It’s been a week and I would have to give the copper pipe in a birdbath theory a solid B.
It has been keeping the algae at bay (just a little water pun), for the most part.
Now, the water is not crystal clear. I wouldn’t be throwing on my bathing suit and diving into it quite yet.
Because it seems the other half of my problem with the birdbath is the stuff the birds drag in. Worms. Poop. Other unidentifiable bird filth.
The copper won’t help you with that type of bad bird behavior. But the green gunky algae, that I used to have to clean out of here every few days, has slowed down quite a bit.
I think I will still have to change the water at least once a week, but that is still better than changing it every other day and cussing at the #*$& birds as I do it.
BTW, while trying to find out what some of the floating stuff was in the birdbath, I ran across this article about parent birds and poop sacks and now I have to go throw up. Make sure you have already eaten your lunch if you choose to read it.
Birds are nasty little creatures. Thank God He made them pretty.
Musings from Kim K.
Love the witty progress report.
PS. I’m peeking at your blog during my lunch. Thanks for the warning.
Faye
Okay, I’m sold on the copper and I will do this. Thanks for the update! Mainly I have too much algae and I’m sick and tired of scrubbing it. I did read the link, I am weird, I have watched the wrens carry out ‘poop balls’ (as we call them) every spring, after they dispose of them on a branch they ‘wipe’ their beaks on the branch. They also tend to make a disgusting squawk as they fly out of the wren house with that icky ‘poop ball’. Too much fun to watch!
TARYTERRE
Birds are sweet. I imagine if someone wrote about our poop habits as babies, it would be disgusting too.
Ceekay-THINKIN of HOME
My aunt used to say the birds were so pretty for such disgusting behaviour!
Linda @ Itsy Bits And Pieces
My birdbath always looks like a mosquito hatching ground…
Bliss
Wonder if that trick would help in a duck tub – talk about dirty birds, egads! But I’m not gonna read the article, I have not eaten yet.
Bliss
Artsy Chicks Rule
What a cool idea!! Love it…and yes, I had to go read the little link you left. oh my.
Nancy
Anonymous
I have a cast iron bird bath & last year I learned that if you put pennies that are dated before 1982 (I guess because they contain more copper?) it would keep the bird bath less slimy. It did help, but like you said there are other less desirables that mess it up. So now I am looking at all my pennies!
Karen K from Buffalo
Olive
I scrub mine out with pinecones which are laying all over the place. I better put some copper in since you have done such good research for us.
andrea@townandprairie
I have never heard of the copper theory! We just scrub it out… er…or don’t scrub it out! If it’s not directly under a tree that produces a lot of debris it shouldn’t get too murky. Be sure to enter my giveaway by tonight!
Jennifer Schmitz
You crack me up! I do love this post though and your experiement. Our water tends to dry up and I have to refil it every couple days, so I don’t have your problem with the water getting icky. I love the birds but you’re right…they are pretty but nasty. Thanks for sharing this tip!
Jayne
lol! Poop sacks! You’re killing me!!!
Melinda
I have to agree with you about the
birds!
Bird moms need to teach better
healthy habits.
🙂
kelly arent-Copper Roof Interiors LLC
Thanks for the tip….will be trying this right away! Just stopping on over from Blogtalk…I LIKE!!!!!!
Vickie @ makingoursustainablelife.com
Found you on stumbleupon! This is a great idea- thanks! Oh, and thanks for the warning. Of course, I still had to go and read it, but at least I was warned! 🙂
Luisa
Thanks for the good tips and for the informative article. Come on, y’all. That’s not gross. Gross would be if they left the babies lying in the waste. And themselves, for that matter. Mother cats (and other mammals) eat the amniotic sac, the placenta, as well as the babies’ waste until the little ones can get around and take care of it themselves.
Mimi
Hi, Pam.
I still like to change my water every other day — to get rid of the mosquito problems that “standing water” in the yard attracts
Laurie S
While this idea may keep the bath cleaner, copper is TOXIC to birds! (Check out this article: http://thegabrielfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/HeavyMetalToxicosis-in-Birds-LafeberVet.pdf and read the signs of copper toxicity, or do a web search on the subject”) A small pipe or wire may be enough to affect a bird, as they have very sensitive systems!