How often to change bird bath water

I can't give you a definitive timetable for changing bird bath water, as it can really depend on your personally circumstances, and the time of year.

How often to change a bird bath water on average can be approximately twice weekly to avoid algae developing while removing invisible parasites. Increase this timetable to three times a week or daily in drought - when birds use up more water to bathe or hydrate - along with the heat drying up the water bowl.

You know what, you can save a lot of possible health issues developing in your unique bird bath setup by making sure to change out the water daily if at all possible.

What will happen is the water source will remain clean and safe, as a regular change of water can keep away bacteria or other nasty parasites - which commonly develop in an outside water source like a pond.

Once in a while you are going to have to clean your bird bath in soapy water by putting elbow grease into it, to wash potential growth of algae or general bird bath water gunk which will develop if you don't clean the bird bath as expected.

Be sure to change out the bird bath water as often as you can while the bird bath outer surface can get messy due to weathering or use - as the bird bath water bowl must be prioritized above all else.

Commit to changing the bird bath water frequently in hotter months as birds are guaranteed to drink more or waste water as they frolic to bathe.

In colder times the bird bath will see less use thus water will last far longer. Possible chances of water freezing can be doubt with by pouring over warm water rather than changing the water all together.

Best place for a bird bath all year round will likely rely on a debris-free location in the yard, which will help to prevent junk messing up the water.

Twice weekly avoids common issues

How many times a bird bath owner cleans out their bird bath is up to twice a week, thus twice a week would be how often you change your bird bath water.

It could be far less with less frequent use whilst it can be more often if your bird bath is regularly used; all while your common backyard birds quite often leave a mess of poop or feathers floating behind in the water.

Change the bird bath water twice weekly if the water doesn't become noticeably contaminated in that time - in which this would become your regular cleaning routine.

Similarly, a bird bath 2-3 feet off the ground would require less of a water change, than a bird bath set on the ground - which would be prone to more filth.

With that, there's the weather that can either see the water decrease if in direct sunshine, or the colder months will sustain the water source for longer.

Personally, how often should you change bird bath water can completely depend on your circumstances; thus use these suggestions as guidelines only rather than a guarantee of how often water must be changed.

Up to three times in drought

You know what, while the average times to change out bird bath water for fresh is twice weekly - which can reduce to once weekly if used less - would need you to change the water up to three times in drought.

Not just in times of severe drought either, as an extended period of hot days can dry up wild birds near by natural water resources, so you'd need to change the water to be sure wild birds can re-hydrate or bathe in your own yard.

No other time in the year than in summer when birds often rely on bird bath water than any other season.

In hot summer days or if you reside in a hot State all year round, then revert to keeping the water fresh and clean three times a week.

It certainly does feel like a lot of responsibility to keep on top of it, but remember birds need you now more than any other time.

Summertime or hotter months will of course see a increase in algae growing in your bird bath; which must be removed by cleaning the bird bath water bowl most times before you replenish it with fresh tap water.

And with the possibility of birds frequently using your bird bath water more to drink than to bathe, this would lead to water wasting over the side.

How to keep water in the bird bath then would be to continue to re-fill the bowl if the water line is seen to lower due to use - rather than the heat of the sun drying up the bowl.

Twice monthly in winter

With the hotter months or summer out of the way, the fall will land on your bird bath with the colder days sustaining the bird bath water for longer.

No longer do you need to change the water in a bird bath as often as two or three times a week - when you only need to change the water once a week - or on average three times a month.

Of course this still depends on the water source remaining at optimal condition, with no signs of algae or debris spoiling the water.

Downside to cleaning a your bird bath with a thorough soak in soapy water - or a quick clean with a soapy brush - is that your common backyard birds will now cease to exit when water is plentiful elsewhere come September onwards.

And it will, as in the fall and approaching winter will see rain drops on the puddles, tree leafs, and streams will stay full with rainfall.

However, then there's the impeding sub-zero conditions approaching in winter which is sure to freeze up your bird bath.

How often to change the bird bath in winter would be twice monthly in wintertime, although I has to be said you will be topping up the bird bath with a jug of warm water to melt the ice - rather than changing out the water all together.

Continue to clean out filth

How often you should change your bird bath water will come down to where your bird bath is situated in your yard, and therefore if the sun or shade will sustain or rapidly evaporate the water source.

Once more, a bird bath would need to be changed out regularly if birds frequent it all day, as bird poop, feathers and parasites will be present in the water.

And that's just it, parasites are unseen yet present in even clean bird bath water, thus your bird is sure to benefit if you can clean your water as frequently as you can. Bacteria can germinate due to food or droppings, and therefore the water would be contaminated.

What else is bound to spoil your bird bath water which would call for a change of water, is falling debris, which is mostly seen on the water surface.

Often people let leafs, twigs or general natural debris float in the water yet don't realize, unkempt bird bath water with all this in can lead to water getting on a messy side.

If anything innocent such as leafs or twigs drop in the water then what's to say there's mud, grit or anything else spoiling the once clean water.

Remember, how birds find bird baths is with the reflection of the water or if you utilize a fountain feature or ripple maker to get birds attention as they pass overhead. If the water fills with debris then the shiny reflection won't be seen.

Keep water change orderly

How often you decide to change your bird bath water through the year, as you'd probably know by now can change from week to week, or month to month.

Never settle on how often you change your bird bath water as it may need an increase with fresh water in hot, dry days - whereby the colder months can see the water last far longer than you could ever expect.

What I ask you to do then is be sure to keep up with a regular bird bath cleaning routine.

I am not referring to changing out the water only, what you must do is clean your bird bath along with an homemade disinfect to properly remove stubborn bird bath water gunk with any early signs of algae developing.

Only after you've thoroughly cleaned your bird bath should your replenish it with fresh clean cold water.

I am not asking you to clean the bird bath first before every water change, as that isn't possible for most people. What you must do is change the water depending on if your water requires it - then follow it up be cleaning the bird bath once or twice weekly.

Its easy to change out the bird bath water as much as once or twice a day, yet the commitment is in how often should the bird bath be cleaned - which will be forgotten about as long as you are just changing the water.

My Final Thoughts

On average I believe anyone who maintains their bird bath right on cue, will do so twice a week to avoid the water becoming too dangerous to wildlife.

People will change out their bird bath water twice a week if the weather or time of year allows it - yet to clean a bird bath before its re-filled with fresh clean water must be on the 'to-do' list as the growth of parasites and algae is a concern.

How often should you change bird bath water then will be twice a week if you can.

Make it three times a week if at all possible but what's stopping you replenishing bird bath water daily to keep the birds satisfied.

Birds don't need to be seen hydrating or bathing in the bird bath frequently, as a regular water change can keep the bird bath in great condition.

At least when you regularly change out bird bath water as it can postpone it getting a little on the messy side, that's for sure.

With that said you may need to change your bird bath water on an average, twice a week to three times a week - or daily in times of drought. And that would be made worse if birds are frequently using up the water or the sun is drying up the water bowl.

Come the fall the colder months will sustain the water level for longer, while in winter will see sub zero conditions. In which you'd need to not so much change your bird bath water, but make sure to regularly pour in warm water to melt any ice.

Change the bird bath water only after the whole bird bath has been clean in dish soap, or when its been sterilized in a bleach or white vinegar cleaning solution - or why not alternate between cleaning and changing water.

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