Use Old Empty Litter Containers As A Creative Way To Add Mosquito Protection To Bird Baths

We may receive a commission on purchases made from links.

Attracting birds and wildlife into your backyard can be done in a number of different ways. If you're a bird enthusiast, you're more than likely going to have a bird bath in your garden to entice them into your outdoor space. But, having a bird bath can be a double edged sword. Besides attracting birds, they can also be a breeding ground for mosquitoes, who seek out still and shallow water. One of the last things you want to encourage in your garden, mosquitoes can cause itchy, irritating bites and ruin your backyard relaxation time. To dissuade mosquitoes from laying eggs in your bird bath, you can use an old cat litter container to create your very own dripping mechanism.

A drip bird bath is essentially a bird bath that uses occasional droplets to keep the water moving. The gentle movement and disruption of the water is what deters mosquitos and stops them from using your bird bath as a place to congregate and breed. All you're going to need for this charming DIY bird bath project is an empty kitty litter jug, a screw, and some way of hanging your container above your bird bath, like a chain or a shepherd's hook.

If your current bird bath is in the middle of your backyard and doesn't sit either near a tree or a fence, then you may want to consider repositioning it or using a shepherds hook as a freestanding hanging point. Once you've decided on it's position, grab your empty kitty litter container and carefully twist a screw into the jug near the bottom. Using a screw and leaving it in the jug is a better method than simply poking an open hole because it allows you to control the level of dripping by adjusting the screw farther in or out. Fill your jug with water and replace the lid, then hang your jug directly above your bird bath, so that the water from the jug slowly drips into the bath, creating a ripple effect. This motion in the water discourages egg-laying adults and makes it harder for larvae to breathe, which can eventually get rid of mosquitoes in your yard.

Why a kitty litter jug? Other containers might work too, but products like the Purina Tidy Cats Lightweight Litter come with a resealable lid, which is ideal to keep dirt, insects, and other small critters from falling into the container. Closing the lid will also slow evaporation and help your drip system last longer between refills. Using an empty kitty litter jug is also great option because it can carry a high volume of water and has a handle, which makes it easy to hang. However, if your bird bath is on the smaller side and you think a smaller implement would work better, then an empty Coca Cola bottle is a good choice, since it does the same thing on a smaller scale.