Have had one for years. Plus is the birds LOVE having fresh water in winter months. Minus is the electrical cord. Ours is not near an outlet either so we have a weatherproof cord that we use. Looks goofy laying on th ground, but it's worth it for the added enjoyment we get from watching the birds.

Linda

I just got one this year, I have not yet seen any birds in it yet but I will let you know when I do. I bought it during the summer and had it out all summer so it's not that the birds are not used to it yet. I have mine near my deck so I can hide the cord under it and then it is just plugged into the house outlet. I have a couple of feeders near by also.
Atica

Just don't place it near anything metal that the birds might like to land on.

Remember the tongue on the lamppost in the winter syndrome?

It works for birds too.

I picked up a used heated bird bath this summer. Just put it out and can't believe how busy it is already! All types of birds are using it. We have 4 hanging feeders close to it so you need to watch for "incomming" as you walk in the yard. It is the best $5.00 purchase I've made in a long time!

I've had one for several years and the birds use it constantly in the winter. Not just to drink from either. They actually get right in there and splash and bathe. It's not only good for them, it's great entertainment for us. Oh, and the bathing in the winter doesn't hurt them so we're not being entertained at their expense.

I too have a heated bird bath. I bought the heated basin at Fleet Farm and use it with my heavy duty pedestal. The basin has a heated element in it, so no seen heater. The electric cord goes out the bottom of the basin into the pedestal and out the bottom. Where the cord runs to the house we have it under the decorative rock.
The birds are great entertainment to watch from the kitchen table. The fly from feeder to bush, feeder to bird bath, etc..... all day long. Our Robin who stay's all winter is a daily bather.

The only downfall I have with it, is making sure I check it daily to make sure it has water. The colder it gets outside, the quicker the water heats off.

Mine is the same type as Sandy's.... and I forgot to add one thing. It does really well up to about 20 below, then I start to get ice around the edge. It's never frozen solid, but it will get about a 2" ice ring around it when the weather is really really cold. I usually add warm water - a bucket carried from the bathtub and that helps give it a jump start when it's extra cold.

love it. have had one almost forever. we have it right next to the kitchen patio and can see it from our table. I think we are on the third heater, it seems they last at least five years. We use an outdoor extension cord too.
jan

I've had a heated birdbath for years, and can't think of any problems other than making sure it is kept clean (mine is kind of near a birdfeeder (on my backyard deck) and sometimes birdseed gets into it) but that's not really a problem, I just clean it out when I need too. Just a few days ago on one of our 30ish degree days we have been having lately,I was yelling down to my husband all the different birds that were taking turns drinking and bathing in it. I saw Cardinals,goldfinches,black capped chickadees,nutthatches,pine siskens,sparrows, blue jays,house wrens,and many more, all taking turns either drinking or bathing, That was so much fun. one of my cats sits on the windowsill also watching, but the birds have gotten so used to her there they don't bat an eye. As to the electic cord, I do have an outlet on my deck, but still need an extention, but if I was you I would do like some of the previous posts and just run a good outdoor extention to it. The fun you get watching is well worth it. If you build it, they will come you know.

I'd really like one. The problem is the cord would have to run either over the driveway or the sidewalk and I don't like either option. My Labor Pool offered to string it up OVER the driveway, but that sounds less than attractive. So unless I can change my mind about any of those options, I'm stuck! :-)

I would really like one as well, but I know myself too well and the thought of cleaning out a birdbath when it is below freezing out...let's just say, it wouldn't get cleaned. :)