Heated bird bath

Unknown said:

Alternatively any ideas on how to cobble one together that won't electrocute me or, more importantly, the birds, would be welcome!

Electricty + outdoors + water can be a deadly combination. Not something I'd want cobbled together. Seek the advice of a qualified electrical contractor.

Please be aware that if you order one from the US then it will be stopped at UK Customs & Excise and will attract at least 20% VAT plus a £13 handling charge on the item value plus the P&P value. The British distributor is a better bet

Alan et al

Thanks for the tip about the Solar-Sipper - might be worth a try, though being a passive device, I guess it would be happiest placed in a sunny position. Anyone got experience of this device?

Chris - not about to buy anything US as I don't want the electrical clutter of a transformer up the garden, plus, as you say, unknown customes problems/charges etc.

After a bit more research the Solar-Sipper only seems designed to prevent ice during the daytime when the sun is shining and I guess would freeze up overnight  - especially if down to -7C as we had last night.

Have looked at a couple of other options:

1. Fish tank heaters - you seem to be able to get low power submersible heaters 25W that can be immersed horizontally but are either on all the time or set to maintain 26C or, if adjustable, cover the range from about 17C to 35C.

2. Pond ice preventers - floating heaters (150W typically) but these protrude down about 20cm so too deep for a shallow birdbath and are too powerful.

Looking quite attractive though is a low power air pump (5W) which I can switch on at night when severe frost is predicted and which will keep the surface free of ice with its bubbles. Has the attraction that the pump can be weatherproofed near my outside mains socket and I just have to run a length of air tube down the garden.

Have ordered a Velda V-tech AP-40 which delivers 4.5lpm and is powered by 5W 220-240V mains. Cost £19.99 plus £3.95 P&P. Will report back on how well it works.

At the moment I just fill 2/3 of a plastic bottle with hot tap water & place it in the water after I have removed the ice before I go to bed. It seems to help keep it from freezing completely, as the bottle moves with the wind in the water & the warmth all help to keep the ice at bay. I use different size bottles for different sized bird baths. I hope this helps until you get the heated bird bath.    

Unknown said:

1. Fish tank heaters - you seem to be able to get low power submersible heaters 25W that can be immersed horizontally but are either on all the time or set to maintain 26C or, if adjustable, cover the range from about 17C to 35C.

These can be run alongside a thermostat which is what you do with them in an aquarium. So, for example, your fish tank heater would be submersed, and the cable attached to a thermostat that was outside the water and tucked away down the outside of the bird bath somewhere. That would work

This may help, Fountain Frost-Free (For Birdbaths, Fountains & Ponds)

Prevents frost damage to fountains & birdbaths. It prevents water freezing in temperatures to –6 degrees & you can get it from  www.primrose.co.uk/primrose-fountain-frostfree-250ml-for-birdbaths-fountains-ponds-p-8666.html

Chris

Yes I think a separate thermostat would work with the immersed heater, though at a little higher cost.

Paw4awhile

Not sure I like the idea of chemicals in the birds' drinking water.

A mini fountain is another idea that ought to work - in the same way as bubbles - but I'm pursuing the bubble option at the moment as the installation is simplest and the electrics can be remote. Just hoping my pump arrives before winter passes!

Experiment with the little 5Watt air pump failed. First night on 3/4 power with one air stone in conventional stone pedestal bird bath and the other in a pyrex oven dish borrowed while the wife wasn't looking - both froze solid but the temperature did drop to -8C. Next night full power, both air stones in the pedestal birdbath - still froze, temperature down to -4C. So I guess this solution is only good for light frosts.

Now looking at reptile warming mats to place under a roasting dish or, alternatively, a roasting tin with a thermostatically controlled heater cable wound round the outside and taped down - sort of cable intended for stopping extenal water and/or condensate pipes freezing. Cost is higher though - about £50.

Hi Jonk

When I was into dog breeding I sued to have some metal puppy warming tray like items that could be covered and placed under puppies to keep them warm. If they could be placed in a waterproof bag then they might work. Sadly I have no idea what they were called. Maybe they are similar to reptile warming mats.

I have tried the Ice-free liquid in my bird bath, and the birds do still drink the water. However, it doesn't keep the water frozen when it goes down to more than -2 or so