Many households have a product that contains hydrogen peroxide or have pure hydrogen peroxide. This chemical is easy to access, you can find it at many supermarkets, at the pharmacy or even at some department stores. It’s great for cleaning surfaces in the home but how about cleaning surfaces outside the home, like your birdbath? If you’re wondering whether you can clean your birdbaths with hydrogen peroxide then this article is for you

You can definitely clean your birdbath with hydrogen peroxide. When using this chemical in your birdbath make sure you use it sparingly to prevent the bird’s skin from getting irritated. When using it to clean a birdbath only use a few drops in the water when you change it

Hydrogen peroxide in a birdbath, helpful or harmful?

It is generally safe to clean a bird with hydrogen peroxide. Hydrogen peroxide not only cleans the bird but also kills external parasites that may be on the bird.  However, use it with caution to avoid discomfort to the bird.

Think of it this way, while it is safe to use soap for bathing, you would not allow soap in your eyes, nose, and mouth. It is painfully uncomfortable. Use hydrogen peroxide with similar caution. 

How do you clean a birdbath with hydrogen peroxide?

Use hydrogen peroxide to keep a birdbath clean by dipping a few drops in it every week when changing the water. That keeps harmful microorganisms and pests away.

Measure out ten parts water to one part hydrogen peroxide for a birdbath. The hydrogen peroxide will keep unwanted microorganisms from multiplying. Clean the bath out each week to get rid of solid waste that the birds may have introduced to the water. 

What alternatives can you use?

Since birds clean themselves in the wild, some pet owners provide plain water for the bird to take a bath in. You can also use one part vinegar to ten parts water in the birdbath. 

A regular soap and water bath is also as effective for the bird. When doing this use a small amount of soap so that it is not retained in the bird’s feathers and also does not interfere with the bird’s feather oil composition. 

Very diluted lemon water can also be used to clean the bird. It is best to use warm water. Lemon water will also keep away most parasites and leave the bird with a good smell. After cleaning, you can leave out some clean lemon water for the bird to drink.

Do pennies keep a birdbath clean?

While copper does keep scum away from a birdbath, it is also toxic to birds in large amounts. This is a “proceed-with-caution” kind of solution to keep the birdbath clean.

You also have to use coins that are not mixed with other corrosive metals to avoid harming the birds. Too many coins and the water will turn into a bird health hazard. 

If you use copper as the material for your birdbath you likely have a well-treated copper that will not affect the bird but will keep undesired microorganisms away. 

What can you put in a birdbath to keep mosquitoes away?

Mosquitoes will not breed in moving water. Hence, keeping the water moving is a sure-fire way to keep mosquitoes away. You can use a fountain to keep the water moving. Below are other ways you can keep mosquitoes away:

• Make the water movable 
• Add hydrogen peroxide to the water. It kills mosquito larvae. 
• Change the water regularly
• Add other animals that prey on mosquitoes

After keeping the birdbath mosquito-free, make sure that the rest of the surrounding area is mosquito-free by trimming bushes and hedges, removing all standing water in containers or on the ground, and growing plants with natural mosquito repellent abilities. 

Conclusion

In conclusion yes you can use hydrogen peroxide in your birdbath to clean it. When using this chemical make sure to only use a couple of drops in the bird’s water after you change it, using too much can cause the bird discomfort and irritation.

Alternatively, you can use lemon, vinegar or regular soap to clean the birdbath. If you want to use coins make sure to use only a few as to much copper can harm birds.

If you enjoyed this article then you may also be interested in other bird related articles. Here are some articles that you may be interested in: What do birds smell like?, Can a bird’s broken leg heal on its own?,  Why do birds poop on black cars?, Do birds get constipated?