Cleaning a bird bath with copper pennies: A straightforward method for maintaining a clean bird bath, boosting your bird sanctuary, and discovering the advantages of this unusual approach.
In the heart of summer, maintaining a clean and inviting bird bath is essential for attracting feathered friends to your garden. Here, we share some practical tips and tricks for ensuring your bird bath remains a haven for birds, whilst promoting cleanliness and safety.
Firstly, it's crucial to clean your bird bath regularly, especially before use. Pennies, when cleaned and placed in the water, can help prevent algae growth. To determine if a penny is copper-based, check the year, examine its colour and weight, use a magnet, and look for corrosion. Most pennies before 1943 and after 1944 are made from copper alloys, while those from 1943 are made from zinc-coated steel. Copper pennies tend to have a reddish or brownish color due to oxidation and are heavier than steel pennies. They are also non-magnetic and may develop greenish corrosion over time.
When cleaning a bird bath, it's important to avoid using synthetic-based household cleaners, as they can harm the birds. Instead, opt for natural solutions such as white vinegar, salt, and lemon juice, which can be used to clean copper pennies. Scrubbing the surface of the bird bath with a hard bristle brush on a weekly basis is also recommended.
To further ensure cleanliness, it's advisable to replace the water in the bird bath every day during summer, and let it dry before replacing the water. A solar fountain pump can also help to curb water stagnation, appealing to birds and keeping the water fresh.
Decorative rocks can provide extra support and stability for bird feet in a bird bath, making it safer for birds. Additionally, the Amazon Prime Day event offers bird-friendly deals on gardening products, including a bird bath cleaner, until July 11.
It's worth noting that while there are no known scientific risks to adding copper pennies to reduce algae levels as long as the water is kept clean every week, using pennies made after 1982 can introduce unnaturally high levels of zinc into the water supply, which can be toxic if ingested in large quantities.
Janey Goulding, a former assistant editor of Amateur Gardening and an active writer and editor for digital gardening brands, shares her expertise in this area. Janey has taken part in conservation and rewilding projects for the Royal Horticultural Society and the British Trust for Conservation Volunteers. She is currently undertaking her RHS Level 2 certificate in The Principles of Plant Growth and Development.
For those seeking a more efficient cleaning tool, the SetSail double brush features stiff bristles, a good grip, and a curved handle that can be hung from a bucket or basin, making it an ideal choice for cleaning bird baths.
By following these simple tips, you can create a clean and inviting bird bath that will attract a variety of birds to your garden, promoting biodiversity and creating a peaceful oasis for all to enjoy.
To enhance the cleanliness and safety of your home-and-garden, incorporate a copper penny in your bird bath to prevent algae growth. During summer, opt for regular cleaning with natural solutions and replace the water daily, ensuring a clean lifestyle for the visiting birds. While using pennies can aid in cleanliness, be mindful to use pre-1982 pennies to avoid introducing high levels of zinc, potentially harmful to birds.
