Water for wild birds

[Eric The Viking]

Following on from the earlier thread, I was wondering:

I've been putting out a small plastic tray of water (from food packaging), fixed to a slab of floorboard so the ground beneath doesn't freeze it. But that didn't work yesterday afternoon: it froze twice in 90 mins or so, even though I start with warm water.

I can't keep checking it all the time so I wondered if heating some pebbles either in the oven or near the fire might help, or perhaps adding a bit of sugar, to lower the freezing point. I don't know if the latter would even work (I'm assuming sugar has the same effect as salt - obviously can't add that!).

Anybody tried either or has someone got a better idea?

TIA,

E.

PS: I know the arguments about hot water freeing faster - not that hot!

 

[Rorschach]

Sit it on top of a hot water bottle wrapped in a towel, that should keep it warm for a few hours at least.

Use a polystyrene tray to help insulate it?

 

[Eric The Viking]

Thanks. The floorboard is for insulation and doubles as an anchor. I'll keep an eye out for a plolystyrene tray (awkwardlyhad the recycling taken only this morning).

I know making it deeper would help, but that also makes it less safe for the smaller birds and harder to fix down so it can't be tipped over.

 

[nev]

Ping pong balls! if its in a breezy spot. The constant movement of the floating balls should slow the freeze a little.

Or maybe a smaller version of one of these? A float with holes in.