Create An Adorable Water Fountain For Hummingbirds Using A Few Thrifted Gems

Hummingbirds are ethereal creatures and so much fun to watch. You'll need to get them to come to your yard first, and one of the best ways to do that is to provide them with water. Since they prefer moving water, a DIY hummingbird water fountain is perfect and easy to make by using thrift store finds and a small pump. Thrift stores usually have a huge variety of pottery and china to choose from, so get creative. Simple items like shallow serving platters, stacked tea cups, hollow vases, or statues will make gorgeous bases and centers for your fountain. A holiday serving platter that once held a ham can become a basin, and an old vase could be a perfect base. 

As you browse the thrift store, look for a brightly colored platter with a sloping rim shallow enough to hold just 1 to 2 inches of water. And, while you're shopping, look for a few river rocks or medium-sized stones because hummingbirds like to have a perch they can easily grip after bathing. If you want to hide the water pump, choose a small garden pot or garden statue you can put it inside and place in the center of your birdbath. To entice even more hummingbirds to your yard, consider adding a hummingbird feeder near the area you'll be placing your fountain.

If you can't find one at the thrift store, you'll need to buy a pump to keep the water moving. You can use a solar pump, like the Mademax Solar Bird Bath Fountain Pump, if you get plenty of sunlight during the day. If you place your fountain in the shade, try a USB battery-powered one, like the Pulaco USB Mini Submersible Water Pump with Tubing. Note that you'll need to hook a USB pump to a battery pack to give it power. If your pump doesn't come with a hose or tubing, you can easily substitute it with a thick plastic straw. Don't forget to clean all your items thoroughly before using them.

To make the basin for your hummingbird fountain, it could be as simple as placing the fountain pump in the middle of your thrifted platter surrounded by some garden stones. Or, if you want to hide the pump, there are a few more steps. Drill a hole in the bottom of the garden pot you found, flip it upside-down, place the pump in the center of the platter, cover it with the flipped pot, and thread the tubing through the hole in the pot. If you opted for a statue, you'll need to drill holes in the top and bottom of your treasure for the tubing and add a container under it to hide the pump. Set the basin on your thrifted base, and add enough water to cover the pump, but no more than 2 inches. Hummingbirds love a fountain birdbath, so keep the water clean and refill it often to attract regular visitors.