Did you know birds can drown in bird baths? And unclean bird baths (and bird feeders) can cause the spread of disease?
Yup. But there’s some simple things you can do to make sure your bird bath is safe.
If your bird bath is cracked or broken, see these ideas for turning it into a planter!
Want to make a simple bird and butterfly water feeder? Here’s how.
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Good Reasons To Have A Bird Bath
- Birds need to drink water.
- Birds use water to clean their feathers and remove parasites.
- Bird baths are a decorative way to attract birds to our gardens.
- Some birds totally love a good bath.
Tips For A Safe Bird Bath
1. Choose a bird bath that is sturdy, washable, and just 1-2″ deep.
- If you watch carefully you’ll notice that many birds don’t really bathe but instead find a secure place to stand and splash themselves with water.
- If a bird bath is too deep, the birds can drown. Ensure the bird bath has a gradual slope and secure places to stand without being submerged in the water. If your water is too deep, add bricks or rough stones to achieve a safe depth. Any surface the bird can stand on should be slightly rough so they can grip and not slip.
- Make sure there is also a place for birds to perch and drink without getting wet.
- Select a material that is easy to clean. Traditional concrete bird baths are often too deep, the porous surface encourges algae growth, and they tend to crack from temperature changes. I prefer a shallow dish with a lip the birds can grab with their feet.
2. Locate the bird bath in shade, away from shrubs and bird feeders.
- The ideal bird bath mimics a shallow puddle but has clean, fresh water. Birds prefer to bathe at ground level but you can also have a bird bath on a stand up to 3 feet off the ground.
- Placing the bird bath in shade slows down evaporation and algae growth.
- Keep bird baths away from shrubs or dense flower beds where predators like cats may hide.
- Birds are territorial so it’s always smart to allow some distance between bird feeders as well as bird baths.
3. Provide fresh water daily.
- Regular water changes and cleaning helps prevent the spread of disease between birds. Algae and other growth can be removed with diluted bleach and repeated rinsing. Tough stains may be removed with a Magic Eraser (Amazon.com).
4. Running water is ideal.
- Gently moving water not only attracts bird, but helps prevent contamination in warm weather and freezing in the colder seasons.
- There are many options for immersion water pumps, drippers, and heaters using electricity, batteries, or solar power.
- I can’t recommend a specific one because the only thing I use is a floating heater in my pond (to keep if from freezing over), but you can see some ideas here at Amazon.com.
Bird Bath Resources
- Many commercial bird baths are too deep to be safe. As mentioned, you can adapt them by adding bricks or stones so the water does not get more than 1-2″ deep. Also make sure you keep the base secure so it cannot tip over.
- Other options include making your own bird bath with a shallow serving dish or pot lid.
- I have a small garden pond and I built a sloping walkway for the birds and wildlife to access the water at whatever depth they like.
~Melissa the Empress of Dirt ♛
Creative Ideas: Turn broken bird baths into spectacular garden planters.
I want to put pebbles, small stones on the bottom of my large birdbath that sits on top of the ground for bees and butterflies to light on. Would using sea shells (ones picked up on a East Coast beach) be safe to use instead of the pebbles/small stones
Hi Pat, I would disinfect everything (including the shells) with diluted bleach first (1 part bleach, 9 parts water), rinse thoroughly so no trace of bleach remains. Then, clean everything weekly the same way.
If I wanted to make a DIY bird bath, what type of silicone sealant do you recommend? I noticed you said not to use the silicone you use for other garden projects like gazing balls, totems, etc. I want a cute bird bath but also don’t want to harm the birds. Thank you!
Hi Trudi, This shows the sealant/adhesive I use for garden projects and explains more about it: https://empressofdirt.net/adhesive-garden-art-projects/. For bird baths, the key is to aseemble it in a way where the adhesive will never be sitting in water. I have a tutorial here: https://empressofdirt.net/diy-bird-bath-ideas/ 🙂
You sound like you like a glazed basin. I read that that’s slippery for the birds.
Nope! I always recommend a slightly rough surface like brick so the birds can grip and not slip. And, surfaces need to be kept clean (algae-free) so they retain their grip.
Hi Melissa, love your bird info. I live in Airdrie Alberta. I love watching the birds at feeders and birdbaths. I just moved into a new area and the city just put trees in along the street this spring so more birds are starting to visit the area. My sister and I are getting our landscaping done slowly and I am almost ready to put out feeders and birdbath. Can’t t wait to them to visit our yard.
i was given a concrete birdbath and decorated the inside with mosaic. now it is easy to wipe clean or hose out – the usual slime doesn’t build up – and it was a fun winter project!
Some people find any standing water will dislodge mosaic tiles. Maybe you found the lucky formula for avoiding this?
I live in the hot, dry desert. Water for birds and others is important. I use a shallow rubber livestock feed pan with large rocks inside and around the edges on the outside. Birds of all sizes from the tiny verdin to the great horned owl visit daily and give us a great show, thanks for your tips–and I love your posts,
Really enjoy your posts
Would appreciate birdbath cleaning tips, I have a shallow concrete birdbath with a raised ledge in the centre. I clean it with a wire brush and running water every day during the non-winter seasons but it still gets slightly slimy, I don’t like the idea of using chemicals which run over into the grass.
Hi Sue, I’ve heard a few gardeners say they have good success using Magic Erasers to remove the tough grime on concrete planters and maintain them. Just rinse thoroughly after use.
I have the Allied Precision heated bath mounted on my deck and love it. It is quite shallow, but I still put a rough flagstone in the centre, which I’ve noticed results in more visitors. I have to clean the poop out daily and refill. That little water evaporates very quickly. An American Robin waits until I’ve just refreshed it. She only likes really clean water.
Robins are wonderful bathers! I had one a while back who bathed over and over again, all day long, loving every moment of it. Thanks for the heated bird bath recommendation. 🙂
I am glad that you tell people the fact that birds can drown in birdbaths..I never knew this until I found your blog!
I’m glad the word is spreading. Thanks Nancy!