Bird Bath Algae Prevention

Clean Regularly

• Bird baths must be cleaned often to prevent the growth of algae. The birds that use the bath are often dirty and they leave most of that dirt behind in the water. If the bird bath is regularly cleaned, algae will have no chance to grow.

  To clean the bird bath, all the water must be emptied. The bird bath must be scrubbed clean with a mild detergent powder that is diluted in a bucket of water. Strong cleaning liquids must not be used because it may harm the birds. The bird bath must be thoroughly hosed down and refilled with fresh water.

Replace the Water Often

• Scrubbing the bird bath can be done once a week, but you should replace the water more often than that. The water in bird baths can get dirty real fast, especially if there are a lot of birds in your area. Because of this, the water must be replaced often so that algae growth can be prevented.

  Ideally, the water must be changed daily but, if that is not possible, it can be done three times a week or every other day. It can be done more often than that if the water gets really dirty. The old water has to be thoroughly drained from the bird bath and replaced with fresh water.

Apple Cider Vinegar

• Adding a small amount of apple cider vinegar to the water in the bird bath helps prevent the growth of algae. It is perfectly safe to use on bird baths because apple cider vinegar is all-natural and cannot harm the birds.

  Apple cider vinegar is actually beneficial for the birds. It can help improve their overall health because the vinegar contains vitamins and minerals that are good for them. Only a teaspoon of apple cider vinegar should be added for every gallon of water in the bird bath.