Bird Baths

[tooj]

I have a beautiful concrete birdbath which is constantley in use.
Unfortunately after about four days it has gone green and it takes a lot of scrubbing
to get it clean again.
CouldI paint it with anything that might cure this problem without harming the birds?

[Jennykenny]

I’m not sure that painting would be a solution, but I believe that charcoal, (barbecue charcoal?) will help keep the water fresh. Also, is it movable out of direct sun?

[rowanwitch]

It will stay cleaner longer if you scAld it with boiling water after getting it spotless. The trick is killing the algae spores a second bird drinking area is a good idea. A plastic plant saucer is popular especially if you put a few pebbles in the bottom

[Chipchopper]

What I do to keep the water fresh and clean, is to give it a regular blast with a hose pipe, as the wood pigeons tend to use it as a toilet.

[Canary42]

/// the wood pigeons tend to use it as a toilet.///

I have that problem too, and as a result I replace the water every day, giving the bath a brief scrub at the same time.

In this current hot weather I too have introduced a second bath (a shallow plant tray), much to the apparent delight of a blackbird I watched splashing away this afternoon.