Are bird baths bad
Benefits certainly outweigh any negatives while owning a bird bath, but its not all good as there's much upkeep, with time needed to maintain the bird bath.
Bird baths can be a bad idea because lack of maintenance can see it fall in despair. What happens is algae can turn the water green, whilst germs can grow on the outer rim to create a bacteria breeding ground. Unkempt bird baths will cause a foul odor in the air, as birds are guaranteed not to use it again.
Bird baths go bad because of you, if you don't regularly change the bird bath water, it will soon go bad, causing the bird bath itself to fade, leak or crack.
Bad as this can be, a bird bath can only be a good idea if you can commit to keeping it clean, whilst replacing the water as often as you can. Cause of algae is dirty water, thus to replace it twice a week can keep it in good condition.
Best way to clean a bird bath is by emptying it of the gone bad water, then scrubbing it with a brush if its made in stone - or with a cloth if its made in plastic or metal.
Clean the bird bath once or twice a week, just as you would do before replenishing the bird bath with fresh tap water, every time.
Birds can be a little messy in the water, just as they are seen to poop in a bird bath, in which case the bird bath would need to be clean out, outside of your regular cleaning and maintenance schedule.
Debris falling into the water out of the wild, such as leafs can remain for a bit, but remember a bird bath can only attract birds if it remains clean and accessible at all times.
To setup up a bird bath that is hard to clean and maintain would not be a good idea, thus a hanging bird bath can be a better idea as its more within reach.
Similarly, whilst a ground bird bath can benefit birds, ground level can see the water dirty far more easily than a water source elevated off the ground.
Bird baths can be bad idea
Despite all the benefits of a bird bath, there certainly can be some negatives to keeping a bird bath in your yard.
First of all, there is the issue of algae growing in the bird bath. Cause of this is water not being cleaned out and replaced often enough, thus the water will turn green with algae growing on the bird bath bowl, submerged under water.
And as birds can carry bird food to the rim of the bird bath, you must realize the bird bath can be riddled with bacteria.
Bird baths can be a bad idea because what should of been an inviting water source for birds to preen or hydrate - as it quickly deteriorated into a source of germs and unhealthy water.
Cause of this can be birds themselves, nevertheless, this can all be avoided if you were to be more active in cleaning your bird bath once or twice a week.
What else goes wrong at the bird bath is debris landing on the water surface, so a once clean water source can be ruined by natural debris not clean out of the water often enough.
Dirty bird bath due to negligence
Never allow a bird bath to go bad, as this negligence can lead to common backyard birds becoming ill, if they were to still ingest the water or enter it to preen.
Bird baths can quickly become dirty through no fault of anyone, but its a process that can happen over several days. Dirty bird baths can quickly become worse in warm or hot weather, whilst colder months can sustain a bird bath water quality for longer.
Come spring is the time for you to become more active, or at least when the weather is warmer long before this.
You'd need to replace the bird bath water once, twice or even as much as three times a week, in order to maintain quality water.
Replace the water as you do, then before this you must clean the bird bath by scrubbing the water bowl with a brush in dish soap - or indeed wash it in a vinegar solution to kill off any bacteria present on water bowl exterior.
Mold can form even before you see it, thus a regular scrub of the bird bath in and out of the bowl will prevent mold forming.
Can cause foul smell in air
Its quite normal for anyone to postpone cleaning a bird bath, when the time to replace the water was long before this.
What happens to an unkempt bird bath is the water will begin to release carbon dioxide, in this time the water will become cloudy, thus algae and therefore mold in the surface of the bird bath will grow.
In time this water will begin to release what would be a smell left after it rains; then begin to release a stronger odor, reminiscent of a dirty stream.
Bird baths can therefore release a nasty smell into the air, causing your backyard to be a no go area.
Its not toxic but it is unpleasant, so to abandon a regular maintenance of a bird bath can see it deteriorate beyond repair.
If your bird bath is allowed to go this far, then its likely the bird bath would have dangerous toxins you won't be able to remove, to be used once again.
Unsightly blight on landscape
Why else a bird bath can be a bad idea is simply because it can be a blight on the landscape of your yard.
If the bird bath remains in great condition, with a regular clean - including replacing the water source up to twice a week - then the bird bath can only be a good idea for your local birds, and your well being.
Nevertheless, bird baths in time can be allowed to go past their best, which is when a person simply loses interest.
In time this bird bath can really look unappealing, thus it can be a stain in the backyard; a ugly eyesore that won't be thrown in the trash, but simply allowed to grow algae, while going smelly in the process.
Not a lot of people can keep up with the ongoing maintenance of a bird bath, as they quickly lose interest by seeing too few, or no wild birds at all use the bath.
Patience is the key to owning and operating a bird bath, as most people are seen to allow the bird bath to fall in to despair.
To avoid doubt setting in, invest in an ornamental, made in stone or metal bird bath as the best bird bath material you can use - at a higher cost of course - then see if you are so willing to witness your expensive bird bath fall to pieces.
Conclusion
While bird baths are suppose to signify an addition to your yard to provide a source of water for birds to hydrate or preen, it can quickly deteriorate in due course.
Without seeing the fruits of your labor quickly receiving many wild birds to it, its quite common for most people to give up; thus will neglect their bird bath to allow it to fall into despair.
Bird baths that are not maintained will see the water turn bad, with algae visible under the water line, and unseen bacteria germinating on the rim.
What was suppose to be a water source birds can come to rely upon; as quickly become a breeding ground of germs, algae and an odor that can be smelled in the air.
Bird baths are a good idea at first, but can become a bad idea soon after as the person responsible for it, simply loses interest in the upkeep.
Negligence is the cause of a dirty bird bath, and while birds can poop in a bird bath without a care in the world, it can only be you that cleans it up.
Buy a more expensive, yet more beautiful bird bath made in stone or metal to compliment the yard, thus a bird bath that costs more won't be allowed to go beyond repair so easy.
Similarly, a bird bath can act as an garden ornament, so remove the water out of the bowl to re-use it as an outdoor decorative ornament.
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