Bird Bath Heater

A bird bath heater will keep the water in your bird bath from freezing during the winter months. Bird baths become very popular during the winter months in cold areas. When the temperatures drop below freezing, natural water sources are turned to ice.

Birds that are searching for open water are likely to find your heated bird bath. Once they do, they will probably visit it all winter long. While many wild birds will stop by for a drink, very few will bathe in the winter. They are also more likely to eat from your bird feeders.

A bird bath heater is the best way to keep the water in your bird bath from freezing. Prices start at around $20.00. When it gets really cold outside, do not expect the entire container to remain unfrozen. It may only keep a small area around the heater in liquid form. But birds will be drawn to whatever open water is available.

You can also purchase a solar heated bird bath. These normally depend on the warmth of the sun and a black bottom to keep ice from forming. On cold, overcast days a solar heated bird bath may not be very effective.

I never realized how popular a heated bird bath could be until I tried one for the first time. On the coldest days we will see as many as 10 or 15 wild birds at one time. But during a stretch of four or five cold days is when my bird bath is the busiest. During those time I will often have to fill the bird bath two or three times per day.

Never add chemicals, such as antifreeze, to keep the water from freezing. They will harm the birds by making them ill, damaging their feathers and maybe even causing their death.

Birds will only visit your bird bath during daylight hours. During the winter in New Hampshire, it is dark from 5:00 pm until around 7:00 am. I usually empty my bird bath at dusk and refill it just after daybreak. This helps to reduce the cost of operating my bird bath heater.

If you have never tried using your bird bath in the winter, I think you will be pleased with the results you see.

Interested in a solar powered bird bath? Learn more here.

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