will any copper item work you think?

Re: Bird Bath

godi — Sat, 12 May 2018 21:20:12 GMT

@SeaMaiden That I am not sure about. Any pennies before 1960 work. Good luck.

Re: Bird Bath

BirkiLady — Sun, 13 May 2018 02:09:05 GMT

I've always thought bird baths should be cleaned out and scrubbed with a bristle brush every day to keep diseases from forming and the birds healthy. We've been doing that for doing that for five generations in our family. Never added anything to the water. Water in Nebraska is clear and clean fresh water.

Re: Bird Bath

GingerPeach — Mon, 14 May 2018 16:00:09 GMT

For those putting copper pennies in bird bath water, have you done the research?

Even if an article says its "relatively safe" or whatever other words they may use, how do you know what effect it's having on birds when they leave?

Copper only helps a little in keeping down algae, but not completely.

https://www.thespruce.com/does-copper-clean-a-bird-bath-4140398

Re: Bird Bath

MalteseMomma — Thu, 17 May 2018 12:57:10 GMT

From watching my Birdies over these many years,I have noticed they are great weather forcasters.

I notice they bathe a LOT just before a storm.

Both in winter and in summer..........

Re: Bird Bath

SeaMaiden — Fri, 18 May 2018 01:36:54 GMT

@godi wrote:
@SeaMaiden That I am not sure about. Any pennies before 1960 work. Good luck.

@godi I ordered some copper pennies on eBay today. Enough for my 5 birdbaths. I will give it a try!

Re: Bird Bath

godi — Fri, 18 May 2018 10:39:55 GMT

@SeaMaiden Hope it works for you. Like I said we still clean our birdbath out weekly. The pennies seem to keep it cleaner. ❤️

Re: Bird Bath

SeaMaiden — Fri, 18 May 2018 14:24:23 GMT

@godi wrote:
@SeaMaiden Hope it works for you. Like I said we still clean our birdbath out weekly. The pennies seem to keep it cleaner. ❤️

@godi Yes... cleaning is so important for the health of the birdies I agree! I just hope the pennies help with slowing down some of that black and read alga that grows in the summer with the heat. I will let you all know if it works this summer for me or not.