Keeping your bird warm

The Crystal Parrot - After the storm at the end of October, we got many calls and questions about keeping birds warm.  Many questions centered on what temperature our homes should be.  If you have canaries and/or finches, they should not be housed under 65 degrees for any length of time.  These smaller birds cannot tolerate large fluctuations, so it’s important to try to maintain a constant temperature for them.  Do not put them where they will be in a draft, such as a window that is not sealed tight.  Cover them at night to help maintain a warm sleeping environment.

If you have larger birds, they can deal with the air going as low as 58 degrees and are not as sensitive to temperature fluctuations.  It’s still important to try to maintain a constant temperature and to cover them at night.  If you are trying to save on your power bill, you may want to try to add a little extra heat by using the oil filled radiator heaters.  These are safe to use around the birds because they do not have a Teflon coating or emit harmful fumes.  They are self contained so never need to be re-filled.  Do be careful as they can become quite warm to the touch, but this not an issue if using at night when birds are in their cages.

Remember that some types of heat are harmful and include kerosene and propane fueled type heaters.  These both give off toxic fumes that are fatal to birds.  If using any type of electric heater, read the box to ensure that there are no Teflon components.  Also make sure to keep your bird away from it if it’s the type that becomes hot to the touch and ALWAYS remember that any electrical cord, a curious beak, and an inattentive human is a great recipe for an injured or dead bird.

Please visit us at our new location at 220 College Highway (formerly Sage Brooks) in Southampton.  If you have any immediate questions concerning safe ways to keep your bird warm, please do not hesitate to call.  We wish all of our customers and friends Happy and safe Holidays!