How to Rid a Fountain of Algae for Bird Safety

Adding a birdbath or fountain to your landscape is an open invitation to the feathered community. If you are a bird lover, seeing your feathered friends frolicking in the water can provide hours of enjoyment. On the downside, a fountain can be a breeding ground for algae, which thrives in stagnant water and abundant amounts of sunlight. Safe cleaning practices that rid the fountain of algae ensure that visiting birds remain healthy and disease-free.

Things You'll Need

• Garden hose
• Scrub brush

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Instructions

1. • 1

     Remove the water from the fountain. If the fountain is light enough, try tipping it to allow the water to spill out. If the fountain is heavy or impossible to move, siphon the water out with a garden hose.

   • 2

     Scrub the fountain with a clean scrub brush to loosen any adhered algae. Rinse the loose algae from the fountain with a garden hose.

   • 3

     Refill the fountain with water from the garden hose. Empty and refill the fountain every two to three days to prevent new algae from forming.