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Winter Care of Your Pet Birds
Reasonably enough, pet bird owners want to know about any special concerns regarding winter care for their birds. The short answer is that there is little if anything to do differently during the winter, but here are some specific issues.
Household Temperature: Pet birds will thrive with the thermostat set anywhere in the 60's or 70's Fahrenheit. Lowering the thermostat at night presents no problem as the ambient temperature changes slowly. If you lose power, and the household temperature falls much below 55 degrees, you should move your pet to warmer quarters. Keep in mind that Wingsong has back-up generators so, if need be, you can always board your bird here in our "Birdie Bed & Breakfast"" where it is warm.
Wood stoves, pellet stoves, and fireplaces: To the best of our knowledge, none of these has proven hazardous to birds if functioning properly, except, of course, for the high temperatures of the units themselves from which your bird must be protected.
Humidity: The humidity level in the home during the cold months is a greater concern than temperature. Because your bird's respiratory system is far more sensitive than your own and naturally accustomed to higher humidity, you should run a humidifier all winter long. Choices include a unit to humidify the entire room, or an ultrasonic humidifier or nebulizer kept near the cage.
Bathing: Yes, continue to bathe your bird even during the winter months. Again, if your house is in the 60 to 70 degree range, your bird can be bathed as often as you like. Bathing will help to compensate for the generally lower humidity too. The only caution about bathing (and this applies year round) is that it should not be done so close to the bird's going to roost for the night that he does not have time to dry himself beforehand.
Going Outdoors: It's probably going to be necessary to take your bird to have his nails and wings trimmed, or to go to the veterinarian, or to travel somewhere with you during the winter. None of these activities should cause any great concern. Whenever you take your bird with you during the cold weather, simply warm up the car first, cover his carrier with a towel, throw, or small blanket, and make it a quick trip from the house to the car. A few seconds outside in this way should have no ill effect upon your pet.
Ceiling fans: If your bird is fully flighted and you have ceiling fans, be sure the fan is off before you let your bird out.
Drafts: Be sure you bird's cage is located away from cold drafts from windows and doors, as well as from doors that are opened and closed with frequency. There is no documentation to support the long held believe that drafts cause birds to become ill. Nonetheless, it's a matter of comfort. I don't want to sit in a cold, drafty place; do you?
Covering the Cage: Covering the cage will do virtually nothing to keep your bird warm. His small body will not generate enough heat to warm the space he's in, nor will the fabric insulate the space as the room temperature cools. However, covering the cage will still accomplish several positive things: 1/ If there are any drafts, the cover will protect your bird from them. 2/ The cover can be used to ensure that your bird gets his minimal 10 hours of sleep. 3/ The cover will help establish a schedule and routine for your bird. 4/ The cover may help him feel more secure, replacing the leaf cover that his instincts tell him to use to provide protection from nighttime predators.
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