Our garden birds - Harsh winter weather can spell doom

[Andrew49]

There is a small pump in the pond but apparently this would actually result in the dispersal of the surface cold water down to the warmer water at the bottom where hopefully the fish might be surviving dormant. The pond is 3 x 3m by 1 I/2 m deep. I'm not sure if the oxygen content of the water under the ice will sustain them.

A pond heater! But where would one be got?

If the pond becomes completely covered with a layer of ice for any amount of time this can have serious consequences for the fish it contains. Gases are trapped in the water by the ice layer and oxygen is depleted and this drives the fish towards the surface as they attempt breathe. They can then become trapped in the thickening ice layer with fatal results. Fitting of a pond heater which can be considered a temporary installation for when the weather is particularly severe will keep a small area free of ice and allow the essential gaseous exchange. Pond heaters use only about as much power as a house light bulb and are fairly inexpensive. Link

[beanie]

A pond heater! But where would one be got?

Link

They'd probably be available in garden supply shops or the chain diy stores, at least they should be.

[imokyrok]

A pond heater! But where would one be got?

If the pond becomes completely covered with a layer of ice for any amount of time this can have serious consequences for the fish it contains. Gases are trapped in the water by the ice layer and oxygen is depleted and this drives the fish towards the surface as they attempt breathe. They can then become trapped in the thickening ice layer with fatal results. Fitting of a pond heater which can be considered a temporary installation for when the weather is particularly severe will keep a small area free of ice and allow the essential gaseous exchange. Pond heaters use only about as much power as a house light bulb and are fairly inexpensive. Link

If keeping a small hole is enough for gas exchange that heater would do the job alright. I'll ring around some garden centres and see if they are available. Otherwise the kettle job a couple of times a day will have to do.

[Andrew49]

If keeping a small hole is enough for gas exchange that heater would do the job alright. I'll ring around some garden centres and see if they are available. Otherwise the kettle job a couple of times a day will have to do.

A friend uses a ..... soldering iron 'sealed' in a tin can and placed in the pond ! He IS ex-Defence Forces if that means anything!

[imokyrok]

A friend uses a ..... soldering iron 'sealed' in a tin can and placed in the pond ! He IS ex-Defence Forces if that means anything!

Yeah well my surname is not McGiver so I'll give that one a miss.

[eskerman]

I try to feed the many wild birds that are always visiting my garden every day, I have 3 feeders and its a joy to seem them munching away at the seeds. Crows and larger birds cant get to the feeders and they get the bread scraps..

Anyone know where I can get wild bird seeds at the right money.?

[beanie]

I try to feed the many wild birds that are always visiting my garden every day, I have 3 feeders and its a joy to seem them munching away at the seeds. Crows and larger birds cant get to the feeders and they get the bread scraps..

Anyone know where I can get wild bird seeds at the right money.?

i've been feeding crows too, so far they have eaten through all oldish boxes of cereal that were in the press, lots of canned goods too (such as accidental buys, eg,peas with herbs) all packets of pasta and spagettii (boiled up first) and about 12 loaves of bread and lard that was bought for them, and most of the unwanted contents of the freezer. Someone suggested buying chicken feed, but I'm having trouble sourcing it (can only buy by the truck load) Going to look for cow food next, the grainy type.

[Marcos the black]

I must say at this time of year, there is nothing more rewarding than seeing birds coming from far afield to feast on nuts.

[imokyrok]

I try to feed the many wild birds that are always visiting my garden every day, I have 3 feeders and its a joy to seem them munching away at the seeds. Crows and larger birds cant get to the feeders and they get the bread scraps..

Anyone know where I can get wild bird seeds at the right money.?

Farmers supply merchants sell large bags at a good price. The type pf places that sell hen feed, wheat, hay bales etc.

[SAT]

There is a small pump in the pond but apparently this would actually result in the dispersal of the surface cold water down to the warmer water at the bottom where hopefully the fish might be surviving dormant. The pond is 3 x 3m by 1 I/2 m deep. I'm not sure if the oxygen content of the water under the ice will sustain them.

I have a pond about the same size. I keep a pump running which raises the water about 2 feet from where it flows back down into the pond. Where the water flows back in is ice free and my fish seem fine. The birds seem to appreciate the free flowing water too.