How to Make a Heated Birdbath
To make your garden or lawn a haven for birds that spend the cold months in your locale, construct a heated birdbath. Most birds have no use for ice or cold water. Keeping the water warm is important to the birds' winter health, plus it helps attract them to your yard. You could purchase a heated birdbath, but converting your existing birdbath to a heated one is easy and shouldn't cost much. The materials are available at garden centers and other places you can buy wild-bird supplies. Does this Spark an idea?
Other People Are Reading
Instructions
-
-
1
Set up the birdbath near a power supply. Make sure there is a bird feeder nearby, because birds prefer to bathe and drink near their food source.
-
2
Purchase a low-wattage, thermostat-controlled birdbath heater. Place it inside the bowl of the birdbath according to the manufacturer's instructions. The heaters are designed to be submerged in the water.
-
-
3
Plug the heater into an extension cord that is rated for outdoor use, then plug the extension cord into a nearby power outlet. Lay the cord along garden edging to avoid a tripping hazard.
-
4
Hire an electrician if you want to bury the cord permanently. He or she will be able to determine whether there are pipes or electrical hazards beneath the soil, then will dig a trench.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
If you want to save electricity and do not want a cord visible on your lawn, consider a solar heater. You can unplug and remove the heater during the warmer months.
Birds will come to depend on your birdbath for water, so keep it full year-round. Change the water often and do not allow the birdbath to run dry, as this will damage the heater.
