Goodbye Traditional Bird Baths: Give This Copper Find A Beautiful Second Life In The Garden

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There's something special about enjoying a cup of coffee on your patio and hearing the birds sing their morning song. These feathered beauties are lovely neighbors to keep around for more than one reason. Not only are they fun to watch, but they can also help reduce pests and pollinate your garden. Luckily, there are plenty of ways to attract birds to your garden. Feeders seem to get all the buzz, but this only covers one of their needs. When birds are in search of a place to spend time, they will seek out food, water, and shelter. Bird baths offer an excellent source of water for your feathered friends. As a bonus, they can also attract beneficial insects such as bees and butterflies.

You might have an image of an ornate, concrete pedestal bath in mind when you think of this lawn feature. These traditional designs aren't always everyone's cup of tea. If you're into a more rustic, cottagecore aesthetic, you might be interested in creating your own unique bird bath design using a copper apple butter kettle. These antique pieces were originally used for cooking over an open hearth. While this isn't a common necessity in most modern homes, these kettles can still be useful. If you find one at the thrift shop or you already have one collecting dust, consider turning it into a beautiful bird bath. Not only will this be a charming alternative to traditional bird baths, but the copper will also kill certain pathogenic bacteria in the water so it will remain fresh for longer.

To create this DIY bird bath, grab your copper apple butter kettle, a floating fountain insert like this Jbobbju Floating Solar Fountain Pump, stones, and any other adornments you want to include. While you could certainly just fill your copper kettle with water and call it a day, flowing water is always a good addition to your bird bath. It can be more enjoyable for the birds and it helps keep mosquitoes from breeding in the bath. For decorative elements, you could include extra accessories like Moxweyeni Mini Bird Bath Copper Ornaments and pond plants. You won't need any special pedestal for this DIY — birds actually prefer baths that are closer to the ground.

When you're ready to construct your bird bath, find a spot with full shade. Metal can heat up fast, so to assure your bird bath is inviting, you want to mitigate that risk as much as possible. Once you find a good spot, fill the bottom layer with stones. This will create a more elevated surface for the birds to enjoy. Fill the kettle with fresh water; now you're ready to install your floating fountain according to its product instructions. From there, you can go ahead and add your decor.

Now you're ready to set out your copper apple butter kettle bird bath! This stunning yard decor is sure to attract a variety of birds. To keep it up to snuff for your visitors, be sure to change the water every 2 to 3 days, or sooner if it looks dirty. While the copper can help reduce the presence of algae and other build-up, it's still a good practice to frequently provide birds with fresh water.