Helping the garden birds

I will try it. The past 2mornings I have thawed out the water dish by pouring on hot water. It was used immediately by the birds. It’s very important in frosty weather to provide water. My neighbour provides lots of good food but does not think to do this, so it’s down to me.Thanks for the tip.

great idea ! gives me another project .

Perhaps an idea I could try out on the balcony! I just only hope it doesn't attract the pigeons, they have become a right pest these last couple of years. Never used to be a problem but now they are.

Thank you Shirley it is such a good idea and simple to try.

Yes a very good idea Shirley, the blackbirds looks like she's enjoying a warm.bath!
It was so very cold here last night, don't usually drive in the dark anymore, but went to a pantomime with friends and the car was absolutely frozen when.we left. The sky this morning is beautifully pink, but no birds as yet. I'll fish some bricks from down.the garden later..:))

It's a morning ritual to feed the birds at the moment, Shirley. We have a good selection of visitors so had to go out today and stock up on fat balls and sunflower hearts to cover the Festive Season. Useful reminder to keep the water refreshed, too.

Thanks for all your comments - we feed the birds with Sunflower hearts and Fat Balls and it seems so sad if they can't wash it down with a drink of water! A light Snowfall is forecast here for late tomorrow - I hope it doesn't snow - :o(

Klahanie, it's about 1.30pm now and I was able to remove the top layer of ice to reveal thawed water beneath ... without needing the heat today ... hooray!

That's a brilliant idea Shirley, well done you, it also works in the greenhouse if one does not have a heater, candle placed on the floor in a tray of sand to keep it upright, then an upside down terracotta plant pot covering the candle, the pot will heat up so do not grab it without wearing gloves... Balcony this would work on your balcony if you manage to make room for a little g'house... Our birds are lucky as our fishpond provides bath and drinking water for them, the pump never freezes so they could still get a drink if the surface froze over, they simply sit on the net around where the outlet is, clever little birds... I've given up replenishing the birdbaths at the moment, its also a good idea to give ones feeders a shake as the feed itself freezes overnight....

"Balcony this would work on your balcony if you manage to make room for a little g'house... "

Thanks, Lincs for that advice, it had never occurred to me!

With the frosts of late plus the freezing fog & today the snow - I'd need a whole pack of candles to keep the mini-greenhouse warm!!! 😂 😂 😂

Sue, the unheated greenhouse registered 26 degrees yesterday morning. I did bubble wrap all the potted cuttings before it got really cold, OH just raised his eyebrows in that 'you mad fool' kind of way but I think it will protect them a little. Thanks for the tip about the candle for the greenhouse - off to find the bag of builders sand that's in the garage(shed) somewhere ... :o)

Good idea Shirley!

Rose, I feel so sorry for them in this harsh weather. I saw a Wren this morning flitting around the flower borders, not seen one for a long time ... :o)

Shame I left your idea of putting candles in the greenhouse too late to be effective but I really didn't think conditions would get so bad! Now I've lost the great majority of my plants on the balcony! I've not been able to open the mini-greenhouse as the condensation had frozen the zips solid!

That's such a shame for you - I do think many of us will have some plant casualties this year - :o(

Yes, I think you are right, Shirley, there are likely to be a lot more casualties this year than in any other year since the winter of 2009/10.

What a cute idea! Avian Hot Tub! 😃

Karen, that's a great description! Are you down South for Christmas this year?

I eventually opened the MG, Shirley, & was lucky to find that there had been no casualties among the plants even though the condensation had frozen on the zips! 😀

Obviously the extra plastic bag I put over it helped as did being in the most sheltered corner of the balcony. So I shall have more plants than I expected to start spring next year - provided we don't have a repeat match of early December!

That's great to hear ... :o)

Smashing idea Shirley……. Wishing you both a Happy and Healthy New Year…. X

Dotty, thank you and we wish you both the same. Roll on some warmer weather eh? It can't come soon enough ... :o)

My tea lights under the water dish are working really well. A starling has a great bath in it every day, so I have to keep topping it up. All the birds are drinking from it , so thanks again for the tip.

Josie, that's good to know that it works for you too! It was actually mild enough these past 2 nights to keep the water frost free ... hope it stays that way!