How can you keep algae from taking over bird baths?
by
Kim
+8
I have learned the algae cleans out easy enough with sand and rinsing, but I would like a safe way to keep it from growing at all since bird baths are 1) breakable and 2) heavy.
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I had a large brush and each time I added water to the bird bath, I gave a quick swish with the brush. Then I would refill the bird bath to overflowing to put in fresh water. Never had to lift it. I would check for fresh water each day and the whole "job" took less than a minute. The brush should be used only for this purpose and never be used with soaps or cleansers of any type so as not to poison the birds. have fun!
Try washing it out with baking soda.
Like FIcher above, I scrub the bird baths daily with a stiff brush as I fill each to overflowing several times. I do not use anything other than a daily scrub with water and never have had an issue. If there is a problem with gunk build up, I'd empty the bird bath of water and use several handfuls of sand to scrub the bathuntil it was clean before refilling with fresh water. If you use sand, throw it away!
bleach your bird baths. I have done it for years.. just takes a little then rise and brush with a brush.. safe and your bird bath will look great.
If cleaning every day is not an option, they do sell products to help. See if you might consider using a product like this:
https://www.lakeside.com/Home-Improvement/Cleaning-Solutions/Birdbath+Protector/prod2530179.jmp?cid=GooglePLA-135049013&ukwcid=+&product_id=135049013&adpos=1o3&creative=106300818648&device=t&matchtype=&network=g&gclid=CjwKEAjwsLTJBRCvibaW9bGLtUESJAC4wKw1UJ2MDwqR0s49lO2KbDevhY99iJ-qgYeIAV_-y6SnIhoCV3bw_wc
thank y'all for your comments
You can buy barley-straw balls from Gardeners Supply and other on-line sources. The birds won't eat them like my animals did and they do cut the algae formation.
It's really important to make sure your birdbath is cleaned out every couple days. Dirty birdbaths can cause conjunctivitis in finches. They become blind, starve and die.
Great to know they sell a product like that. I dont have the time to clean it daily. Once or twice a week is all the spare time I get.
Thank you for the information I did not know that.
One drop non soapy bleach keep repeating after rain