Question about birdbaths

Does anyone know if there is a way to keep algae from growing in a bird fountain? I have a 2 tiered fountain that I cannot keep the algae out of. I scrub it, I've soaked it in bleach (and thoroughly rinsed it) and it still grows back. I didn't know if there was a product that is not harmful to the birds but that would kill the algae.

Any thoughts?

Thanks!

What you're doing is the best - regular scrubbing.

The algae don't do much harm anyway, but a good scrubbing is best anyway, to clean out any other potential disease organisms that might find their way in.

Resin

Thanks Resin. This stuff grows like, well, weeds!

i recently read that after you clean it, take a handful of rosemary and tie it into a clump and lay it in the birdbath. it's supposed to keep algae from forming. i haven't done it, just read about it!

Cool, I'll try that. I've got plenty of rosemary!

it said to clean the birdbath first. it won't stop junk that is already growing in it, just inhibits new growth. good luck!

I just googled my question and found a forum that suggested placing copper pennies or a small piece of copper pipe in the bird bath. The coppe retards the algae growth. A number of people wrote in to say they used this method and it worked great! I think this sounds like a winner to me!!

Does one of those wiggler things help at all>? Anyone know? I've been thinking about getting one to attact birds. If it detracts goo, all the better. Plus I know it would inhibit mosquito breeding since it keeps the water moving.

Even if the rosemary, or copper, does work in retarding algae, don't stop scrubbing every few days!

Resin

Retarded algae... Can't help it... that's funny.

Heeheehee

I've never used this and don't know what it does for algae,...but I'm tempted...

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=11001

i think the pennies sound the easiest.

Anything's worth a try! Such an ongoing problem for absolutely anyone who has a bird bath - and wouldn't our gardens look sad without at least a couple?

I just hose mine out every couple of days, with a strong, narrow "jet" setting on the nozzle to loosen all gunk. I aim it to splash all the old, yucky water out, then put the nozzle setting on "shower" to refill the birdbath.

i read that a few drops of bleach in the water helps, and will not harm the birds. I only tried it a few times but not consistantly so I don't know if it works. My bath is used and rinsed out and refilled constantly, I can't be bothered running for the bottle of bleach all the time. The grackles seem to love to take the little chunks of bread I put out and take it over to the birdbath, dunk it a few times, and either eat it or fly off with it - I am wondering if they are feeding it to their babies. It sure makes a mess in the birdbath though!

I will, however, try the copper penny idea.

The copper pennies do help. I put them in my bird bath last weekend and so far, no great quantites of algae. I've seen a teeny bit in the bowl but by far, nothing compared to the stuff that was growing before the pennies! I'm with Bhavanna, using the bleach is too hard plus my puppy has taken to drinking the water from the bath so I absolutely don't want him getting any!

when we stock up on drinking water during hurricane preparation, we add 2 drops of bleach to a gallon of tap water. this is what our government hurricane team suggests.

Resin, you know the birds are going to drink it too...I thought it sounded harsh but the place I read it, it was in a bird magazine, said that a few drops would not be harmful - it didn't specify whether it would be harmful if the birds drank it - but what are you going to do? Put up a "Don't drink the water" sign??

If it's a choice of cleaning a bird bath more often or taking even a slight chance of harming the birds I so enjoy watching, I'll be headed to the bird bath with my brush and a water hose on a daily basis. No reason to chance it, IMHO.

OK, so I knew it was too good to be true. So after bragging today how wonderful the copper pennies were doing, I went this afternoon to find - AGH - algae having a field day in my bird bath. It's not like I wasn't changing the water every day! Oh well, the pennies look nice!

i forgot mine were in the birdbath and i blasted them out with the hose. ~sigh~ lol

LOL - sounds like something I would do!!!

GardenGirl, it sounds like the pennies held off the algae for a while at least, nothing (except chemicals) will keep it away forever. It is worth a try...I am going to put a few in my three today.

i think i will just do what i always do, blast with hose and then scrub with a rough scrubby. nothing stops it except bleach and i can't bleach because of plants in the area. does a little algae even hurt anything?

You are right trackinsand, a little algae never hurt besides they drink and bathe in mudpuddles! :)

well there ya go then! lol

lol, resin. they were laying in the pinebark mulch and i think the squirrels have buried them.