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Worried about keeping you pet aviary birds warm enough during the cold winter nights?

Here in the UK we have recently recorded some of the lowest outside temperatures in decades. This may leave a few outdoor aviary owners rather concerned about the welfare of their birds in these sub-zero conditions. Considering that popular pet aviary birds such as cockatiels, budgies, finches and many other parakeet or parrot species are classed as so called ‘tropical' species, it can be worrying when the temperature in the locality is minus 15 degrees, hardly ‘tropical' temperature then!

Well believe it or not, it's not such a low temperature that causes your birds harm, no, it's actually cold draughts or cold winds.

Thing about this for a moment; even with us humans when it's cold outside if the weather is still it's quite bearable, but if there's a cold wind or draught you feel freezing.

Well it's the same for your birds; if their night shelter is draught free they'll be fine!

I have a outdoor mixed aviary that is home to budgies, cockatiels, zebra finches, Bengalese finches, java sparrows, turquoise parakeets, and silver bills - who all coincidentally live together in reasonably peaceful harmony apart from just the occasional squabble.

I only have a small night shelter when compared to the size of the aviary, which is rather large. My night shelter is made from a standard 6' x 4' garden shed but the door is flush fitting (no draught), I have no form of artificial heating whatsoever (no electric heater etc.), but I have included a few basic simple D.I.Y. alterations to accommodate my birds:

The manufacturers window has been replaced by semi-clear Perspex, cut to size, flush fitting (no draughts), hinged with a simple catch so it can be easily opened and closed as required (during the day time this acts as their access to the large outdoor flight).

The whole of the interior walls and roof of the shed have had carpet underlay fitted to them to act as insulation.

This has then been boarded out with ply wood to tidy it up, stop my birds from chewing the underlay, and act as second defence from the weather (much like plaster board or double glazing with insulation between the two sheets).

Simple, easy precautions that will offer adequate protection for your birds at night.

However you must ensure that your birds have plenty of food and fresh water to see them through the night, especially in winter as they need to eat plenty to build up their fat reserves to help keep them warm; and of course fresh water is absolutely essential (but during freezing temperatures be sure to change the water frequently to prevent it freezing up, especially first thing in the morning and last thing in the evening).

Follow these simple procedures and you should have no temperature related problems with your birds whatsoever.

As I mentioned earlier in this article, in the UK we have recently had some of the lowest temperatures on record but so far I have had no bird casualties at all.

 

About the Author

Pete

 

Pete Etheridge, Nottinghamshire, UK

Breeder and keeper of pet aviary birds for 10 years.

stanton.birdman@gmail.com

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