What Is the Best Type of Birdbath?

An antique bird bath is a great gift for any avid gardener or bird watcher - not only do they look lovely, but choosing the right birdbath can attract a wide range of native birds into your garden. But when buying a reclaimed birdbath, there a few factors that should be taken into consideration.

Size

If you opt for a smaller birdbath, this will be easier to clean and if it needs to be moved around the garden as the seasons change, a smaller birdbath will be easier to lift. However, a larger birdbath will be able to accommodate more birds without causing territorial conflicts, but it won’t be as convenient to maintain.

Appearance 

How a bird bath looks and how well it fits in with the style of the rest of the garden should also be taken into consideration. If you have a very modern, low-maintenance garden, then the birdbath you choose should also fit this theme, while a characterful reconstituted stone birdbath would look right at home in a more traditional, rustic or romantic style garden.

Choosing a birdbath that you like and that fits in well with its surroundings will also make you feel more motivated to regularly clean and maintain it. And keep in mind that the simpler the design, the easier it will be to clean and look after.

Bird Comfort

The best type of birdbath is one that is the most comfortable for birds to use. A smooth surface would be too difficult for birds to get in and out of, so there should be some texture for the birds to grip onto, making antique stone an ideal option.

Ideally, a birdbath will also be around 1 - 2 inches deep to accommodate birds of all sizes. If it’s any deeper than this, it could be dangerous for smaller birds, so be sure to add stones or gravel to the bottom of the bath to make it shallower.

West Yorkshire Architectural Antiques are a specialist retailer of genuine, reclaimed garden antiques. You can see the antique birdbaths we currently have in stock here, or take a look at our other garden antiques here.