• State Verified Answer
  • Replies 18 replies
  • Subscribers 27 subscribers
  • Views 19805 views
  • Users 0 members are here
Options
Latest posts

Heated bird bath

JonK
03/02/2012 21:43

Hi

Anyone sourced a heated bird bath for UK mains voltage? I can only find US devices = 110Volts on line.

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

I would prefer a ground standing one, as our current unheated bowl is at that level but it turns to solid ice overnight at the moment and the birds are up way before me.

  • 0 16/02/2012 02:44 in reply to Woodpecker

    Just a warning about fishtank type heaters, They will explode if they dry out or possibly when birds are bathing, they are designed to be fully submerged,

    I just change my water every morning.

     Ray

          

             a good laugh is better than a tonic

  • 0 16/02/2012 02:47 in reply to Barnsley lad

    Unknown said:

    Just a warning about fishtank type heaters, They will explode if they dry out or possibly when birds are bathing, they are designed to be fully submerged,

    I just change my water every morning.

     Ray

    Having kept tropical fish I can confirm that Ray is correct.
    This project is fraught with danger. Water and electricity are a dangerous combination. Best left to professionals. it's not as if we get freezing conditions all that often.

    My gallery here

    Checkout the forums' Community HOMEPAGE for lots of interesting posts from other members.

  • 0 16/02/2012 03:05 in reply to doggie

    Hi Alan

    Just see a load of dancing birds when the water dries up lol

     Ray

          

             a good laugh is better than a tonic

  • 0 16/02/2012 03:53 in reply to doggie

    I'd avoid like warm and crackling plutonium any chemical based anti-freeze product no matter what is says about "safe for birds".  Even if it's nominally potable, what is it going to do to plumage?  Quite possibly strip its water resisting and insulation properties.

    Every day a little more irate about bird of prey persecution, and I have a cat - Got a problem with that?

  • 0 16/02/2012 22:22 in reply to John B (not the sloop)

    Thanks for all those thoughts.

    Dont fancy the chemical/antreeze approach at all, so with John B on that, and someone else tried candles and found that in the cold their wax didn't melt properly.

    Another electrical solution is the heated mats sold for laying under steps and paths to keep them ice free. They would seem ideal for the job, if a little large.

    Have now ordered 3 metres of pipe heating element with integral 3Celsius froststat and mains cable - of the sort sold for keeping boiler external condensate pipes ice free. Intending to tape this to the underside of a large roasting tin liberated from the kitchen, using tapes recommended by the manufacturer (BNthermic sold via tlc-direct). Planning to drop the tin into a wooden frame and insulate the underside with rockwool or some gash loft insulation I have. With a waterproof socket on the frame I will only have to run out a mains cable when frost is predicted.

    Will keep you posted - but keep coming with the ideas and perhaps an entrepreneur will start marketing something.

  • 0 13/12/2012 17:11

    Success! A 3 metre pipe heating cable with integral thermostat (3 C) wound round a standard roasting tin worked last night at -6C. The frost protection cable delivers 36 Watt when the temperature falls below 3C and is long emough (3m) to go twice round the roasting tin and finish with a squiggle on its bottom. Tacked to the tin every couple of inches with PVC electricians tape and then all covered with AL-50 aluminium adhesive tape to firmly hold everything in place. Just needs wooden base now to encase it and hold some insulation. Cable is BN thermic available from TLC Direct as are both sorts of tape.

    Merry Christmas

  • 0 02/11/2013 22:07

    I carefully filled in the holes in a plastic feeder that sticks on the window and used it as a bird bath when I noticed the heat from the room keeps the glass frost free most of the winter.  It worked well.  

    I'm thinking about a mirror demister for the stick on window bird bath this winter. Peel off the sticky back plastic and stick it to the back of a piece of glass and drop it in the water, run the cable indoors and plug it in.  Instant background heat.

    Or there are frost protection cablesthat could be wound around a bird bath.  They come on when it drops below -5 degrees.

    I'm surprised no-one has invented a solar powered heated birdbath that sticks on a window using the demister technology.  Its the same as a car windscreen demister when all is said and done and just heats the glass/plastic with background heat enough to defrost. Maybe the RSPB shop could commission one to sell in the shop.

  • 0 01/05/2014 23:31

    I bought a heater from here for my pond and it works a treat! Not sure on your dimensions so they may be a little big. www.allpondsolutions.co.uk/.../result