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bird bath deicer

Marie Tulin
13 years ago

seems a silly question but....

if I put the deicer (the thing, not a chemical!) in the birdbath that is filled with snow and ice, will it eventually melt enough to be 'open water?' Or do I get out as much frozen stuff as I can? Then...add water...or what. Obviously, I lost the directions.

Thanks,

Marie

Comments (11)

  • corunum z6 CT
    13 years ago

    God love ya. At 2 in the morning you're thinking this? Must be a good person. If it were mine, I'd clean the bird bath out with a kettle(s) of hot water, then put the heater in place and fill it with tepid water. Bird baths usually run at about 38 degrees, but I think you'd be better off starting afresh. The temps are going to minus zero territory this weekend. A heating coil just lying in the snow/ice might look like you were branding it. Good luck.

    Jane

  • sharbear50
    13 years ago

    Is there really such a thing? I was looking at my birdbath and wondering if there was something like that available, 'cause I don't want to have my bird bath frozen all winter...poor birds will be thirsty.

  • spedigrees z4VT
    13 years ago

    Water heaters are nothing new to chicken keepers and horse owners, so it isn't surprising that they make water heaters to keep birdbaths unfrozen. I'm not sure, but I'd remove the ice and fill the bath with fresh water, then plug in the heater.

  • prairiemoon2 z6b MA
    13 years ago

    I've wondered if birds don't eat the snow when there is no water around in the winter? [g] It just seems to make sense to me, that somewhere in the winter, there are birds that can't find access to water and they must do something.

    I'm sure an open bird bath with a heater would be quite attracting to birds in the winter though. I tried a heated dog bowl for a bird bath last year, but for one reason or another, it didn't work out. My bird baths are all the way across the yard from my house and no electricity out there. I have an outdoor outlet with a snap up cover on it, but what do you do, leave it plugged in all the time and do you have to run an outdoor extension the whole winter? Don't you have to be concerned about rain/snow wetting the electric outlet if you have a plug in it and the cover is open?

  • spedigrees z4VT
    13 years ago

    I've never used a water heater, but yes it would need to be left on all the time to be effective. I imagine it must be unplugged before emptying the water to change it. Also it's a good idea to be sure the water level stays filled. I don't know, but suspect that an immersable heater would become a fire hazard or burn out if the water dried up or disappeared.

    I've have various things (mostly outdoor lighting) plugged into my outdoor outlets year round, 24/7, for the past 10 years with never a problem. They are designed to be weatherproof. The little door on the outlet deflects snow and rain because even when open, it rests upon the plugs.

  • claireplymouth z6b coastal MA
    13 years ago

    My heated birdbath is on an extension cord, with a waterproof cord cover where the extension meets the birdbath. It's on all the time; I just tilt the bath to empty it or top it off, depending on how clean the water looks. The instruction manual says it's OK if it runs dry - no hazard there, although I wouldn't want to leave it dry for too long. My outdoor outlet is on the porch under an overhang so it's mostly protected from weather, unless the winds get too fierce.

    Claire

  • spedigrees z4VT
    13 years ago

    They must have added some safety precautions to water heaters since the days of aquarium heaters and those electric coils for boiling water for coffee in a mug. Good to know.

  • prairiemoon2 z6b MA
    13 years ago

    Very interesting. We haven't had outdoor lights at all and about the only thing the outdoor outlet is used for is the lawnmower.

    Claire, a waterproof cord cover. I'm going to have to ask around for that at the local hardware stores. Thanks.

  • corunum z6 CT
    13 years ago

    I use the outdoor extension cord as well, but just tucked the plugs under the birdbath. No fried pigeon yet.

    Jane - nice to 'see' you again, PM2

  • prairiemoon2 z6b MA
    13 years ago

    Hi Jane, thanks. I think I saw that you have a pretty nice birdbath on a deck railing on the bird thread. I'm going to have to do better in that department. One of these days...

  • Linda G (zone 5b)
    13 years ago

    thought this was interested - link to a heated birdbath on Amazon as well as the 'frequently bought together items' right underneath, the 'water-tight cord lock'

    I just searched for 'heated bird bath' - Amazon had a bunch

    Here is a link that might be useful: heated bird bath