You can put a 2-way connector on the water tap so you will still have a place to hook up your hose. Be sure to get one with shut offs to each part of the Y.
What type of fountain do you have in mind, a bird sized or people/garden sized one? Most garden fountains are too deep for birds. The water in a bird bath should be no more than a few inches deep.
Birds are often attracted to gently rippling water which can be accomplished using a dripper. You can easily make your own using drip irrigation materials available at most big box DIY stores. That's pretty much all that's in those bird bath dripper kits.
Good luck and let us know what you decide to do!

Here is a link that might be useful: 2-way connector

I use a solar fountain. I own misters and drippers as well, but the solar is the one that stays. For a dripper, you either have to have a hose running across your yard to the bath and rig something to hold the hose, or get tubing and bury it, and if your bath is on a pedestal, hide the tubing. I did have the 2 way connector/buried tube system at my previous house but never set it up at my newer home. I even had an irrigation timer on the dang thing so it went off daily, but I use an in-ground bath and it re-filled the evaporated water.

nmgirl is correct on the bath depth to have a solar fountain. This was something I miscalculated when I ordered one. The pump must always be fully submerged and that s about 4". I bought it for the in ground bath, which is just a 6x4 textured pond liner with flat rocks on the edges (which I HIGHLY recommend if anyone is interested - biggest bird draw in my yard easily), but its only 2" deep. I had to dig a "deep" spot under it to suit the pump. In a regular bird bath you'd need a deep bath with rocks to make it shallow enough for the birds, making it harder to clean.

Also, the pumps have these absolutely useless tiny suction cups on the bottom to hold it down. I had to rig rocks over it to keep it from floating. It took some messing with to get right but once in place, it goes off daily on it's own, just add sunlight. I do have to clean out the filter or it runs funky but I clean the bath anyway, so no big deal. I like it, birds like it, and the little fountain is actually pretty funny. I call it my landscape water feature.

With owning all of the products I have, the solar fountain is the one I went to the trouble of setting up right away. Soon as last frost passes, I'll set it right back up.

Thanks, I think I will check out a DIY store before spend 60 bucks on a dripper. It will be for a small birdbath not a little pool. Does your solar fountain work when it isnt sunny? I live in Syracuse and we are sun "challenged" except for june/jul/aug.

I had orioles all last year and am excited about their return.

Thanks!

mbeds, the fountain does NOT work unless it had direct sun. If a cloud passes over, the fountain height goes down or stops - they don't store energy at all.

Check here: bird bath misters drippers - you don't have to pay $60 for a dripper. They have different companies listed. A mister does a good job of creating ripples on the water surface, too, costs less, and you can turn the hose on, then right off again since the water pressure and water in the hose keeps a mister or dripper going for a good while.

There are always wigglers too but you'd have to turn it on and off every day. I can't manage that!

they also have solar fountains here solar bird bath water fountains and I am seriously considering a two tier bath. The pump is built in so may be easier. BUT if you have no sun, don't get one of these! It would be a waste of money. I live in GA where it never rains in the summer. Ever. For years even.

I am jealous of your orioles!!!!!!!! They only pass through here and could care less about stopping at feeders. I've never seen one here. Take photos please!

I have many concrete cast leaves, some from elephant ears that I use for ground feeding or shallow bathing. This year, I'm getting a large plastic container, poking a hole in it, wrapping in some sort of natural material(may glue bamboo on it) and suspending it somehow-probably from a tree limb.

May dig out a shallow area, reinforce with wire, pour a concrete pool and use large hosta leaves to stamp an impression. Solar is great, but I'm afraid of wasting my money since I've had such terrible luck with solar lighting that just do not last.

This is simple, cheap, durable, doesn't need the sun or an electrical outlet.

Linda

mulchmamma - do you have photos of your cast leaves? I saw some of those and was instantly in taken by them, they are so stunning. I have a huge elephant ear I was considering trying to make some out of but am not convinced I can do it as pretty. Love the concrete pool idea a lot. If you do this, photos as you go along are a must so we can all copy you!

I have had the solar fountain pump in use three years with zero issues, and love it enough to get a second one. I get species to the bath with the fountain that don't eat at feeders.

Solar lights have been a bust with me and I wouldn't buy more - those I tossed the first year, but I have heard they have improved. Lights store energy, which I guess makes it different.

Linda, I cant post pics, not sure how...but I leave out orange slices, grape jelly and oriole sugar water. They were around all summer. I wish I could post pics but you can't do it in a follow up message apparently. As they move North, the food has to be there to meet them or they wont stick around. At least that's what the expert from Wild Birds Unlimited told me and it worked last year. They get to Syracuse at the end of April to early May. They are beautiful.

Been a long time since I posted pics to a website-I have to figure it out all over again. Hubby is a snap at all of the computer stuff but I won't ask him (don't want him to know how duh I am).

Have cast HUGE birdbaths (gave one to my niece for a wedding present). When I lifted one-out went the back. Love working with concrete but it does a number on the back.

A shallow concrete pool could easily be stamped for leaf impressions, tiled or lined with stone (or a combination). Really, it is a whole lot easier (but labor intensive) than you think. For more info, try the Hypertufa forum.

Linda