Hello, I’m not sure if it’s allowed to upload this topic, if it’s problematic, i’ll delete it.. Just wan’t some tips if possible to make a birdbath.
I’m planning to make a completely homemade birdbath out of clay and cement. I’ve never used anything like that before and what i’ve found on internet isn’t very helpful for me. This is what i got to try to do it:
My main tip would be to make sure the dish part has gradually sloping sides, and a slightly rough surface, so that insects and young birds don’t drown in it.
I’m not real sure what you mean by cement and clay, but I would suggest using concrete (cement mixed with sand and gravel) or pure cement. I’ve never heard of mixing clay with cement.
Birdbaths are often made in two pieces - a stand and a dish that sits securely on top of it - so each half is light enough to carry.
Good luck, and let us know how it turns out 
Edited to add: Don’t breathe the dust while mixing cement, and if wet cement gets on your skin, rinse it off quickly. Gloves are recommended for working with it. Usually it says that somewhere on the bag, but I don’t see any warning labels in your photo.
Ok i’m doing now the bowl. I’ll just run some tests and look for errors. I’ll try it today, let it dry, and check how it turned out tomorrow.
I’ve made a birdbath out of clay and am currently in the process of making another one (it’s a loooong process given how slowly you need to let things dry). I threw all my components on the wheel, looks like you’re hand building? But happy to provide any insight I can if it’s helpful!
Yes, i’ts fully made by hand, no complex tools, just the spatula and what’s in the third picture
I’m now putting the cement or concrete on the mold and shaping it.
Any tips are welcome
My process now for making this was:
First: about 2 small cups of water to 4 or 5 cups of cement: 2:5 ratio
Second: I mix everything very well in the first bowl and then gradually transfer it to the mold.
Third: I shape it to fit the mold and make a slightly deep hole.
Fourth: I wait for it to dry.
The sides of the mold look a bit steep to me.
Final result of the first attempt. I put that plastic lid on and added some oil to keep the hole sealed while it dries. Any tip for drying it? I just plan to leave it to air dry.
The materials look to have worked OK. One issue might be that it is flat bottomed, so just right for some birds but too shallow or too deep for others.
What part of the world are you in? Frost could be a problem.
Personally I use dustbin lids and plastic chairs but maybe you want your garden to be aesthetically pleasing.
I live in Colombia Andean zone.
My area have a very varied climate because is tropical or neotropical.
There are usually cold and hot days. We have some weeks of rainy days, as well as weeks of clear days.
And the temperature varies throughout the day.
This week will probably continue to be rainy and cloudy.
I like making a cement birdbath because it might be better and I enjoy doing it.
One of problems i noticed is that my birdbath is a bit fragile but perhaps i’ll have to let it dry for a few more days until it’s completely hard and no sediment comes off when i add the water.
Another problem is not only the birdbath Is the place where i have to put it. I plan to put in my roof, because there isn’t a better place. But i really don’t know how. It’s not fragile but the problem is that it’s diagonal.
Maybe if you embed chicken wire into the concrete it won’t be so fragile.
I’ll try that, but I’ll also leave the birdbath in the sun to harden it much.
Any sort of a broad, flat-bottomed, shallow dish works fine, such as the large, glazed pans meant for use as plant pot bases to catch water seepage from drain holes.
A smooth surface has the very great advantage of allowing you to clean it much more easily than any dirt-catching rough surface. Birds can either sit on the rim to drink or hop into the shallow water to bathe. They often defecate as they bathe so it WILL need to be cleaned regularly, as well as (optimally) sluiced out daily and refilled with clean water.
Placing it on the ground (rather than on a pedestal as with traditional birdbath designs) will allow a variety of animals to have access to water, very important in areas with scarce surface water or in times of drought.
About cleaning the birdbath:
How should I clean it?
What materials and cleaning products are recommended?
My birdbath is made entirely of cement.
It looks like it holds very little water and would likely be emptied very quickly if a bird or group of birds use it to bathe, so it would likely have to be refilled a few times through the day, once the birds find it and use it.
Anyway, if you use it, just scrub it out with a brush and fresh water… don’t use any cleaning products, as any traces that remain may potentially be harmful to birds or animals that use it.
Okay.
Here is. There are many. I didn’t use anything to reinforce the birdbath. Maybe when i do my second birdbath a bigger one, maybe this week i’ll put it more things to make it more comfortable for all animals.
I’ll publish the results of it here¡
Hope birds drink the water and bath there.
I put mi camera for filming the birds, so we can see what will happen.
Hello, i have good news, some birds liked to bath and drink water from it.
That was very emotional¡
Here are the photos:
First some Saffron finchs showed some interest at the birdbath.
After some minutes more, one decided to take a look to the bath and looks like she tooks a bath¡
After that, other birds came but they weren’t interested and left.
But Saffron finchs have much interest and Eared doves are starting to like it to¡
I’ve read that cement can intoxicate birds cuz it makes water alkaline because it’s not fully cured yet, and that this alkalinity can be reduced or neutralized with vinegar, but i don’t really know how to verify this information, i’ll just keep that birdbath clean.
Amazing! Congratulations!
