Mark, I agree one of the ways to prolong the life of a concrete or clay birdbath is to take it in in the winter. However, I find the birds use it a lot in the winter, especially when it is below freezing. I keep a heater in my concrete bowl it so they have water at all times. And, yes, I will be replacing my bath soon because it is cracking after many years.
We have a concrete bird bath that has been out every winter for over 20 years with no cracks. I guess it hasn't creacked maybe because it's very shallow so the ice doesn't really have any horizontal pressure on the concrete?
I’ve had a bird bath out for a couple years but little action. I’ve used tap water. Do I need bottled or distilled water? Also, does the bath do better with or without a fountain?
Hi Mark…love your videos! Thanks for creating and sharing them. I have a question regarding the stone birdbaths in your video. I purchased one and am extremely pleased with it. Are they more able to handle freezing/thawing vice the concrete and pebble baths? As they cost a little more, I am nervous about keeping it out all year.
Thank you for the kind words. To assure they last for many, many years, you can lay the bowl to the side during the worst part of winter. I don’t think there is much to worry about as they are basically the same as tombstones and we know how long they last.
Is it safe to put my dechlorinator for aquariums in my bird bath water? My thought is if it’s safe for fish should be ok for birds🤷♀️ I use it in my water for plants when I run out of rain water. TIA
The easiest and safest way I've found to clean hard surface bird birds is with a small electric pressure washer. No scrubbing, gets all down in the pores of concrete without chemicals.
Thank you for your video! I used vinegar and water diluted to disinfect the bird bath, and rinsed it very well, wiping it. I didn’t let it dry or air out though. Could you please offer a suggestion on how to level my pedestal hard plastic bird bath? My townhouse yard is very uneven, and I can’t change the ground. Is there anyway I can mark the ground more even by adding something? I added a couple of wood shims under the leaning part, but it’s important that I can use 8” landscape stakes to hold it in, but need to pull it easily out for when our landscapers cut the grass. Thank you for your help on this! I live in Phoenix, AZ, and the birds need fresh water. It’s been 110-114 degrees lately.
I needed to scrub my plastic bird bath basin because the blue paint is peeling into the water. This is only 3 months old, but it does sit in the Arizona sun during the extreme heat. Can I scrub it and create a barrier to make it waterproof with a spray paint, or a similar product? This same bird bath tilts into the grass after a few days, tipping the water out. I’m thinking of buying a flagstone flat stone, for underneath it, or a circular wood base, prime and painted, which allows the garden stakes to secure it to the ground. I’d appreciate any suggestions to make current Vivohome blue pedestal base bird bath work, without buying another one.
