Never thought of that! in Prevent Algae from Growing in Your Birdbath

By flaflwrgrl
December 10, 2011

To keep algae growth from your bird bath drop some pre-1982 copper pennies in. I have what I would call a normal size bird bath & I use 7 pennies. The reason for the pennies being pre-1982 is that before that year, the pennies contained copper, a natural algicide. You could also use a small length of copper pipe or tubing, or any other copper coin. I have found this to work extremely well with the exception of those times when the temperatures stay above 90 for extended periods. Copper is not safe for fish so this would not be a good thing to use in a fish aquarium or a pond that has fish in it.

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KyWoods

Dec 9, 2011 6:38 PM CST

Thread OP

Name: Renée
Northern KY

I have a feeling that the racoons would steal mine, though.

| @KyWoods | Post #187878 (1)

sheryl

Dec 9, 2011 7:35 PM CST

Name: Sheryl
Hot, hot, hot, Feenix, AZ (Zone 9b)

Wow, never heard of that one, great! Thanks!

In the end, only kindness matters.

Science is not the answer, it is the question.

| @sheryl | Post #187890 (2)

Marilyn

Dec 9, 2011 7:53 PM CST

Name: Marilyn
Kentucky (Zone 6a)
Laughter is the Best Medicine!

I've been doing the pennies thing in our birdbath this year!

Welcome to the Agastache and Salvias Forum!

Hummingbirds are beautiful flying jewels in the garden!

| @Marilyn | Post #187896 (3)

Maridell

Dec 9, 2011 8:57 PM CST

Name: Maridell
Sioux City IA (Zone 4b)
enjoy the moment

"Starring" this one for next year!!! Thanks.

Maridell's Yoga Blog

| @Maridell | Post #187923 (4)

flaflwrgrl

Dec 9, 2011 9:00 PM CST

Name: Ann ~Heat zn 9, Sunset
North Fl. (Zone 8b)

KyWoods said:I have a feeling that the racoons would steal mine, though.

We had coons & the pennies never went missing. There were times though I would watch the Blue Jays pick them up & play with them but they always dropped them back in. You know blue jays --- they can't leave anything alone.

Thanks Sheryl & Maridell! Marilyn, I take it it's working for you huh?

I am a strong believer in the simple fact is that what matters in this life is how we treat others. I think that's what living is all about. Not what I've done in my life but how I've treated others. ~~ Sharon Brown

| @flaflwrgrl | Post #187924 (5)

ge1836

Dec 10, 2011 4:43 AM CST

Name: Jo Ann Gentle
Pittsford NY (Zone 6a)

What a great tip.I'll try it. The red alge gets awful around July. Bath needs a weekly scrubbing.

| @ge1836 | Post #187981 (6)

JuliaNY

Dec 10, 2011 9:49 AM CST

Name: Julia
Shepherdstown WV (Zone 6b)

Great tip. I'll try it this coming season.

Julia
Shepherdstown WV
Zone 6b

| @JuliaNY | Post #188044 (7)

KyWoods

Dec 10, 2011 11:10 AM CST

Thread OP

Name: Renée
Northern KY

I may try it just to watch the blue jays play with them!

| @KyWoods | Post #188067 (8)

SongofJoy

Dec 10, 2011 12:20 PM CST

Name: Carole
Clarksville, TN (Zone 6b)

I do this and find it helpful. I don't have to clean the birdbaths nearly as often.

I garden for the pollinators.

| @SongofJoy | Post #188113 (9)

CarolineScott

Dec 12, 2011 1:50 AM CST

Name: Caroline Scott
Calgary (Zone 4a)

Thanks for the idea.
The pennies deter slugs too.

| @CarolineScott | Post #188802 (10)

flaflwrgrl

Dec 12, 2011 5:26 AM CST

Name: Ann ~Heat zn 9, Sunset
North Fl. (Zone 8b)

Thanks for relating the experience Tee. Caroline, I had not heard that about the slugs; however I never had a slug in my birdbath.

I am a strong believer in the simple fact is that what matters in this life is how we treat others. I think that's what living is all about. Not what I've done in my life but how I've treated others. ~~ Sharon Brown

| @flaflwrgrl | Post #188817 (11)

sheryl

Dec 12, 2011 7:40 AM CST

Name: Sheryl
Hot, hot, hot, Feenix, AZ (Zone 9b)

Of course not, you have pennies in your birdbath!!!!

I just can't stand myself sometimes - yeah, I know, join the club!

In the end, only kindness matters.

Science is not the answer, it is the question.

| @sheryl | Post #188848 (12)

flaflwrgrl

Dec 12, 2011 8:12 AM CST

Name: Ann ~Heat zn 9, Sunset
North Fl. (Zone 8b)

You're too much!

I am a strong believer in the simple fact is that what matters in this life is how we treat others. I think that's what living is all about. Not what I've done in my life but how I've treated others. ~~ Sharon Brown

| @flaflwrgrl | Post #188858 (13)

KyWoods

Dec 12, 2011 9:28 AM CST

Thread OP

Name: Renée
Northern KY

Does it work for cats??

| @KyWoods | Post #188889 (14)

flaflwrgrl

Dec 12, 2011 9:40 AM CST

Name: Ann ~Heat zn 9, Sunset
North Fl. (Zone 8b)

Don't I wish!!!!!!!!

I am a strong believer in the simple fact is that what matters in this life is how we treat others. I think that's what living is all about. Not what I've done in my life but how I've treated others. ~~ Sharon Brown

| @flaflwrgrl | Post #188894 (15)

Marilyn

Dec 14, 2011 12:47 AM CST

Name: Marilyn
Kentucky (Zone 6a)
Laughter is the Best Medicine!

flaflwrgrl said:

We had coons & the pennies never went missing. There were times though I would watch the Blue Jays pick them up & play with them but they always dropped them back in. You know blue jays --- they can't leave anything alone.

Thanks Sheryl & Maridell! Marilyn, I take it it's working for you huh?

I only had 4 pennies in it, no wonder it wasn't really doing much of anything. It's helping a little, but with 4 pennies, it's not enough.

After I read to add 7 copper pennies, I thought (and then forgot) to look for the copper ones to add. Still need to do that.

Welcome to the Agastache and Salvias Forum!

Hummingbirds are beautiful flying jewels in the garden!

| @Marilyn | Post #190009 (16)

flaflwrgrl

Dec 14, 2011 5:54 AM CST

Name: Ann ~Heat zn 9, Sunset
North Fl. (Zone 8b)

I am a strong believer in the simple fact is that what matters in this life is how we treat others. I think that's what living is all about. Not what I've done in my life but how I've treated others. ~~ Sharon Brown

| @flaflwrgrl | Post #190033 (17)