Homemade Bird Bath

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Posted by @beckygardener on
How to make a bird bath that seems to attract birds!

This is an inexpensive and easy to make a bird bath. I have been surprised at how popular my two bird baths have become since I added them to my yard!

All it takes is a tomato cage, a plastic container saucer, and a brick or two. I went to my local big box garden center and first found a tomato cage I liked. I prefer the coated cages. I wandered on over to the pots and container racks and tried out different plastic container saucers to find ones that would fit the top rung of the tomato cage. Plastic is best because it is not too heavy once water is added. (You don't want to bend/buckle the tomato cage legs.) I found a saucer that I liked. I actually bought two colors - white and green saucers. Then I proceeded over to the area where they sell bricks. I found two bricks that fit nicely inside the saucer. I also bought a square brick that is smaller in diameter. This provides a shallow place for the birds to stand in the bird bath. Just make sure there is enough room around the brick(s) so the birds can stand directly in the water to bathe if they so choose. They can easily hop up on the brick to shake out and fluff their wet feathers to dry. After gathering all my materials, I then headed over to the equipment rental area. They have the large wire cutters on hand there and I had them cut the tomato cage down for me to the height I wanted. Make sure you leave long prongs for legs so you can stick it in the ground to stabilize it and keep the bird bath standing upright.
Thumb of 2013-11-13/beckygardener/4ad37f

It fits in nicely in my garden areas.
Thumb of 2013-11-13/beckygardener/12eda6

Since making and installing these bird baths in my yard, I have actually seen a number of birds lined up to use them. The sides of the saucer are the right size for birds to perch. They like the brick in the middle of the bath. And I always place the bird baths near my seed feeders so they don't have far to go to get a drink or bathe. Just be sure to clean them regularly like you would any bird bath. A scrub brush and some bleach cleans them up nicely. Be sure to clean the brick, too! Rinse and fill with fresh water! Your wild bird visitors will appreciate this bird bath more than you will know!

A photo of Yellow-rumped Warblers enjoying the green saucer bird bath I made.
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Comments and Discussion
Thread Title Last Reply Replies
Home made is fine by me! by crittergarden Aug 30, 2014 12:59 PM 1
Nice idea by Maridell Dec 17, 2013 7:12 PM 10
Great Idea by nutsaboutplants Dec 14, 2013 10:11 PM 1
Bird Bath by marciahall12 Dec 7, 2013 11:22 PM 1
Untitled by Pamkenn Dec 7, 2013 6:51 PM 3
Home made Birdbath by NancyJ Dec 7, 2013 3:31 PM 1
Simple... by DavidofDeLand Dec 5, 2013 5:11 PM 1

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