Homemade bird bath (1 Viewer)

[markspirito]

Hi all, I am in the process of making my own Bird bath by using a large concrete slab and cementing stone around the edges, my question is : will the concrete need sealing ? and is there a non toxic product on the market ?.. will post a photo on here when it is finished. My aim is to re cycle what I have in the garden and provide fresh water for the birds and bees.

Thanks from Mark

 

[babycakes]

Hi all, I am in the process of making my own Bird bath by using a large concrete slab and cementing stone around the edges, my question is : will the concrete need sealing ? and is there a non toxic product on the market ?.. will post a photo on here when it is finished. My aim is to re cycle what I have in the garden and provide fresh water for the birds and bees.

Thanks from Mark

Sounds like a good idea, I do like 'Natural products in the Garden, more natural the better. Giving Nature a home. Don't forget we have taken soo many of their natural habitats of them, they were here long before we were.
Good luck.. Do some research about non - toxic products. It will be good to see the end result..:t:

 

[markspirito]

Stage 1

Construction stage 1 ,

 

[Kits]

Coming along well!

 

[Ruff]

After he retired, my late father got ahold of some back-to-the -earth magazines and made a both a hexagonal and an octagonal bird bath the same way, with cement. He also organized a drip feed water system that kept adding fresh water continuously, but he was in a rural area with abundant water.

Anyway, based on my dad's hand crafted baths, I don't think you need to seal the cement, which is pretty stable chemically speaking. You could try boiled linseed oil, but it might taint the water for a while and affect the birds' plumage, so might be best avoided unless you can really give the oil some time to cure.

 

[markspirito]

Okay thanks for that , my original plan is not working so I have changed the design, still using a concrete slab will put a photo on here soon, as for sealing it I may try Pond paint , which is used for fish ponds although expensive and I only need a small amount !, Not sure that the missus is too pleased either I should be doing other jobs i am told,

After he retired, my late father got ahold of some back-to-the -earth magazines and made a both a hexagonal and an octagonal bird bath the same way, with cement. He also organized a drip feed water system that kept adding fresh water continuously, but he was in a rural area with abundant water.

Anyway, based on my dad's hand crafted baths, I don't think you need to seal the cement, which is pretty stable chemically speaking. You could try boiled linseed oil, but it might taint the water for a while and affect the birds' plumage, so might be best avoided unless you can really give the oil some time to cure.

 

[markspirito]

Some minor changes, but this is it in place, just need to let cement dry then seal it, next photo may be some avian splashing action !

 

[grobble]

That looks potentially a bit deep for the smaller birds.

Are you going to put some rocks round the edges?

 

[markspirito]

Yes I will place some broken slabs around the edge for the smaller species, its only the depth of one House brick ...although I guess thats deep for a lot of species

That looks potentially a bit deep for the smaller birds.

Are you going to put some rocks round the edges?

 

[jmepler]

If it turns out to be too deep you could pour a concrete ramp in the bottom. That way you would have a variable depth. The smaller birds can then go in as deep as they want.

 

[markspirito]

Bird bath is attracting some interest from the neighbours, as its in the front garden , one gentlemans comments this morning :
" what is it "
Me : " A Birdbath "
Gent : " They are going to drown in that ! " Then wanders off with no further comment

Lets hope he is not right !

 

[grobble]

There going to drown in that

Tell him it's for the Swans.