Do you want to attract birds to your yard this year? If so, you are going to need to provide them with a source of fresh water. Based on my experience, one of the best ways to do that is to make and set up a concrete bird bath. Concrete bird baths are not difficult to construct. Here’s how to do it:
Supplies Needed
In order to make a concrete bird bath, you will need a 40 pound bag of Quikrete Concrete Mix, chicken wire (20 inches x 20 inches), a metal garbage can lid (20 inches wide x 3 inches deep), a painter’s drop cloth, and six bricks. You’ll also need two roofing shingles, a roll of masking tape, a bottle of vegetable oil, and a round concrete form (16 inches wide). Of course, you’ll also want to have basic masonry tools, a wheel barrel, wire snips, and a garden hose on hand.
Prepare the Materials
Start the process by setting the metal garbage can lid, indentation side up, onto the ground. Then prop up the lid’s sides with the bricks so the lid won’t move. After all, it is important that the lid stays in one place during the concrete pouring stage. Next, measure and cut enough roofing shingles to fill in the garbage can lid’s modest indentation. The indentation has to be filled in slightly. Otherwise, the finished bird bath won’t have a flat bottom. Once that’s done, tape the shingles into place with masking tape.
Keep going by cutting a piece of painter’s drop cloth big enough to cover the inside of the garbage can lid and extend slightly beyond it. Afterward, coat it liberally with vegetable oil. The vegetable oil will help to keep the concrete from sticking to the plastic. The plastic is designed to help keep the concrete from sticking to the garbage can lid. It will also temporarily serve as a handle when it comes time to remove the concrete from the form. The sides of the concrete form should also be coated with vegetable oil at this time. However, the concrete form won’t be needed until later on in the pouring process.
Next, you’ll need to measure and cut a piece of chicken wire that is big enough to fit inside the garbage can lid. The chicken wire is designed to strengthen the bottom of the bird bath and keep it from cracking. Once you are done making the chicken wire form, temporarily set it aside and proceed by mixing half of the concrete.
Pour the Concrete
Continue by carefully pouring 1 inch of concrete into the garbage can lid. Then lay the chicken wire down inside the lid and cover it with ½ inch of concrete. Next, use your masonry tools to smooth the rough edges. When you are finished with that task, place the concrete form into the center of garbage can lid. Afterward, make more concrete then fill the recessed area between the concrete form and the rim of the garbage can lid with it. Once the concrete dries, it will serve as the bird bath’s lip.
Finishing Touches
Proceed by smoothing out any remaining rough edges. Once you are happy with the way the concrete looks, you’ll need to let it set. Just don’t forget to keep the concrete wet until it does so. Depending on where you live and the time of year, this could take several days. Once the concrete has set, remove the concrete form. Then, using the edges of the painter’s drop cloth, lift the concrete bird bath from the garbage can lid. Afterward, peel away the painter’s cloth and set your bird bath where desired.
