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    Home » DIY And Crafts

    How To Keep Your Birdbath Clean

    Published by Pam Kessler | 180 words. · About 1 minute to read this article. - 18 Comments

    It's been a week and I would have to give the copper pipe in a birdbath theory a solid B.

    Using copper in your birdbath to keep it cleaner for longer. It really works!

    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.

    Day 1 of the Great Copper Experiment
    Using copper in your birdbath to keep it cleaner for longer. It really works!

    Day 7 of the Great Copper Experiment
     
    Using copper in your birdbath to keep it cleaner for longer. It really works!

    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.

    Birds are nasty little creatures. Thank God He made them pretty.

    If you are tired of cleaning the nasty gunk out of your birdbath every few days, you will love this tip on how to keep your birdbath cleaner for longer. It really works!



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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Musings from Kim K.

      June 20, 2013 at 12:10 pm

      Love the witty progress report.

      PS. I'm peeking at your blog during my lunch. Thanks for the warning.

      Reply
    2. Faye

      June 20, 2013 at 12:17 pm

      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!

      Reply
    3. TARYTERRE

      June 20, 2013 at 12:28 pm

      Birds are sweet. I imagine if someone wrote about our poop habits as babies, it would be disgusting too.

      Reply
    4. Ceekay-THINKIN of HOME

      June 20, 2013 at 3:11 pm

      My aunt used to say the birds were so pretty for such disgusting behaviour!

      Reply
    5. Linda @ Itsy Bits And Pieces

      June 20, 2013 at 3:28 pm

      My birdbath always looks like a mosquito hatching ground...

      Reply
    6. Bliss

      June 20, 2013 at 3:30 pm

      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

      Reply
    7. Artsy Chicks Rule

      June 20, 2013 at 4:48 pm

      What a cool idea!! Love it...and yes, I had to go read the little link you left. oh my.

      Nancy

      Reply
    8. Anonymous

      June 20, 2013 at 5:06 pm

      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

      Reply
    9. Olive

      June 20, 2013 at 6:43 pm

      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.

      Reply
    10. [email protected]

      June 20, 2013 at 6:46 pm

      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!

      Reply
    11. Jennifer Schmitz

      June 20, 2013 at 10:06 pm

      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!

      Reply
    12. Jayne

      June 21, 2013 at 8:11 am

      lol! Poop sacks! You're killing me!!!

      Reply
    13. Melinda

      June 21, 2013 at 11:17 am

      I have to agree with you about the
      birds!
      Bird moms need to teach better
      healthy habits.

      🙂

      Reply
    14. kelly arent-Copper Roof Interiors LLC

      June 22, 2013 at 7:45 am

      Thanks for the tip....will be trying this right away! Just stopping on over from Blogtalk...I LIKE!!!!!!

      Reply
    15. Vickie @ makingoursustainablelife.com

      June 24, 2014 at 10:53 pm

      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! 🙂

      Reply
    16. Luisa

      July 23, 2015 at 10:06 pm

      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.

      Reply
    17. Mimi

      July 30, 2015 at 11:12 am

      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

      Reply
    18. Laurie S

      September 06, 2015 at 5:56 pm

      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!

      Reply

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