10 Easy DIY Bird Bath Projects (2024)

Gardening

Wild Birds

By

Melissa Mayntz

10 Easy DIY Bird Bath Projects (1)

Melissa Mayntz

Melissa Mayntz is a writer and a birder, with years of experience birding at the state, national, and international level. Melissa has been writing about birding and wild birds for The Spruce and other print and online publications for more than a decade and has been birding for more than 30 years.

Learn more about The Spruce'sEditorial Process

Updated on 11/02/21

Trending Videos

10 Easy DIY Bird Bath Projects (2)

Birdbaths are essential for every bird-friendly landscape. While there are many different types of birdbaths you can buy, there are even more ways to create your own bath with upcycled, recycled, or repurposed materials, no matter what your level of crafting skill. These 10 creative projects offer plenty of opportunities for creativity and personalization while still providing water to your favorite backyard birds in fun and imaginative ways.

  • Tippy Pots Planter and Bath

    10 Easy DIY Bird Bath Projects (3)

    There are many ways to use clay pots to make DIY bird baths, from simple towers to creative stacking, but this topsy turvy design is one of the most fun and whimsical options. Bold colors make the project pop, and the tipped pots make perfect planters for flowers, herbs, ferns, or other greenery. Add flowers for hummingbirds or seed-bearing flowers to attract even more birds.

    DIY Garden Planter & Bird Bath from Home Stories A to Z

  • 02 of 10

    Recycled Glassware Birdbath

    10 Easy DIY Bird Bath Projects (4)

    Pedestal birdbaths are popular designs, but your pedestal doesn’t have to be boring or plain. Recycling glassware is a great option for a birdbath with extra sparkle and flair, and who doesn’t have old vases, platters, and plates gathering dust in a cupboard or piling up at a thrift store? Put them to good use by creating a birdbath that will add vintage style to the yard.

    Recycled Glassware Bird Bath fromFlea Market Gardening

  • 03 of 10

    Teapot Birdbath

    10 Easy DIY Bird Bath Projects (5)

    Add storybook whimsy to the garden and invite birds to a tea party with this teapot bird bath stack. Mismatched cups, saucers, and teapots can blend together with a coat of paint, creating a memorable and fun design that is a great companion to a teapot birdhouse. Use your own miscellaneous crockery or visit thrift stores or yard sales for a wide variety of choices to turn into a DIY birdbath.

    Teapot Bird Bath Garden Art from Morena’s Corner

  • 04 of 10

    One-of-a-Kind Birdbath

    10 Easy DIY Bird Bath Projects (6)

    This stacked birdbath allows you to express your creativity with different colors and by filling the stacked vases with a variety of items. Try pebbles, marbles, colored gravel, seashells, colored sand, yarn scraps, tumbled rocks, or any other fun fillers for unique colors and textures. The wood slice separators give the project consistency as well as good stability.

    Homemade Bird Bath from DecoArt

    Continue to 5 of 10 below

  • Stacked Stone Birdbath

    10 Easy DIY Bird Bath Projects (7)

    The rustic look of this simple stone stack will add structure and an easy water feature in more natural gardens. Galvanized trash can lids are perfect for bird bath basins, and if the lids are a bit bumped and dented, so much the better for a weathered look. Stones added inside the basin give birds more perching space and keep the lids sturdily in place.

    Stacked Stone Bird Bath from Our Fairfield Home & Garden

  • 06 of 10

    Glass Lid Hanging Birdbath

    10 Easy DIY Bird Bath Projects (8)

    Hanging birdbaths are a great choice for hanging below balconies, from awnings, or from large tree branches, and this easy glass lid bath is a simple but perfect project to attract birds with water. The chain adds durability and stability to hang the bath, but the lid can easily be removed to wash (even in the dishwasher) when it is time to clean the birdbath.

    Thrifted Glass Lid Hanging Bird Bath from Sadie Seasongoods

  • 07 of 10

    Cute Serving Dish Birdbath

    10 Easy DIY Bird Bath Projects (9)

    Dollar stores and thrift stores have a wide variety of colorful serving bowls and platters that can make stunning birdbaths. This project adds even more custom flair with a carved table leg (recycled, of course) as the pedestal, complete with a stable platform to be sure the birdbath can support all its feathered visitors without tilting or tipping.

    Cute Serving Bowl Bird Bath from HomeJelly

  • 08 of 10

    Repurposed Lamp Birdbath

    10 Easy DIY Bird Bath Projects (10)

    Turning an old lamp into a DIY birdbath is one bright idea, and you don’t need an electrician’s license to do it. What you do need is an old, ornate lamp you’d find at a thrift store, resale shop, or yard sale, and your favorite paint color to give it some pop. Add a crystal basin or other bowl for the water, and your birds will love the opportunity for an elegant bath.

    DIY Lamp Into Orange Bird Bath from Thrifty Rebel Vintage

    Continue to 9 of 10 below

  • 09 of 10

    Tomato Cage Birdbath

    10 Easy DIY Bird Bath Projects (11)

    Add a birdbath to your vegetable garden or anywhere you want birds to make a splash with a simple tomato cage birdbath. The sturdy wire of the cage provides an easy pedestal for the clay saucer basin. The cage could be trimmed to any height, or you can make multiple baths at different heights to add even more water and character to the garden.

    DIY Tomato Cage Bird Bath from My Life Abundant

  • 10 of 10

    Jeweled Concrete Bird Bath

    10 Easy DIY Bird Bath Projects (12)

    Perhaps you already have a heavy concrete birdbath that is showing its age with chips, nicks, or cracks. Give it new glamour with a simple coat of concrete and glittery jewels, with a smaller colorful basin in the middle for a fun focal point. You can even leave the smaller basin loose in the bath so it can be removed for easy cleaning whenever needed.

    DIY Bird Bath Restoration from Following the Master Gardener

10 Easy DIY Bird Bath Projects (2024)

FAQs

How to make a bird bath with a tomato cage? ›

Insert the tomato cage in the garden and just lay the old garbage bin lid/flower pot drip tray/ serving tray on top. Place rocks or pebbles in the bath to make it extra sturdy and provide additional perches for the birds. Fill with water.

What can you make out of a bird bath? ›

Of course, old birdbaths make perfect garden planters, and are great for plants that do not need a lot of depth such as bulbs. These Paperwhites make the perfect companion for this upcycled birdbath planter! Mini-gardens and fairy gardens are great ideas for upcycled birdbaths.

What makes a good birdbath? ›

So look for a birdbath that's shallow, with a gentle slope so birds can wade into the water. Looks aside, you can even make your own birdbath using a trashcan lid, saucer-type snow sled, shallow pan, or old frying pan.

How do you make a healthy bird bath? ›

Follow these tips for good birdbath maintenance:
  1. To keep your birdbath fresh, just rinse and scrub it with nine parts water, one part vinegar. ...
  2. Refill the water every other day to keep it from bugging up.
  3. Remember to keep your birdbath close to, but not directly under, woody brush and feeders.
Sep 20, 2016

How do you make a love bird bath? ›

Most lovebirds love a bath either in a flat earthenware dish or by spraying them with a light mist of lukewarm water. If you use a bathing dish, you will see the birds perch on the edge and dip their heads and upper bodies in the water and beating their wings. They prefer this kind of bath to getting into the water.

How do you make a bird bath out of pots? ›

To assemble the basin, stack your terra-cotta pieces: First, position the planter pot upside down; stack the bowl planter on top; lastly, stack the saucer inside the bowl to create a raised level section for the birds to bathe in.

Can I use anything as a bird bath? ›

Anything that can hold water can be a bird bath with still water.

What do you put in the bottom of a bird bath? ›

If you happen to have a deeper bird bath, you can make it more appealing by adding in a few rocks in the middle or along the edges. This will give birds a place to land so they can splash and preen themselves in the water.

What can I put in my bird bath to attract birds? ›

A: To attract birds to your bird bath, ensure it has clean, fresh water. You can add a dripper or bubbler to create movement, which is particularly appealing to birds. Stones or pebbles can provide secure footing, and placing the bath near bird feeders can also help attract them.

How to DIY bird bath? ›

Step-By-Step Instructions:
  1. Cut the rods to the needed length, depending on how deep you need to sink them in the ground for stability. ...
  2. Paint the rods. ...
  3. Choose the location of your birdbath. ...
  4. Place the basin on top of the rods.
Mar 21, 2024

How do you make a bird bath with a tomato cage? ›

Place the tomato cage in your garden and place the old terracotta saucer at the top and pour some water. Now there you have it, an easy, clean and refillable bird bath.

What can I line a bird bath with? ›

Keeping water ice free

A light ball, placed in the water, will be moved by even a gentle breeze and will keep just a small amount of water ice free. To make it easier to remove ice from a bird bath, line the bath with a polythene sheet that you can lift out. Alternatively, use hot water to melt the ice.

Do it yourself DIY cement bird bath? ›

(5) Concrete DIY Bird Bath
  1. Step 1: Create a bird bath bowl mold. ...
  2. Step 2: Create a base. ...
  3. Step 3: Add hardware cloth. ...
  4. Step 4: Pour concrete for the birdbath bowls and stand. ...
  5. Step 5: Sand and seal the concrete. ...
  6. Step 6: Connect the two pieces. ...
  7. Step 7: Style, and enjoy!

How to make a birdbath out of flower pots? ›

To assemble the basin, stack your terra-cotta pieces: First, position the planter pot upside down; stack the bowl planter on top; lastly, stack the saucer inside the bowl to create a raised level section for the birds to bathe in.

What brings birds to a bird bath? ›

The single best thing you can do to attract birds with your current bath is to keep the water fresh. Include refreshing the water in your bird bath to your regular yard routine or watering routine. It's such a simple thing, but it will truly make your space a lot more appealing to birds.

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Clemencia Bogisich Ret

Last Updated:

Views: 6605

Rating: 5 / 5 (80 voted)

Reviews: 95% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Clemencia Bogisich Ret

Birthday: 2001-07-17

Address: Suite 794 53887 Geri Spring, West Cristentown, KY 54855

Phone: +5934435460663

Job: Central Hospitality Director

Hobby: Yoga, Electronics, Rafting, Lockpicking, Inline skating, Puzzles, scrapbook

Introduction: My name is Clemencia Bogisich Ret, I am a super, outstanding, graceful, friendly, vast, comfortable, agreeable person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.