A bird Bath conundrum (1 Viewer)

[Kevin J. Caley]

Hi all,

I am buying a birdbath as a birthday present for someone, and have come unstuck as to which is the best type (and make!) to buy! I live in the UK, if that helps focus things.

I've been asked to look for 'a bird bath with a pedestal that's capable of withstanding the woodpigeons (I think they must overfeed them .....), has a large, shallow basin that won't fall off (to do with the pigeons, I suspect!) and is fairly non-descript in terms of pattern'. Any ideas? I have thought of the Gardman one (sold in the RSPB catalogue), although the insides look a bit smooth when used as a bird bath. However, I wondered if anyone had experimented with different bird baths and have come to any sort of conclusion as which is best? Or what's the general concensus? Me - I let the birds use my pond! (hence my ignorance!)

Any help gratefully received.

With regards,

Kevin

 

[Steve Dudley]

Hi Kevin

I use three different bird 'baths' as follows -

an old cast iron pug trough which is simply fabulous! See here for photo. No help to you as its not ona a pedestal (and forget the woodpigeons, you'd need a reinforced something or other to cope with this baby!)

a typical concretey casted thing which I inherited which the birds also love. See here for photo complete with modelling Tree Sparrow. I prefer these to any sort of plastic moulded items I've seen. They are solid, dont get blown over by the wind and are usually in two parts (as this is) for easy tilting of the top for cleaning.

an old baking tray on the ground under the bushes with a rock in it - smooth as anything but only c.15mm deep but birds love this too. Again not much use to you apart from noting that this is very smooth, it is used as much as the other two.

I wouldnt get too hung up about smoothness. You're friend can always add a stone or two if they are worried.

 

[Sherry8]

I have a concrete one and it is heavy and hard to dump out to clean so I have been using my plastic heated one this summer and it is so----------much easier to dump and keep clean. The base is filled with small stones to keep it from being tipped over (I have large crows that like to sit and drink often) and of course I took the cord out for the summer months. It isn't very deep but the red winged black birds enjoy bathing almost daily. I put fresh water in it about 3 times a day because I attract so many birds to it. I clean it with a soy base cleaner and only a paper towel to get things out of it. No problem with algae here yet, I suppose the dumping and putting fresh water in helps with that ..Sherry8

 

[Marmot]

We have 3 ish...I say that as one isn't a bath.

The first one we got was a moulded concrete one not too deep it seems to have stood the test of time with all species having a bath in it. That includes 2 woodpigeons as once. The trouble is with the stone ones they sometimes make them too deep, this can often be overcome though by putting a stone at one side of it preferably which has a slant to it so they can walk down. This is the the only photo I can find which shows a bit of it.
http://www.birdforum.net/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/17232/ppuser/5194

Bath number 2 is a plastic one, here it is http://www.greenfingers.com/superstore/product.asp?dept_id=2233&pf_id=LS3602D
too me this one is too deep for sparrows to have a bath in but anything of a starling size and above is ok. I have a water wiggler in mine which does seem to attract the birds for a drink. It does have 3 metal pieces to pin it down but they are not all that brilliant for that, when we had some strong winds earier on this year this bath did get blown onto its side.

Bath 3 is just a large plastic saucer that used to be from a plant pot, it is about 8 - 10 inches wide and is loved by the sparrows and Blue Tits , they like having a bath in this one.

The main things to remember are the depth, and ease of cleaning also if they are placing it on a lawn..if it is a stone one will they either have a strimmer to cut around the base or would they be able to carry it to move it out the way.

 

[Kevin J. Caley]

Thanks Steve - I think *I* might go for one of those 'iron pug troughs', if ever I find one - looks brilliant!

 

[Kevin J. Caley]

Dear Marmot - lots of stuff here. Thanks for all of this - I was contemplating getting the 'bird bath type 2' you mention, but your caution is making me have a rethink ....

 

[Kevin J. Caley]

Hi Sherry - it seems from all these messages that I'll have to weigh up 'cleaning' versus 'solidity' (both probably as important as each other!), although some strong ground-hooks may stop things being blown over, or overfed pigeons toppling it!



Thanks for replying ... I suspect you get bathing hummingbirds too? ! Lucky person!

Kevin

 

[clayts]

Just a quick tip on birdbath number 2 suggested by Marmot - Wilko's are currently selling green versions at a reduced price of £7.49. Also comes with three flimsy pegs, but does the trick. Woodpigeons do land on it, but haven't tipped it over yet. I've had it up since Friday, but no takers yet (although I have just moved it so that it is near a shrub for a quick exit)

However, the only birds which have approached anything like taking a bath in my garden are the cute little dunnocks. Who take their baths in a tiny little terracotta saucer full of water which I use to hydrate the woodpigeons and squirrels.

 

[CMB]

Small birds like shallow baths, while big birds like deeper baths. One shallow and one deep bath is often a good idea.

I like two piece concrete bird baths because one can take a wire brush to it and really scour it without concern to the finish. I don't like them in the winter because of the freezing water.

Because of our climate I now use plastic baths with built in heaters. The birds love the heated feature in the winter. They've been known to sit in/on it for a long time when it's really cold or when there has been an ice storm. I use a nylon or brass brush on the plastic baths.

Vinegar makes a great natural disinfectant. It's good choice if there is funky green residue in the bath that doesn't seem to want to scrub clean.