Birds still need water when the temperature drops. A bird bath that stays open in winter can be one of the most useful things in a cold yard, but only if it is set up safely.
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See Today's PriceThese are the steps bird groups and extension services recommend, including what rock-shaped heaters can and can’t do. Each one comes with its limits.
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Why winter water is worth the effort
Birds need water all year. In winter, eating snow or ice makes a bird spend body heat and energy to melt it, as The Nature Conservancy explains. Audubon notes that many birds drink and bathe even in frigid weather.
Water can also bring in birds that skip your feeders. Cornell Cooperative Extension says a water source can attract more kinds of birds than seed does. The catch is that winter water has to be offered carefully, so birds can drink without getting soaked in the cold.
Use a thermostatic de-icer or heated bird bath
The most reliable fix is electric. You can buy a bath with a built-in heater or put an immersion de-icer in the bath you already have. Choose one with a thermostat, so it runs only when the water is near freezing. Some newer models also shut off if the bath goes dry.
Keep expectations realistic. Cornell Cooperative Extension says de-icers don’t heat the water. They keep it from freezing, typically down to about 20°F, so a deep cold snap can still ice it over. Plug the unit into a GFCI-protected outlet, and keep the cord and plug sheltered from snow and ice.
Know what a “heated rock” really is
The product sold as a heated rock is an electric de-icer shaped like a stone. Farm Innovators’ HR-75, for example, is a 75-watt, cast-aluminum unit with a thermostat that switches on as the water nears freezing. It has the same limits as any other de-icer. Treat the maker’s cold-weather rating as a sales claim, and follow its manual for water depth and basin type.
Never make a homemade version by heating real stones in an oven, grill or fire. Rocks can crack or burst when heated. The U.S. Forest Service warns that they can explode, and a hot stone is also a burn hazard to handle.
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In hard cold, let birds drink but not bathe
This is the risk the heated-rock pitch leaves out. On frigid days, a bird that bathes can end up with iced-over feathers. The Nature Conservancy gathered reports of starlings dropping soon after leaving heated baths and cardinals that couldn’t fly because their feathers froze.
The fix is simple. Cover most of the water with a nonmetallic grille, or set unheated stones or sticks in the basin. Birds can then stand and sip without soaking themselves. Project FeederWatch gives the same advice for winter baths.
Refresh it by hand with warm water or a saucer swap
No outlet? You can still keep water available. Audubon Rockies suggests adding warm water or breaking a hole in the ice. The National Wildlife Federation describes loosening ice with very hot water, dumping the chunks and refilling with fresh warm water. The water birds use should be warm, not hot.
Another NWF option is two heavy-duty plant saucers that ice won’t crack. Each morning, swap the frozen one for a fresh one. Any refill is temporary. How long it stays open depends on the temperature, wind and sun, so check it again later in the day.
Put it in the sun, near cover
Location helps. The National Wildlife Federation says a sunny spot makes the bath easier for birds to see and helps keep the water liquid.
Audubon suggests placing water near protective shrubs, where birds can escape quickly. Cats are the trade-off. A pedestal bath gives birds a better view of anything sneaking up. If cats regularly hunt in your yard, Audubon’s advice is to skip the bath altogether.
Keep it shallow and use a basin that handles cold
Birds want shallow water. All About Birds recommends no more than 1 inch at the edges, sloping to about 2 inches in the middle. Oklahoma’s wildlife department says 1 to 2 inches is best.
Audubon warns that ceramic baths can crack in cold weather and suggests plastic with a built-in heater. Oklahoma’s advice points the other way, saying heaters belong in ceramic or concrete because plastic can melt. The safe answer is to run a heater only in a basin its label approves. If a de-icer’s manual calls for deeper water than your bath holds, pick a different model.
Never add antifreeze, salt or glycerin
No additive makes winter water safe. Project FeederWatch says never to add antifreeze, which is poisonous to all animals, including birds. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service says salt should never go in a bird bath.
Glycerin is out too. All About Birds and the NWF warn that it can mat feathers and leave birds open to hypothermia. Stick to plain water, and keep it open with heat, sun or fresh refills.
Clean it often and keep it filled
Winter doesn’t pause the chores. FeederWatch advises changing the water daily and scrubbing the basin about once a week. Audubon says to scrub with a stiff brush and to refill often, since dry winter air evaporates water quickly.
For a deeper clean, the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation suggests an occasional wash with nine parts water to one part bleach. Rinse the basin well before refilling it. Unplug any heater or de-icer before you clean or empty the bath.
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