Which To Choose – Plastic Birdbaths vs. Cement Birdbaths

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Plastic Birdbaths vs. Cement Birdbaths

There is a lot of information online comparing cement tanks and plastic tanks. These resources compare their advantages and disadvantages and weigh the pros and cons of each. But you will not find much information online comparing plastic and cement birdbaths. We wanted to write and article to do exactly that in order to help you make a more informed decision when choosing a birdbaths made of either of these two materials. To write this article, we applied some what we learned about cement and plastic tanks to birdbaths. Here is what we learned.

Water In Plastic Birdbaths Holds More Acid

In built-up areas, rain water generally has a high acid content, due to man-made pollution. The acid found in rainwater is acidic due to carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere. Part of this process is normal. Acidic rainwater gets into the soil and dissolves nutrients before it is absorbed into the roots of plants. Water has a natural tendency to be pH neutral.

Cement supports this process by allowing the water to absorb some of the nutrients in the cement to balance the pH. Because the water tanks are underground, there is an added benefit that light will not hit the water. This discourages the growth of microbes and pathogens. In the case of birdbaths, this is obviously not the case. However, a cement birdbath should keep water a few degrees cooler than plastic. This will help discourage algae and pathogen growth. If you keep cement birdbaths in a shaded area, or surround it with plants or flowers, it will also not get as hot as a plastic birdbath would.

Birds Prefer The Texture Of Cement Birdbaths to the Texture of Plastic Birdbaths

Many birdwatchers report that birds prefer simple cement to brightly colored plastic birdbaths. The main reason is the smooth texture of plastic birdbaths make them difficult to hold on to and cause the birds to slip. If the birdbath is also too deep, the birds are at risk of drowning. As this article points out, birdbaths are made to appeal to consumers, and consumers love that plastic birdbaths look shiny and are easy to clean and wipe down, however, some do consumers report excessive algae growth within scratches on the surface of plastic birdbaths. So, they might not be so easy to clean after all. And of course, the other problem is, plastic birdbaths attract fewer birds! If you are looking to attract the greatest number of birds, we would recommend a birdbath made of a more natural material than plastic.

Cement Birdbaths Disadvantages

Of course, there are disadvantages to cement birdbaths, too. As pointed out in this article, cement is heavier than plastic and generally must be cleaned more frequently. Cement is also prone to cracking over time, especially if left outside in the cold weather. It can also cause injuries more easily than plastic should the cement birdbath ever tip over. However, cement is a more natural material than plastic and and birds do seem to favor it due to its texture. Cement also appears to have some health advantages over plastic that should be considered anytime you`re looking at birdbaths for sale.