A bird bath is not only useful in summer. Especially when natural waters freeze over in winter, they are one of the few opportunities for birds to quench their thirst. But even there the water can quickly turn into ice. How can this be prevented?
How do you keep a birdbath free of ice in winter?
To keep a birdbath free of ice in winter, you can add lukewarm water, use grave lights or use special heat plates. This means the water remains frost-free and is available to the birds as a drinking source at all times.
It doesn't work without commitment
A waterer must be placed outdoors so that birds can reach it at all times. However, severe frosts can occur there from October and into March. There is no magic solution that will keep the water in a birdbath from freezing in the winter. You either have to invest some time every day or commit to “manageable” expenses.
Pour lukewarm water
A free method to provide feathered visitors with drinkable water every day requires a few minutes of your time each day. But the effort is limited. After all, not every day is frosty and the watering troughs are usually not far from the front door. Some lukewarm water is always on hand. Keep pouring warm water into the drinker to keep the temperature of its contents in the positive range.
Tip
Also remember to winterize the birdbath. Otherwise it can become damaged and no longer hold water.
Heat with grave light
The steady flame of a grave candle is enough to raise the temperature of the water to such an extent that ice cannot form. To do this, however, it must be possible to set up the grave light below the drinking trough. For example, in a large, stable pot with holes that allows enough oxygen to reach the candle. The drinker is simply placed on top. If the candle only burns from morning to evening, it should last up to a week.
Use the heat plate
The market is inventive and closes every gap in demand. That's why there are now solutions that make it possible to set up the bird bath in winter without having to laboriously prevent ice formation.
- there are heated bird baths (€31.00 on Amazon)
- also special heating and warming plates
- these are placed under waterers
- if applicable. Is a socket nearby required
- some are preheated in the microwave
- They give off heat for up to eight hours.
