Reviews

K&H Thermo-Birdbath

K&H Thermo Bird Bath

Quick Summary

91% Overall

The K&H Thermo-Birdbath will look good in your garden and provide liquid water to birds and other wildlife all winter long. The separate (included) de-icer has a 65-inch cord and is thermostatically controlled.

90%
effective
90%
durability
90%
value
95%
cord length

We Liked

  • No assembly needed 
  • Easy to clean
  • Somewhat natural appearance
  • Removable heater

We Didn't Like

  • Durability of plastic basin unknown
  • 2-year limited warranty

Conclusion:

If you’re looking for an easy-care ground level bird bath you can use all year long, the K&H Thermo-Birdbath would be a good choice. Its rock-like appearance blends into any landscape, and the longer cord makes it easy to find a convenient power supply.

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K&H Thermo-Birdbath review

K&H Thermo-Birdbath with birds

Looking for a heated bird bath you can place on the ground? The K&H Thermo-Birdbath will look good in your garden and provide liquid water to birds and other wildlife all winter long.

The plastic basin is shaped and colored like stone to blend right in with any landscape and will look good whether you place it on gravel, a lawn or in a garden bed.

The K&H Thermo-Birdbath de-icer is thermostatically controlled so it only turns on when needed, and the 65-inch cord gives you lots of options for connecting to a power supply. When the weather warms up, just remove the heater and leave the plastic basin out for your birds to enjoy.

(Note: The heater is also sold separately as a bucket heater – our durability rating is based on reviews for the heater. )

Your liquid water will attract dozens of bird in winter. You can keep them coming in summer by adding a small granite water bubbler like this one to attract them with the sounds of moving water.

One great feature of the K&H Thermo-Birdbath is the de-icer’s long 65-inch cord. This is a rarity among heated bird baths and de-icers and makes it much more convenient than most to connect to a power supply.

If the location where you want this bird bath means you need an (outdoor) extension cord, there is enough cord on the de-icer that there’s no danger of the heater’s weight dragging the electrical connection into the water.

 The de-icer uses only 80 watts of electricity, and only when needed as it’s controlled by an automatic thermostat.

Yet the heater safely maintains at least some open water down to -20°F (-29°C.)

The K&H Thermo-Birdbath has a good-sized basin (17” X 23”) but only holds a gallon (4L) or so of water.

That means you'll need to keep an eye on it to make sure it doesn't dry out and damage the heater.

At 4 pounds (1.8 kg) the heater will stay put in the basin, but you might have to put a rock or other weight on it until the cord relaxes enough to drape over the basin.

Who is this product for?

The K&H Thermo-Birdbath is a perfect choice when you want to provide water not just for birds but also squirrels and perhaps feral cats. If you have a good spot for it near an outdoor GFCI outlet,  you won’t need the extension cord and safety seal that most of these products require.

What's included with the K&H Thermo-Birdbath?

The K&H Thermo-Birdbath is a two-piece product: the de-icer/heater and the plastic resin bird bath basin. The heater fits into a flat area inside the basin and can be lifted out when not needed. Although it comes in two parts, there’s no assembly required.

Overview of features

The K&H Thermo-Birdbath mimics a natural puddle shape. It’s 17 inches long, 23.5 inches wide and stands about 4 inches tall. It can be used with or without the heater, in all seasons.

The basin is made of gray plastic resin and has a flat bottom underneath.  Inside, a non-slip finish means birds can get a good footing for drinking and bathing. This bird bath holds about a gallon (4L) of water.

The K&H Thermo-Birdbath’s total weight is 4.8 lb (2.2 kg) of which 4 lb (1.8 kg) is the heater, so it’s quite light and easy to handle.

With a 65” (5.5 foot) cord, it won’t be hard to find a convenient power supply and you may not even need an outdoor extension cord.

The heater is controlled by an internal thermostat and operates only when needed, so you won’t need to add a timer.  

The K&H Thermo-Birdbath is made in China

How to use the K&H Thermo-Birdbath

The K&H Thermo-Birdbath is exceptionally easy to use.

Place the basin on the ground.

Place the round heater unit in the flat area of the basin. You’ll see a few ‘bumps’ surrounding the spot where the de-icer goes, which keep it from sliding around.

Add a gallon or so of water to the basin.

Plug the heater’s cord into an outdoor GFCI outlet, or into an outdoor extension cord.

If using an extension cord, add a safety seal, gasket or other protection to shield the connection from rain and snow.

Plug the cord into an outdoor GFCI outlet.

NOTE: As with all bird bath de-icers, it’s important to keep the heater submerged in water. If the bird bath goes dry, cold air temperature it will continuously trigger the thermostat. Over time the thermostat will wear out and cause the heater to malfunction.

What people who own the PRODUCT NAME say


Positives

  • "Even in a strong wind at 20F it kept the center liquid."  
  • "Lightweight and easy to clean."
  • "Naturalistic, not too deep for small birds, easy to clean, warmer is effective."

Negatives

  • "The the cord was quite stiff at first and I needed a small stone to hold the heater down."  
  • "I had to drill a couple holes and add some ground spikes to hold it down in the wind."

Alternative to this product

If ideal spot has an uneven surface, you might try the BILLROAD heated bird bath, which has 6 adjustable legs to help you level it.

Conclusion

If you’re looking for an easy-care ground level bird bath you can use all year long, the K&H Thermo-Birdbath would be a good choice. Its rock-like appearance blends into any landscape, and the long cord makes it easy to find a convenient power supply.

About the author

Joy Thurlow

Hi, I'm Joy Thurlow. Watching birds in the back yard is a favorite hobby of mine. My mission with Joy of Birdwatching is to share (accurate) information about birds, birding and useful products to help everyone connect with nature and enjoy the birds while we still have them. Thanks for reading!

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About the Author

Joy Thurlow

Hi, I'm Joy Thurlow. Watching birds in the back yard is a favorite hobby of mine. My mission with Joy of Birdwatching is to share (accurate) information about birds, birding and useful products to help everyone connect with nature and enjoy the birds while we still have them. Thanks for reading!

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