Bird Baths

Bird Bath Q&A

Find answers to your most frequent bird bath questions below:

How to clean a bird bath?

Here are five simple steps for cleaning your bird bath:

1. Daily: Rinse the bath and replace water to avoid a build-up of dirt and stagnant water
2. Weekly: Thoroughly scrub clean with a stiff brush
3. Use a specialist bird feeder & bath sanitiser or dilute nine parts water to one part vinegar
4. Clean bird bath outdoors with a separate bucket & brush to avoid cross contamination
5. Wear gloves and wash your hands after cleaning

Do birds use bird baths in winter?

Yes. In winter natural fresh water sources can become frozen, so wild birds will appreciate any fresh unfrozen water you can provide.

Prevent all the water in your bird bath from freezing by placing a light ball in it. Even a gentle breeze will keep a small pool of water ice free. Alternatively, use hot water to melt the ice. Do not use chemicals or salt, as they could harm the birds!

How deep should a bird bath be?

A bird bath should be between two to six centimetres deep, with gradually sloping sides to allow birds of all sizes to bathe.

Bird baths need to be sturdy enough to remain upright in the wind, but light enough to allow easy cleaning. Surfaces should be textured to help grip or incorporate ridges to aid easy access. For smooth bird baths consider adding gravel to help smaller birds climb out.

For more tips and advice read our bird bath guide.