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Keeping water ice-free

Bird bath (pedestal version)

In freezing conditions birds will become more dependent on water provided in gardens, since many natural sources of water are frozen over.

It can be difficult to stop a bird bath from freezing, but try using any of the following methods:

  • A metal container placed on three or four bricks with a night light underneath, sheltering it from the wind with further bricks. 
  • A thermostatically controlled immersion heater, or a light bulb inside a tiling pipe on which the dish is resting, but they must be fitted with suitable external wiring. 
  • A light ball, placed in the water, which will be moved by even a gentle breeze and will keep just a small amount of water ice free, even in fairly severe conditions. 
  • Line the bath with a polythene sheet that you can lift out along with the ice.
  • Pour on hot water to melt the ice. 
  • The ultimate is the Solar Sipper, a bird bath that uses solar energy to prevent the water from freezing.

Avoid chemicals 

On no account should any chemical, such as glycerine, anti-freeze or salt, be added to the water, as it could destroy the insulating and waterproofing properties of birds' feathers and even prove toxic. 

What can I do?

We stock several designs of bird bath that will provide somewhere for your garden birds to drink and bathe.

Buy a bird bath from our online shop