Do you have any cautions or suggestions about buying a bird bath for a squirrels?

[Rocky1]

I'm looking for suggestions about buying a bird bath for the squirrels to use.

So far, I am thinking that some bird baths might have a loose top that could fall off, so those are not good, others might be too slick, etc.

[Rocky1]

Here are some I am considering:

1. http://www.garden-fountains.com/siena-bird-bath/

2. http://www.hayneedle.com/product/portsmouthsolarbirdbathfountain.cfm

3. http://boston.craigslist.org/sob/grd/5652783898.html (worried about this tipping over)

4. http://www.walmart.com/ip/Ornate-Metal-Bird-Bath/25331355?action=product_interest&action_type=title&item_id=25331355&placement_id=irs-106-m2&strategy=TIC&visitor_id&category=&client_guid=e1130a26-0959-49b9-9161-a250356e90b4&customer_id_enc&config_id=106&parent_item_id=47855024&parent_anchor_item_id=47855024&guid=f3ec47e3-d5a2-45dc-a094-844f58691e41&bucket_id=irsbucketdefault&beacon_version=1.0.1&findingMethod=p13n

5. http://www.walmart.com/ip/Evergreen-Enterprises-EG2GB443-Birdbath-With-Stand-Orange/47855024?wmlspartner=wlpa&selectedSellerId=14&adid=22222222227035008626&wmlspartner=wmtlabs&wl0=&wl1=g&wl2=c&wl3=75433553554&wl4=pla-175393555714&wl5=9001999&wl6=&wl7=&wl8=&wl9=pla&wl10=10606398&wl11=online&wl12=47855024&wl13=&veh=sem

6. http://www.sears.com/sim-supply-inc-sim-supply-inc-wxf03387-birdbath/p-SPM7971993507?hlSellerId=17086&sid=IDx20110310x00001i&kpid=SPM7971993507&kispla=SPM7971993507&gclid=Cj0KEQjwh428BRCnvcyI-5nqjY4BEiQAijebwjz3OiNJ-MmRMvzfpE-XOWroTpslYdp_dcP1XnRdDJMaAlGA8P8HAQ

[CritterMom]

The concrete ones are nice but they are a bit of work to clean - the rough surface holds the algae that forms even in a single day and has to be scrubbed off. If you can find one that has the bowl part that has been glazed and fired, cleaning is a LOT easier. Don't get the ones with the cutesy little wrought iron stands - they tip.

The bottom part of a large plastic pit - the thing they sit in to catch water - works well if looks aren't that important. Turn the pot upside down to make a base and set the drip pan on top and fill with water. I always put a large rock in the middle that breaks the surface of the water - for little critters that might fall in, and especially for birds to use to drink - they feel safer if they are not on the edge of the bowl where something can come up behind them...

[DaSquirrelMom]

https://www.amazon.com/Farm-Innovators-FS-1-Seasons-Birdbath/dp/B000HHSMTW/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1468292321&sr=8-4&keywords=heated+bird+bath

I have two of these and both lasted the through the long winter.

[Rocky1]

This is an attempt to get my neighbors to put water out. Looking for one that looks beautiful in their yard without much maintenance work. Even if squirrels get water elsewhere, it will be less of a shock if they could get water from a neighbor's dish once I move and stop putting water on my balcony. The squirrels drink, I would estimate, over a quart a day from the dish provided by me, even on cooler rainy days. A couple of them grew up on my balcony (born in a nest there). I'm not even sure if they know how to get water elsewhere. I am doing EVERYTHING I can to get them off to a decent start once I leave.

[HRT4SQRLS]

Just a comment on the metal bird baths... they get entirely TOO hot in FL.
The FL sun baking on these makes the water very hot and the rim too hot for anything to stand on. I don't like those at all.

I do tend to buy the concrete ones. I bought a few that have the porous concrete sealed with some type of paint. The type that 'look' like concrete are a resin product. They are very light weight and can tip over if the ground isn't solid.

http://www.lowes.com/pd/22-in-H-1-Tier-Round-Concrete-Birdbath/3029640

http://www.lowes.com/pd/27-in-H-1-Tier-Round-Concrete-Birdbath/3691180

http://www.lowes.com/pd/2-in-H-Round-Concrete-Birdbath/3005222

http://www.lowes.com/pd/24-in-H-1-Tier-Round-Concrete-Birdbath/50328051

The first 3 are ones that I have. The third has a base that is purchased separately. It is extremely heavy and it is harder to clean. The base alone is at least 50 pounds. The 2 inch description is not correct. It is about 6 inches deep. Great for squirrels. Too deep for birds.
Hey, the 4th one has bunnies at the base. :) These are much cheaper than the ones you posted.

[astra]

The most important part is to absolutely know for sure that your neighbors will not start getting annoyed if/when sqs start flocking their backyards. If you have "to get" your neighbors to put bird baths or anything of that sort for sqs - that doesn't bode well.
Anything having to do with feeding or interacting with sqs or any wildlife should come from the person because that means the person wants it.
Those who do not seek interaction like that do not usually care and often the kind that get annoyed when there are too many birds or when sqs start destroying their gardens and whatnot.

Attracting sqs to someone orher's pkace - not yours - is never a good idea.
Unless you know for sure and can guarantee, and it's doubtful you can guarantee that your neighbors won't get annoyed/fed up//etc. , it is best to not attract sqs to their backyards.
Otherwise it will be worse for the sqs.

your other thread has already addressed this whole issue. Sqs don't really need it and if it cannot be done, it's better not to because it may bring more harm than good.
This is an attempt to get my neighbors to put water out. Looking for one that looks beautiful in their yard without much maintenance work. Even if squirrels get water elsewhere, it will be less of a shock if they could get water from a neighbor's dish once I move and stop putting water on my balcony. The squirrels drink, I would estimate, over a quart a day from the dish provided by me, even on cooler rainy days. A couple of them grew up on my balcony (born in a nest there). I'm not even sure if they know how to get water elsewhere. I am doing EVERYTHING I can to get them off to a decent start once I leave.

[island rehabber]

THEY WILL FIND WATER ON THEIR OWN.
They've been doing it for milennia on top of milennia.
Forgive me, but they are not stupid; nor are they domestic animals that have been so inbred, overbred and messed with by humans that they are too dumb to find their own food or water.
You are asking for trouble by trying to enlist your neighbors in this. Nature adapts, because her mantra is "Adapt, or Die".

[Rocky1]

The most important part is to absolutely know for sure that your neighbors will not start getting annoyed if/when sqs start flocking their backyards. If you have "to get" your neighbors to put bird baths or anything of that sort for sqs - that doesn't bode well.
Anything having to do with feeding or interacting with sqs or any wildlife should come from the person because that means the person wants it.
Those who do not seek interaction like that do not usually care and often the kind that get annoyed when there are too many birds or when sqs start destroying their gardens and whatnot.

Attracting sqs to someone orher's pkace - not yours - is never a good idea.
Unless you know for sure and can guarantee, and it's doubtful you can guarantee that your neighbors won't get annoyed/fed up//etc. , it is best to not attract sqs to their backyards.
Otherwise it will be worse for the sqs.

your other thread has already addressed this whole issue. Sqs don't really need it and if it cannot be done, it's better not to because it may bring more harm than good.

Currently, squirrels are annoying 1st floor neighbors, by coming too close to the house. My goal is two-fold. The part I didn't mention on this thread is that by putting bird baths in the BACK OF YARDS, squirrels may be attracted AWAY from the house. I was planning to do this a couple days before helping my 1st floor neighbors by introducing potted mint plants to their back porch. The overall message is designed to say, "go here, not there." I was also going to stop or drastically reduce the water, etc. that I put on my balcony around that time. This way, squirrels get something away from the house, and lose a few things near the house. I deal I was working on with my neighbors was to only have the bird baths out until mid, or early, September - just long enough to cover the hottest months.

For the first time ever, something, perhaps a squirrel, destroyed part of my balcony door last week. I thought this plan would help with that as well. I could start by doing what is in this post, and if need be add additional deterrents near the house (the balcony, porch, etc.), and maybe more incentives to go away from the house (back of the back yard instead - where their trees and dreys primarily are).

Let me know if you still think this is a bad idea.

[Rocky1]

Just a comment on the metal bird baths... they get entirely TOO hot in FL.
The FL sun baking on these makes the water very hot and the rim too hot for anything to stand on. I don't like those at all.

I do tend to buy the concrete ones. I bought a few that have the porous concrete sealed with some type of paint. The type that 'look' like concrete are a resin product. They are very light weight and can tip over if the ground isn't solid.

http://www.lowes.com/pd/22-in-H-1-Tier-Round-Concrete-Birdbath/3029640

http://www.lowes.com/pd/27-in-H-1-Tier-Round-Concrete-Birdbath/3691180

http://www.lowes.com/pd/2-in-H-Round-Concrete-Birdbath/3005222

http://www.lowes.com/pd/24-in-H-1-Tier-Round-Concrete-Birdbath/50328051

The first 3 are ones that I have. The third has a base that is purchased separately. It is extremely heavy and it is harder to clean. The base alone is at least 50 pounds. The 2 inch description is not correct. It is about 6 inches deep. Great for squirrels. Too deep for birds.
Hey, the 4th one has bunnies at the base. :) These are much cheaper than the ones you posted.

This is VERY helpful. Unfortunately, the first 3 are unavailable per the page that loaded, but I will look for something like those. The 4th is brown and I don't think that's the right color for the yard. Concrete (gray) looks better. Taller looks better too, but I worry about it tipping over (and hitting a squirrel). How do these heavy things NOT tip over?

[Rocky1]

Given the short time frame, I would like to continue discussing what kinds of bird baths are best for squirrels.

If we decide that even considering the previous post on this thread by me, that my initial idea was a bad one, I would still have options. For example, I could set them out on the curb with a sign that says, "Free, take this bird bath if you want.", or something like that. That way, only people who want them would take them. If they happened to be on my block to see them, chances are they live nearby anyway.

[Rocky1]

Currently, squirrels are annoying 1st floor neighbors, by coming too close to the house. My goal is two-fold. The part I didn't mention on this thread is that by putting bird baths in the BACK OF YARDS, squirrels may be attracted AWAY from the house. I was planning to do this a couple days before helping my 1st floor neighbors by introducing potted mint plants to their back porch. The overall message is designed to say, "go here, not there." I was also going to stop or drastically reduce the water, etc. that I put on my balcony around that time. This way, squirrels get something away from the house, and lose a few things near the house. I deal I was working on with my neighbors was to only have the bird baths out until mid, or early, September - just long enough to cover the hottest months.

For the first time ever, something, perhaps a squirrel, destroyed part of my balcony door last week. I thought this plan would help with that as well. I could start by doing what is in this post, and if need be add additional deterrents near the house (the balcony, porch, etc.), and maybe more incentives to go away from the house (back of the back yard instead - where their trees and dreys primarily are).

Let me know if you still think this is a bad idea.

The point of the quoted post is to ensure that I've been clear and complete. If multiple administrators understand my full situation and warn me not to proceed, I certainly won't. I want to make sure that I'm not getting advice based on incomplete information*. I think the information in the quote may or may not change things.

*I did NOT provide this information in the original post because it was focused exclusively on picking the right bird bath. And I would still like advice about the kinds of bird baths best suited towards squirrels. That information will be handy whether or not I proceed with any of the plans outlined in this thread.

[Rocky1]

I like this one, but am concerned about it getting too hot. You think the squirrels would actually get burnt on something like this? It doesn't matter how good it looks if it's unsafe.

http://www.hayneedle.com/product/lilyleafbirdbathwithwallmountbracket.cfm

[Rocky1]

https://www.amazon.com/Farm-Innovators-FS-1-Seasons-Birdbath/dp/B000HHSMTW/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1468292321&sr=8-4&keywords=heated+bird+bath

I have two of these and both lasted the through the long winter.

Got one, thanks.

[Rocky1]

Here's one option. See wood-like bird bath under tree. I would just need to put cement or something inside the bowl part since it's currently painted brown and has weird smelly chemicals. If you know of a place online or near Boston where I could get enough, and the right kind of, cement to coat the inside of this bowl or bath area, please let me know.

Looks like the first picture needs to be rotated.

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