I need help re my bird bath

ERICS_MUM

It's stone (well probably moulded concrete!) and a few years old. Tne water in the bowl has started to turn a dark reddish brown and I'm wondering if there is some iron in the stone that is being corroded by the water.

Does this sound possible and if so what, if anything, can I do to prevent it happening, as I don't want to throw it out and get a new one? I need something that's safe for birds obviously.

Thanks

Linda :T

Nile

Hello ERICS MUM

You could buy a shallow plastic dish to place inside the bowl and fill that with water. The water won't turn red and it will be very easy to remove the dish to clean it.;)

Measure the bird bath and take a tape measure with you when you go to buy the plastic dish. Now is a good time to find one because stores have lots of plastic picnic plates etc for sale.

If your bird bath is anything like mine, it attracts the stupid collared doves that drink and then poop in the dish.

Regards

Nile

david39

The red discolouration is an algae and appears at this time of year in strong sunlight.

Put the birdbath in a shaded position and it will reduce the chances of it recurring.

I just squib mine out with the hose when I'm watering the garden and leave fresh water in it. It's only a problem in the height of the summer and I don't think it affects the birds - my dog drinks mine - prefers it to clean tap water!

EmptyPockets

We have two of these stone/concrete birdbaths, and find we also have this problem with one of them. I hadn't thought about it being caused by something like iron in the stone, but it makes sense. We use a small dustpan brush to thoroughly brush the bath out once or twice a week and top back up with fresh clean water. To be honest though, it would need doing anyway as the birds either poo in there or fill it with seed and bread from the table

I like the idea of lining it with a tray or dish :T

EmptyPockets

david39 wrote: »

- my dog drinks mine - prefers it to clean tap water!

So does ours, makes my stomach turn to see him drinking from it but, as you say, he seems to think it tastes better than his own fresh stuff inside!

tanith

I get that when the weathers hot and I think its some kind of algea that grows in birdbaths, you can just empty the bird bath and scrub it with a diluted vinegar or salt solution making sure you rinse it completely several times before refilling with clean water.. it won't harm the birds if you do this regularly

ERICS_MUM

Nile wrote: »

Hello ERICS MUM

You could buy a shallow plastic dish to place inside the bowl and fill that with water. The water won't turn red and it will be very easy to remove the dish to clean it.;)

Measure the bird bath and take a tape measure with you when you go to buy the plastic dish. Now is a good time to find one because stores have lots of plastic picnic plates etc for sale.

If your bird bath is anything like mine, it attracts the stupid collared doves that drink and then poop in the dish.

Regards


Nile

In my case it's wood pigeons, they are enormous and boy, do they pooop, especially when the berries are on the bushes and the poop comes out red or blue :eek:
Thanks for the idea, why didn't I think of that !

Linda :T

david39

My vet suggests that the reason dogs prefer to drink from stagnant water rather than that which we provide from the tap is because they can smell and taste the chlorine in tap water.

I must say that sometimes, when we run the tap vigorously, the chlorine smell is quite noticeable.

Davesnave

Any water, even that 'polluted' with algae is an absolute lifesaver for birds at the moment, so although I think there's no cause for concern about the red water, this thread is an important memory- jogger. I looked outside and my bird bath was empty...:o

Recently, I've picked young birds off branches because they were stuck there, comatose & literally dying for a drink. One greenfinch even came and bathed at my feet when I was watering, behaviour normally reserved for robins.

When things get this dry, it can be quite easy for birds to lose their normal supplies and go beyond the point of no return while searching for alternatives. They really won't be too fussed what it's contained in, or what it looks like!

tanith

Today I've had magpies bathing in my pond, and lots of others drinking out of the birdbathand saucers under my tomato plants that have water in them.. they really are struggling to find water.. so everyone grab anything to put water in even an old casserole dish will do and put some water out for our feathered friends..

macma

We've got the glass inner from our old washing machine door,as a bird "drink" on our allotment, it's a bit too deep for bathing but they settle on the sides.
We get the stuff mentioned in our concrete bath but I bought a washing up brush which is hung outside(saves confusion when hubby's washing up) and I just scrub it out with fresh water every other day or so