heated bird baths

floridauk · #1 (**permalink**) 28-11-2011, 07:00 PM

hi
has anyone found basic, affordable ways to heat the bird baths....especially a fairly dependable battery operated one or something easy for a bird bath far away from a power source...and under £50??
thanks!

Adam Cheeseman · #2 (**permalink**) 28-11-2011, 07:05 PM

A candle underneath an upturned dish positioned so that it is sheltered. That's what 'they' used to advise.

Cheers,

Adam

Jim Ford · #3 (**permalink**) 28-11-2011, 07:13 PM

What, a sort of 'avian jacuzzi'?

;^)

I've put a night light under the water dish, but it doesn't burn as long as it should. What happens is in the cold, the heat generated by the night light isn't enough to melt the wax to the full diameter, and a hole is just burnt down the middle. The outside of the night light really needs to be insulated in some way for it to last.

Jim

Meta menardi · #4 (**permalink**) 28-11-2011, 08:04 PM

If I can break ice for my bathings in the mornings, so can the birds.

Seriously though, site it out of cold winds and near a wall that gets sun if possible. The reservoir of heat from the brick wall at the back of the house means that nothing much freezes next to it.

Alternatively, strap it to the back of your cat. I think I am a bit bomb happy right now.

seamusagleann · #5 (**permalink**) 28-11-2011, 08:09 PM

i was saving that one for april the first!!!!

solus · #6 (**permalink**) 28-11-2011, 09:04 PM

I use an old frying pan as a bird bath (and very popular it is too!). I just go out every morning in winter, tip the old water/ice out and refill with warm water which soon cools in the cold weather. As it is, some birds seem to enjoy a slightly warmer splash about! Because the "bird bath" is an old frying pan, I can hold on to the handle and bash the pan on the step if necessary to loosen the ice. Cheap and effective.

AfternoonLemon · #7 (**permalink**) 28-11-2011, 09:12 PM

I've been wondering the same, how to keep the water from freezing, I was thinking of just taking the kettle out to thaw it in the morning before I go to work. The birds will be away for the night by the time I get home, so there's not much else I can do.

Without a power source, there's no way to keep it thawed all day, but in saying that... keeping the water moving will do the trick, and what better way than having birds splash about in it?