Ways to Heat Your Birdbath

Birdbath Heaters

• One way of heating your birdbath is to purchase a birdbath heater. Birdbath heaters are plugged into an outdoor electrical outlet and immersed in the birdbath water. It will keep the birdbath free from ice and maintain a tolerable temperature between 40 and 50 degrees. Find a heater meant for birdbaths and not for farm animals. Immerse it in the water in a stable way to prevent it from falling out.

Heated Birdbath

• One alternative to buying a birdbath heater is to buy a birdbath with a built-in heater. Like birdbath heaters, these devices plug directly into an outdoor outlet. Unlike birdbath heaters, you do not have to worry about the heating device falling out of the birdbath. These often come with mounts used to secure the device to a railing or stand.

Heat Lamps

• Another attractive option for heating your birdbath is to use a regular birdbath and suspend a light bulb or heat lamp above it. They are relatively inexpensive, costing between $15.00 and $30.00 at the time of publication, and are not unlike lamps used to heat unhatched chicken eggs. They often come with a bulb guard that helps prevent people from burning themselves on the bulb. These devices should only be used underneath a shelter of some kind so as to prevent precipitation from damaging the lamp.

Car Battery Warmer

• You can create a birdbath heater using a car battery warmer purchased at any auto parts dealer. They typically run on 110-volt electricity and do not use up much power. Attach a wooden plank with an insulated bottom to your birdbath and attach the element to the bottom of the insulation.