Help needed re keeping birdies warm!

[Alyce Johnson]

We live in a Victorian (zero insulation, leaks air like a seive, has 11.5 ft ceilings)
in the San Fran Bay Area - fog & rain, clammy & cold year round. Why people move here "for the weather" I will never understand. (No snow, I guess.)
My heating bill was $306 last month, and gas is supposed to go up another 18% starting tomorrow - for an increase of 63% over Jan of last year! My Jan bill was almost $300 last year - I cant manage a 63% increase over that!

How do I keep the fids warm enough? How warm do they need to be for optimal health, first of all? (I've been aiming for 78 degrees or so.) I've already got the cages elevated to take advantage of rising heat but can probably move them up higher (along with the thermostat). But what about different (electricity based) solutions like heating pads, heated perches etc. - do those work well enough to compensate for a colder room? Where would you set the thermostat in that case?

We live in a damp, mildew & mold prone environment, so I want to keep them warm and healthy. But obviously, I need to eat (and to feed them) too. We need to do something about the heating bill, bottom line. Any advice would be welcome!

I cant move - I have a rent controlled flat that is less than half the price of the identical apt next door in the same house - we cant afford to move elsewhere even if the utilities were zero. We already have ceiling fans, too. And we've tried to weather strip the windows, door etc, but the house was built with exactly no insulation (lath & plaster hollow walls).

Please advise - are the new heated perches worth it? Has anyone tried to heat cages locally with heating pads or electric blankets? Any other ideas?

[cliftonite]

Originally Posted by Alyce Johnson

We live in a Victorian (zero insulation, leaks air like a seive, has 11.5 ft ceilings)
in the San Fran Bay Area - fog & rain, clammy & cold year round. Why people move here "for the weather" I will never understand. (No snow, I guess.)
My heating bill was $306 last month, and gas is supposed to go up another 18% starting tomorrow - for an increase of 63% over Jan of last year! My Jan bill was almost $300 last year - I cant manage a 63% increase over that!

How do I keep the fids warm enough? How warm do they need to be for optimal health, first of all? (I've been aiming for 78 degrees or so.) I've already got the cages elevated to take advantage of rising heat but can probably move them up higher (along with the thermostat). But what about different (electricity based) solutions like heating pads, heated perches etc. - do those work well enough to compensate for a colder room? Where would you set the thermostat in that case?

We live in a damp, mildew & mold prone environment, so I want to keep them warm and healthy. But obviously, I need to eat (and to feed them) too. We need to do something about the heating bill, bottom line. Any advice would be welcome!

I cant move - I have a rent controlled flat that is less than half the price of the identical apt next door in the same house - we cant afford to move elsewhere even if the utilities were zero. We already have ceiling fans, too. And we've tried to weather strip the windows, door etc, but the house was built with exactly no insulation (lath & plaster hollow walls).

Please advise - are the new heated perches worth it? Has anyone tried to heat cages locally with heating pads or electric blankets? Any other ideas?

78 degrees? I think that is a bit of an overkill. 66 to 70 should be ok..

[Cowgirl Chris]

I don't let my house get over 72. My birds get to hot and start panting if I put it up higher

[Alyce Johnson]

Well, that's some good news re 70 degrees being warm enough!
I will move the temp down before midnight, for sure!

How about the localized heat sources? Has anyone actually tried out the heated thermoperch thingie? I saw it on a lot of wish lists, on this board. Are they good? Someone suggested a heating rock, like you get for reptiles, as they say those "sip" heat and once they're heated up, it doesnt take much to keep them warm, since they're solid. Any other ideas?

[yehudasf]

While I am certain many psittazens can acclimate to quite cool temperatures, here at Beit HaTukiot the thermostat hovers around 78 - 82 fahrenheit. My psittazen companions bear little down (they acclimate to the prevailing temperature quickly) so they are comfortable. If I see anyone panting (sometimes during our summer ~ september - november), I turn off the heating system & engage the air conditioner. If your psittazen companion is healthy, it should, within a few months be able to acclimate (either by shedding down, or growing more) to the range of temperatures in your home (within reason of course). One caution, beware of drafts. Even a very slight draft, combined with low temperatures can, over time stress a birds immune system.

[Freedomoflight]

There is this winterizing stuff that you can use- its plastic that goes over the inside of the windows, also this thick foam that you put in the cracks of windows where you suspect air is leaking out- works like a charm. Really helps keep air out, and warm air in.
Also, if you already dont, cover the fids at night, and they have these fans that osillate, that are heaters- works really well for heating a room.

[The Outlaw]

I wouldn't waste my money on heated perches. I really don't think they do much. However, I do use oil filled portable electric radiators and love them. They will heat up a room fairly quickly without having to raise the temps of the entire house. I agree that temps from 70 to 80 are more than adequate. I'm too cold at anything less and too hot at anything above 72. I usually keep my temps as a steady 70.

[FeathersNFur8]

I also use oil filled radiators, thanks to Outlaw's suggestion, a few months ago. They are one of the best purchases I have made. I keep them set at 72. With one near Kady's cage it gives me peace of mind that he's not chilly.

[Winged_Victory]

Birds adapt!

We keep our lower bird room at 65 degrees year round and they do great.

Gary

[MaryG1959]

I have a portable electric thermostat controlled heater in the bird room. It can be set to your "temperature of choice" (I choose 70).

I found I was turning up the heat to keep them warm---this small heater does a wonderful job for the whole room.