Winter and Our Birds

[CrazyforCockatiels]

We've been here in NY (since moving from MS) since October of last year. Our flock is complete, with Percy and Roosevelt being acquired in February and April of this year, respectively, and Sunny coming to us in June of this year. While Percy weathered the remainder of last winter fine, she will be riding out the entire season with us this year and we want to do the right thing for her as well as for Roo and Sunny.

We want to make certain that our birds have the warmth and humidity they need in the winter months. What is the optimum setting we should keep the thermostat on during the winter for the birds? We do have baseboard heating, if this makes a difference. I'd like to have recommendations for both day and night, please. Also, does anyone know of a decent humidifier? We need a couple for the birds as well as for ourselves as we were so dried out all winter.

Lastly, I've read where it's not prudent to bathe the birds in winter lest they catch a chill. Is this correct? It makes sense to me but I just want to confirm it.

Thanks so much.

[swanwillow]

I'm from Northern Mn. That said.. the thermostat is a big argue point in my house! I like it at 70, fiancee likes it at 65. Either is fine. Birds winter too, and many birds we keep live in regions that get down to just above freezing regularly. I'm keeping my breeder birds in my bedroom, which is the coldest room in the house in the winter, it gets down to around 50* (sorry, its not celcius) I'm debating on keeping the pet birds up there, and bringing them down during the days.

as for humidity; I run a humidifier, and we have a messed up drier (clothes) which means we get a LOT of humidity in the house just by doing a load of laundry. (don't worry-I've looked up what comes out of a dryer, I mostly have to worry about mold as I don't use dryer sheets-which are highly toxic!)

[jimpierce7]

I keep my home at 70 (where the birds are) day and night. I live in a high moisture area but, I find two aquariums help out with humidity as well.

[Lisa B]

a constant temperature is what you need to maintain.
going from say 80 during the day and say 50 at night will get them sick.
Base board heat is the best for the humidity. We had that untill we moved this past April. Now we have forced hot air...so this will be a first for me as well.

so we dont go below 68 here in the winter at night,and a few degrees higher during the day. our gang seems fine with that.

[Kevin]

Winter? Whats that... I heard of such a thing but don't really know what it is...

Snickers... Southern California here....

[jimpierce7]

Originally Posted by Kevin

Winter? Whats that... I heard of such a thing but don't really know what it is...

Snickers... Southern California here....

you desert people crack me up............

[swanwillow]

Originally Posted by Lisa B

a constant temperature is what you need to maintain.
going from say 80 during the day and say 50 at night will get them sick.
Base board heat is the best for the humidity. We had that untill we moved this past April. Now we have forced hot air...so this will be a first for me as well.

so we dont go below 68 here in the winter at night,and a few degrees higher during the day. our gang seems fine with that.

I don't necessarily agree with this philosophy. A big jump of 30 degrees, yes.. bad. Ten isn't so bad. In the forests, deserts, well, ANYWHERE, I have not heard of a place staying at 70-80* CONSTANTLY. Most places DO have variations during the day vs during the night. Now, a cold draft from a window may be bad. But daytime and nighttime differences, not so bad if its in reason.

Plus, think of all the outdoor breeders down south. Big outdoor aviaries; kept at a constant temp? NO! its outside!

heres winter for ya; this was Nov. before the snow fell last year

[CrazyforCockatiels]

Thank you all so much for all of your replies (Kevin and Jim, I am envious. I spent summers in CA- Culver City, Venice Beach, Santa Monica- growing up and I love the climate there!)

Last winter, we kept the area where the birds are now at 68-72 during the day and 65 at night so I imagine this will be all right....?

Lisa, where is Long Beach Island?

Swanwillow, that looks cold!

[ROYJOY]

hey jim, i live in the high "desert" of utah. it gets coooold her in the winter, and very dry. i keep it at 70' and humidify.

[Lisa B]

Originally Posted by swanwillow

I don't necessarily agree with this philosophy. A big jump of 30 degrees, yes.. bad. Ten isn't so bad. In the forests, deserts, well, ANYWHERE, I have not heard of a place staying at 70-80* CONSTANTLY. Most places DO have variations during the day vs during the night. Now, a cold draft from a window may be bad. But daytime and nighttime differences, not so bad if its in reason.

Plus, think of all the outdoor breeders down south. Big outdoor aviaries; kept at a constant temp? NO! its outside!

heres winter for ya; this was Nov. before the snow fell last year

correct, 10 degrees is pretty normal for day and night.
this philosophy came from a friend who has been a breeder for some 40 odd years, un upstate NY who had a large barn with his breeders. He does NOT have heat in there unless it goes below 50. And they are portable heaters.
His birds never got sick. It was a consistant warm up and cool down each change of seasons.
We were always amazed in the winter, when we could see our own breath outside, and were cold, the birds were in thier barn, and there was no problem.