We are now in the middle of the winter season, and there is no doubt that the days are getting colder and colder by the minute. That means that you are looking for the best ways to keep yourself warm in the middle of a, particularly cold night. You might be wearing two extra layers of clothing to insulate yourself. The heater might be working extra hard to provide you with that warmth you need to get through the cold nights. Of course, who could ever dismiss that cup of warm cocoa early in the morning and late in the evening?
Well, if you are feeling cold during the winter seasons, it only follows that your exotic birds are feeling just as cold as well. The sad part, however, is that they only have their feathers to keep their bodies warm as they can neither wear extra layers of clothing or turn the heater up on their own. That is why you should be there to help keep them warm by following the proven and effective ways on how to keep birds warm during winter seasons.
Keep the bird’s cage away from doors, window, and any other opening
The first thing you should have on your mind when it comes to keeping your bird warm during the winter season is to make sure that its cage is far from doors, windows, and other types of openings because that is where the cold air usually comes through before it disperses inside the house or the room. This will at least keep the bird away from the sudden burst of cold air coming from the outdoors.
In such a case, try to place the bird’s cage somewhere that won’t get a lot of airflows but is still open enough for the bird to get sufficient air. The far corner of an isolated room might be a good place to keep it because that part of the house won’t be as cold as the opening of a door or a space close to the windows. Keep in mind that something as simple as this will be enough to help your pet bird stay warm in the middle of a cold winter season.
Try covering the bird’s cage at night when it is coldest
It is usually during the middle of the night when winter is at its coldest. You are most likely covered in sheets while wearing several layers of thick clothing to try to keep yourself warm. In such a case, try considering doing the same for your birds as well by adding a layer of thick cloth over the cage at night while it is sleeping.
Since the winter nights are too dark for your pet bird to see anything, covering its cage with a thick blanket will be something, it would not mind a lot even if it means not being able to see what is happening outside of its cage. Once the bird feels the warmth inside of its cage, it will be more than thankful that you decided to cover its cage with a blanket at night so that it, too will be able to sleep well.
Insulate the room
When the day or the night gets too cold even when you already placed the bird’s cage in the warmest part of the room, and even if you have already placed a thick blanket over the cage, you may still need to do something extra to try to make things warmer for your exotic pet. One way of doing so is to insulate the room temporarily so that it stays warm.
One way of insulating a room is to try to seal off any sort of opening that can allow air to pass through. This means that you should try to use a shrink-wrap insulation kit to seal off windows and even doorways that can easily allow the cold air to pass through to make the room colder. Once you have sealed off the windows and the unused doorways, the cold air is kept out, and only the warm air is sealed within the room to help make things warmer for you and your pet bird.
Use heaters that are safe for your bird
The best and most proven way of keeping your bird warm during the winter season is to use heaters. However, keep in mind that you should not use any ordinary heater when trying to provide your bird with the warmth it needs to survive through the winter. Instead, go for those that are proven to be safe to be used around birds so that you won’t end up using heaters that can pose a threat to your bird’s health or even its life.
· Central heating systems
Most homes today are now built with central heating systems that will allow the entire home to stay warm in the middle of a cold winter. Central heating systems are generally safe for your birds because the source of the heat is far from your bird, and it is not emitting or burning off any harmful substances that can pose a threat to your bird’s health and sensitive respiratory system. In that case, turn the heat on and enjoy the warmth together with your pet bird.
· Oil-filled radiators
If your home is not using a centralized heating system or if it is not enough to provide the warmth that your bird needs during the winter, try using oil-filled radiators. These heaters are considered safe for your birds because they do not emit or burn off gases that can be harmful to a bird’s respiratory system. You also do not have to worry about them suddenly hurting your bird because these heaters are actually cool to the touch.
Heating pads that can be placed at the bottom of your bird’s cage can also be a good type of heater for your bird. However, keep in mind that you should keep the heating pad in a place where it avoids any direct contact with your pet bird to prevent it from hurting or burning the bird. Other types of heaters, such as wood stoves, gas heaters, and fireplace, should be avoided because they emit harmful gases and produce carbon monoxide that will be harmful to your bird’s health.
Also, when you are using a stand-alone heater, always make sure to keep it away from your bird’s cage so that the bird won’t be in direct contact with the heat that the heater is emitting since that will pose a threat to your bird’s health. Keep the bird’s cage a safe distance away from the heater so that it will only feel the heat once it has dispersed into the surrounding air.
· Dietary considerations
Birds have natural insulators, such as their feathers. However, another natural insulator they can use is fat. Some birds tend to be quite plump and are more capable of withstanding cold weather. In such a case, if your bird tends to be on the skinny or leaner side, you might want to consider changing its diet a bit by adding more fatty foods that are still healthy for it to eat. Gaining a bit of fat in winter is normal for most bird species. As such, it won’t hurt if your bird puts in an extra layer of fat that can act as a natural insulator.
