Deck Bird Baths - A Look at Deck Mounted Bird Bath Choices

Deck mounted bird baths give the opportunity for homeowners of all types to have a bird bath.  A deck bird bath is usually somewhat smaller than a typical bird bath, and is often designed to mount directly on a railing.  With these small bird baths you can mount a deck bird bath on a second floor bedroom balcony, or use one on the balcony of many apartments.

There are a couple of different models of deck bird baths. One of the smaller terra cotta versions are made by Woodlink. Woodlink is famous for their Green line of bird feeders, typically made of recycled plastics, and make a number of backyard bird accessories.

Several of these will mount directly onto the railing of the deck, but do so with a "twist." They can flip up to one side, so if you mount it properly, the bath simply empties over the side of the railing, making it easy to clean up and change the water periodically, which is the easiest way to keep algae and such from starting in your bath.

Hanging bird baths

Another way to add a bird bath to a balcony or deck is to use a hanging bird bath. While these often come with a stand so they can be put in the yard, the ability to hang them makes them a natural choice for a limited spaced like the deck or patio. These are usually quite ornate, and the ceramic hanging bird baths can come in some vibrant colors.

One thing to be aware of with a hanging bird bath is the additional weight of the water when it's filled. Fill it to the typical water level and asses its weight when you scheme up your mounting hooks.

A slight variant to a heated bath is the solar sipper.  This unit is covered to keep debris out, and will keep the water in a liquid state at cooler temperatures than a typical bird bath, using solar heat and no electricity.  It will mount on a deck rail.

Powered heated bird baths are really popular for deck mounting.  They also mount on the deck rail, but the advantage of doing so is that it is typically near an electric outlet on the house, so the wiring is relatively easy compared to an installation in the yard.