bird bath scum

[porthos]

is there a way to keep the green scum from under the water of my bird baths??

[cwtebay]

Biggest thing is keep them out of sunlight. When you do clean them, make certain that they are completely dry and well exposed to sunlight before refilling.
There are additives that you can purchase, but I haven't had any luck with them.

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[Bmi48219]

We put a half cup of white vinegar in our small fountain, mainly to keep mosquitoes from hatching. Household bleach works to inhibit algae in our a/c condensate drain line. Probably not the best if birds are using the bath. Copper sulfate crystals are used to inhibit mold / algae in ponds.

[BJK]

It doesn't take much bleach to keep the algae at bay. Just apply it every day. Do a 'net search for application rates for bleach and water purification.

[winelover]

We use floating solar pumps to recirculate the water and keep algae production down. Available on Amazon for less than $20

Winelover

[dale2242]

Just clean it periodically.
Scub it well and let it dry.

[gwpercle]

We have two simple bird baths , just a big container + water , no pumps or water falls .
I don't like to put "stuff" in the water ... I just put the hose on jet and blast out anything that forms on the bottom and when hosed clean , re-fill with cool clear water .
Filled often, very little or no surface scum forms ... any green stuff growing on the bottom doesn't seem to bother the birds or the bees (bees come and drink at times) .
I think small bird baths are easier to maintain than big ones ... frequent spray cleaning with the hose and filling with fresh water seems to keep the mosquitoes at bay also .
Gary

[winelover]

Birds are filthy critters. They defecate in the birdbaths. Goes without saying, they get water changes, daily.

Winelover

[bedbugbilly]

We have one on our front patio in AZ - we can see it and watch the birds come in to it as we eat - love watching the quail and roadrunners. We have a stiff brush like you would use to wash tires and wheels. It gets a good scrubbing and rinse every day - takes all of 2 minutes.