How do you keep mosquitos from infesting the water?
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I have to change my bird bath daily so mosquitos won't hatch there. This looks beautiful but is it practical for this Yankee who has wetlands in the area?
10 answers
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Mosquito dunks. They are organic, safe for animals. Check on Amazon.com, search dunks for mosquitos.
Susan E
on Apr 09, 2015
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You can do the same thing with 1 tbsp. of vinegar and it's cheaper.
Wanda Arganbright
on Apr 09, 2015
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Lowe's or Home Depot sell the mosquito tablets that you just drop into the fountain or bird bath. They keep the mosquitos away and kill any eggs. They are safe for birds or animals to drink from this water. They work very well and are fairly cheap, and keep the water clear!
Debbie
on Apr 09, 2015
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It's better for the birds if you do change the water daily
JaneB
on Apr 10, 2015
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The mosquito tablets are very expensive, and I think for ponds, not something shallow like bird baths.. Either way, I'm all about saving money (Hence, my being on this site) Wanda, do you know if the vinegar won't hurt the birds? (I live in the country and have a lot of standing water as well! It worries me, and i'll be putting vinegar in all of it!!)THANKS!!
Barb
on Apr 10, 2015
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@Barb I took a class in water gardens and, of course, made several as one is just not enough. Because the gardens were small, I broke the dunks in pieces. I had fish in two of the gardens and the dunks didn't seem to affect them at all. Also, every neighborhood cat drank out of them, and it certainly did not affect the health of the cats!
Susan E
on Apr 10, 2015
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in a small birdbath I use 2drops of mineral oil, it places a very light film on water, starving the air to the mosquito larve
Don
on Apr 10, 2015
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We have always used a capful of mineral oil (for birdbaths) and it keeps the mosquitoes at bay. It doesn't hurt the birds at all. We, also, use mineral oil in the dog waterers (1/8-1/4 cup) and the horse troughs (1/2 to 1 cup) depends on the size, it should leave a light sheen around the edges (a couple of inches in) but not enough to coat the top of the water....have always done it and it is actually good for them. No mosquitoes...it is great!
Che'ree Fitzgerald
on Apr 11, 2015
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I didn't know about the mineral oil. Great idea! Thanks.
Susan E
on Apr 12, 2015
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Wild Birds Unlimited sell a gadget that keeps the water moving. Mosquitos can't breed or hatch in moving water per an entomologist friend of mine.
Paula Wright
on Apr 15, 2015
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