This article is all about heated bird bath reviews but lets first look at why you might needs one in the first place. When you have a bird feeder it can feel like you’ve created the best possible world for the birds. They fly in from all around and eat at the buffet you setup for them in your yard. Also, you get a great show to boot. However, there is something missing when you have only a bird feeder. Birds also need water. Not just for drinking, but also for washing themselves and playing around.
Birds love when you have a bird bath. If you want to help make your yard the perfect place for birds, a bird bath is a great addition. But what about winter, when your bird feeder gets the most use? Won’t your bird bath be frozen solid? Not if you have a heated bird bath! In this article we’ll go over what to look for in a heated bird bath, and some of the reasons you might want to consider one.
Best Heated Bird Bath: API Heated Resin Bird Bath
- ICE FREE WATER – This heated bird bath keeps water ice-free all winter thanks to its fully enclosed heating element.
- PLASTIC BIRD BATH – The bird bath is made of a durable weather-resistant plastic and measure 20″ in diameter.
- PROTECTED HEATING ELEMENT – This birdbath’s heating element is fully enclosed and protected so that animals cannot come into contact with it.
Our favorite heated bird bath is the API Heated Bird Bath. This bird bath has simple mounting hardware for easy installation on your deck or balcony railing. It’s plastic but looks like a traditional bird bath. Additionally it’s UL listed which means it’s been tested for safety.
What To Know About Heated Bird Baths
One of the most obvious ways to create a heated bird bath is to use a bird bath deicer. This is a great way to keep your bird bath thawed for winter, assuming you already have one. If you don’t want to have a visible cord running up into your bird bath with the deicer puck sitting inside, you can buy a purpose built heated bird bath. These are bird baths which you plug in, and which draw a small amount of current to keep the bird bath from freezing solid.
Birds can handle very cold temperatures. Because of this you really only need to keep the bird bath thawed, and birds will use it. Granted if the water is warmer than the surrounding air, you’ve created a little bird hot tub.
Bird bath heaters don’t get too warm however, so you won’t need to worry about excess evaporation. You will need to be concerned with evaporation though, as your bird bath water will evaporate in the dry winter air. The best way we’ve found to refill a bird bath is using a bucket or a plant watering can. Generally speaking the hose should be put away for the winter, and if you use it it’ll simply freeze solid.
Best Heated Bird Bath Reviews
What To Look For In A Heated Bird Bath
The first thing to look for when considering a heated bird bath is whether or not it is UL listed. Being UL Listed means it goes through the testing procedures of Underwriters Laboratory. This means the bird bath has been tested for dangerous features. Knowing your birds will not be shocked by stray current when they step into your bird bath is comforting. Also, knowing you and your pets will be safe if they bump into the bird bath is also important.
The next consideration when considering a heated bird bath is the mounting hardware. Is the bird bath capable of being mounted where you want it? Maybe you are thinking you’ll put in on a stump in the yard. Or maybe on a pressure treated pole you bury in the ground. Maybe you’re planning to attach it to your balcony railing. Or maybe you want an integrated base to match. Whatever method you choose, take the time to look into the mounting method of each bird bath before you purchase.
Ultimately, the heated bird bath also needs to fit into your aesthetic. If you don’t like the color when you buy it, the bird bath will not ‘grow on you’ over time. When choosing a heated bird bath, make sure the shape and color works in your backyard.
Remember, white bird baths sometimes stick out, depending on where you are putting it. Gray is often a better color for a bird bath as a darker color will be less prominent in the landscape. But if you want it to stick out, or you are mounting it to a white railing, maybe white is perfect. It all depends on your aesthetic and what you are trying to achieve in your garden design.
Heated Bird Baths Summary
So why might you want to avoid a heated bird bath? Generally speaking, the only reason to avoid a heated bird bath is because you already have a bird bath you love. In this case we suggest adding a bird bath deicer which you can read more about here. Then you can turn your existing bird bath into a heated bird bath for four season bird enjoyment.
