The Best DIY Bird Baths - The Hairy Potato (2024)

FAQs

What type of bird bath attracts the most birds? ›

Pedestal Bath

This classic pedestal-style bath is popular with bird lovers. It withstands all types of weather to attract birds year-round. The shallow basin is ideal for smaller songbirds such as finches. Check out unique birdhouses your birds will actually use.

Q: What goes in a birdbath but never gets wet? A: The bird's shadow.

Using vinegar to clean your bird bath is a natural non-toxic method that doesn't use harsh detergents that could strip the birds' feathers or make them sick.

What birds really want from a bird bath is a wide, safe and shallow puddle with a rock or two for perching on. That way, they won't get out of their depth, there's plenty of space to flap about, and every chance to do it in the company of others, which is always safer.

Give Your Birds Perching Spots

If you happen to have a deeper bird bath, you can make it more appealing by adding in a few rocks in the middle or along the edges. This will give birds a place to land so they can splash and preen themselves in the water.

The Birdbath Isn't in the Right Place

Much like we as humans look for convenient watering holes, birds are looking for easy—and safe—places to wet their beaks and bathe. If your birdbath is out in the open, with no cover or brush nearby, it's too risky a place for birds to use as a rest stop.

One of the best ways to make your birdbath even more attractive is to provide dripping water. Many birds find the sight and sound of moving water irresistible. You can use a commercial dripper or sprayer, or make your own by recycling an old bucket or plastic container.

Patience is needed when you add anything to the garden for birds, we installed another hanging feeder alongside our existing feeders and it took three weeks before we spotted our first bird using it. On average, it takes birds between 2 – 4 weeks to find a bird bath.

How to Prevent Algae in Bird Bath Water Features. Copper pennies may help if they're from before 1982 when copper was still the main material. You can also use other copper coins or copper tubing. Do not include fish in any water that has copper added to it.

Get a glazed bird bath. The glaze will provide a non-porous and easy-to-clean surface.

What can I put in my bird bath to keep it clean? ›

To keep your birdbath fresh, just rinse and scrub it with nine parts water, one part vinegar.

Stacked Stones

This one is a simple yet effective bird bath that does not require you to go to the shops, simply use what you have in your garden! Find a few similar medium sized flat stones and pile them on top of each other. You can place any fancy saucers or pots that will be able to balance on top and you are done.

Birds prefer to drink and bathe in cool, shaded areas, so providing a shady spot nearby can be a great way to attract more birds. Another way to enhance your bird bath fountain is by adding a mister or commercial dripper.

Plastic bird baths are lightweight but might not be as attractive. Ceramic is a good compromise between weight and appearance, but is certainly more fragile than something like concrete. Metal styles make fine garden bird baths, as they are lightweight, easy to clean, and attractive.

Patience is needed when you add anything to the garden for birds, we installed another hanging feeder alongside our existing feeders and it took three weeks before we spotted our first bird using it. On average, it takes birds between 2 – 4 weeks to find a bird bath.

Each bird species is different as to what they prefer. Taller birds like deeper water but small birds with short legs need shallow pools. Ideally, the bowl will be more shallow at the rim and gradually go down to a maximum depth of 3 inches in the middle.