Water for birds

We all recognise that water is essential for birds,  How on earth, in these freezing conditions are we to provide it.  No sooner than I defrost the birdbath, it's frozen again...suggestions please.

  • Anonymous
    Anonymous 09/01/2010 18:22 in reply to Jenny Wren

    Looking cold there Jenny brrr!

    We have a regular RSPB plastic bird bath and it has lasted for years now

    I use an axe (the type for chopping wood) to break the ice in the bird bath so the bird bath is not damaged,

    I measured 1/2 an inch of solid, thick ice in the bird bath this morning eek!!

    Anyway fresh water in the bath now and the Starlings love it for a communal bath or two together.

    Regards

    Kathy and Dave

  • Brrrrrr Jenny. Very picturesque though. Lovely spot.

    Blackbird - I have the same RSPB bath (excellent by the way), but it has been freezing solid right to the bottom. I have been breaking the ice, removing the ice, and emptying it every night, then refilling in the morning. In no time at all it is back to where it was before - solid. I could do this 20 times a day or more at the moment. It is driving me (and hubby) mad.

    Cheers, Linda.

    See my photos on Flickr

  • Hello Saxxye, welcome to the Forum.

    I must say thats a brilliant idea. I'm going to do that as I have a cupboard of them.

    When I fill my big dish of water for the birds they tend to bath in it and it goes down quite quickly.

    Smaller tubs easy to carry in and out of the house at 7am. :-)

     

    Saxxye said:

    I agree - we save the plastic cartons from our occasional take-aways and simply fill with water and put out daily, bringing the old one in.