Replacement Ideas for a Broken Birdbath Top

When the top of a birdbath breaks, it most often happens in the winter. In areas where temperatures dip below freezing, items that hold water quite often end up broken when not overturned or put in storage. Once the water freezes, cracks form. Complete breakage eventually occurs. If the base is still good, look for a replacement instead of throwing it all away.

I lost the top of a terracotta birdbath after forgetting to put it away before winter, but I did not get rid of the base. I saved it because I had a couple of replacement ideas. The top does not have to match the base to look great and provide water for birds. A replacement top can actually look better than the top that ended up broken.

Use a Large Clay Saucer as a Replacement Top

I used a large clay saucer as a replacement top for my broken birdbath. It was less than $5.00, and it was almost as large as the original top. It looked great too. The base was clay colored, and the terracotta saucer was the perfect solution. The new top was also very easy to clean, and the birds loved it. I made sure to put it away in the fall to prevent it from ending up broken too.

A Large Shallow Serving Bowl Makes a Great Replacement

Would you like something more decorative than an ordinary clay saucer? Use a large shallow serving bowl as a replacement for the top of a birdbath. Search for a heavy, inexpensive serving bowl in a color of your choice. It will add vibrancy to the landscape while providing the birds with a place to drink and bathe.

Ways to Use a Broken Birdbath Top

I did not get rid of my broken birdbath. I used it for flowerpot drainage. I covered the two large clay pieces with a rag, and I broke them into much smaller pieces using a hard rubber mallet. Before filling my spring planters with soil, I placed three inches of broken clay pieces in the bottom of each one. I always try to find a use for everything, and the broken clay pieces worked beautifully to keep my container plants well drained and healthy.

Source: Personal Experience