Do birds like hanging bird baths

Despite the difficulty of getting birds to use any type of bird bath, you can guarantee birds would use a hanging bird bath more so in times of need.

Birds do like hanging bird baths when they need to re-hydrate or clean their feathers quickly. Hanging bird baths benefit birds in that its more elevated then others, so a higher location is far safer. Downside is bird baths that hang can move in wind, while limiting its use to smaller birds rather than larger species.

What is important about setting up a hanging bird bath for all bird species to use, is making sure it can be seen be the occasional visitor.

Not all birds will use it, nor will most that prefer to use your bird feeders, but what is more vital while using a hanging style bird bath is that is can be seen at all times.

Glistening of the water must be seen above, with the option of using a solar powered fountain strongly considered - as birds are attracted to bird baths with running water.

Locate a hanging bird bath in a shaded spot if you wish, but this area must be seen or regularly occupied by your backyard birds.

In this location bear in mind leafs of the branch the hanging bird bath is hung off can spoil the water - and so to can muck drop off the roof of a backyard structure the bracket of the bird bath is mounted to.

Footage demonstrates Chickadees, American Goldfinches using a hanging bird bath that you can see is prone to moving in wind, or under the slightest weight of the birds.

Negative sides to using a hanging bird bath, or any style really is it can move about in the wind quite easily.

I would be sure the area to hang a hanging bird bath is not prone to wind, but it can be anchored to reduce the movement in bad weather.

More so, remember a hanging bird bath tends to use a smaller bowl to hold water, thus its a smaller bird bath over other types. Its then safe to say this could restrict use of your hanging bird bath to small birds only.

Birds attracted to hanging baths

Much like attracting all species to the bird bath out in the open, central to you backyard landscape, a bird bath that hangs can have its uses.

In fact, I might go as far as saying hanging bird bath could be more attractive to wild birds, as the elevated location is going to be more appealing, because its more safer.

Birds do like bird baths that can hang or are on a stand, but you must remember where you put the bird bath still applies.

Hang it up in a location that can be seen, preferably in the shade for most of the day, but in the sunshine is OK too.

Ideally hang the bird bath near a hedgerow, above plants or against ivy climbing up the wall.

Birds can be attracted to plants to capture bugs in-flight, or prefer the hedgerow or near by a tree to take cover.

Hanging bird baths do have a few drawbacks in where you can site it, but to have an area you feel ticks all these boxes, a number of birds can take to it for sure.

Can limit to small birds

Unfortunately a hanging bird bath is designed not to be very big, in fact it can only be so wide to offer the needed clearing from the wall or post its bracket above it mounted to.

You may then only limit the use of your new hanging bird bath to small birds only.

If you've observed your backyard birds for sometime, while noticing indeed its only small backyard birds who visit your yard, then this is just wants needed.

However, if you notice you receive mostly larger bird species such Blue Jays or Northern Cardinals, among others - then the hanging style bird bath can restrict these birds who have a larger wingspan.

Its quite possible these birds can or indeed do use small hanging bird baths, but as birds tend to use a bird bath less over the feeders, you really do not want to limit the use of a bird bath to fewer species.

Hanging bird baths tend to be made with two-chains, with three to four connection points on each corner of the hanging bird bath, for stability purposes.

Its then likely the larger birds only have a foot or less to perch on the rim of the hanging bird bath - making it difficult for them to land, and therefore take off safely.

Movement can be issue

Birds are likely to take to your hanging bird bath if it can be seen, but more so in times of drought over the summer months.

But what can't be avoided all year round is the gust of wind likely to disturb the bird bath.

Bird baths that hang are made with three to four hanging points, for not only protection against a potential collapse, but the length of chains or rope used to hang are positioned in such a way, it prevents twisting.

What this can't avoid is indeed the hanging bird bath can swing back and forth in the littlest of wind.

Birds that are more daring and less timid around bird baths are going to re-hydrate regardless of danger - but remember that is exactly what a rocking bird bath is.

Movement of a hanging bird bath can prevent smaller birds, but more so larger birds landing to bathe or drink within the water bowl of the wooden bird bath - with more stability allowing birds to descend onto the rim of the hanging bird bath with ease.

Birds are fully capable of landing on moving tree branches or similar items in nature, only your hanging bird bath is not a tree branch, so can be a concern.

If you like you can anchor the hanging bird bath with an additional rope straightened out horizontally to the wall or post, to prevent it from rocking.

Higher position is safer

What a bird bath on a stand or spike can't do what a hanging bird bath is capable of, is being able to hang at a great height.

Not so high the hanging bird bath is out of reach to be replenished with fresh water or maintained twice a week with a clean, but its high up out of reach of predators.

Birds sense a safe location so a hanging bird bath is going to offer that.

In hanging bird bath off a shed wall or outbuilding, don't do it in such a way you forget the clearing above is decreased so much, the bird bath becomes within reach of predators above, rather than below.

Example of that is hidden cats hoping to grab a bathing or drinking bird when they fly up and away.

Hanging bird baths don't have the mobility as a bird bath on a stand does, so location can be limited to one or the occasional plan-B position.

Understand then you must have a great location ready, because as much as backyard birds like hanging bird baths, its all to do with location in the yard.

To summarize

Bird do like hanging bird baths because the elevation it offer is a very tempting proposition.

What that means is wild birds like an undisturbed, quiet location to re-hydrate, with more time needed for them to bother entering the water to bathe.

Hanging bird baths guarantee this if you continue to follow strict rules for locating a bird bath that hangs, as you would with any other type of bird bath.

On the negative side, hanging bird baths are not that big at all, so it therefore restricts the use of it to smaller, more common backyard birds only.

More so Chickadees and Robins then, and less so Cardinals and Blue Jays.

While a bird bath on a stand can be toppled over in the wind, issues around the weather can effect a hanging bird bath, as any gust of wind can cause the hanging bird bath to rock or sway back and forth.

If this were to happen it can indeed deter many birds, but that is not to say the more agile birds are not capable of landing on a moving object.

Birds do like hanging bird baths more so in desperate times of need, so to be seen is essential, while the cover of vegetation is vital.

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