What do you do during severe storms?

[Yeka]

Hi all! This might be a weird topic, but I couldn't find any other posts on the board like it...

I live in Wisconsin. The past week has been very devastating for us in terms of weather. Last night I was in a panic. There were tornado warnings all around me, tons of lightning, and just general scary weather. I live in an apartment building, and I would typically go to the basement in a tornado, but we have had so much flooding that the basement was not an option. Now, I grew up in Alabama, so what is to be done in severe weather is not foreign to me, but last night I was in a panic because I didn't know what to do with my birds.

I ended up putting all of their cages in my windowless hallway/bathroom area just in case the sirens would go off. Fortunately, they never did, but I realized that I needed to educate myself.

I will be moving into a house next summer and I plan to create an aviary for my birds. I keep asking myself what I would do if we had storms like this again.

So my question to you all is, what do you do with your birds when severe weather happens? For those of you who have outdoor aviaries, what do you do? Do you have a special severe weather shelter for your birds?

[Oviraptor]

I too live in WI. and am so ready for this horrid weather to just go away. What city are you in?

The power kept going on and off last night. My poor Lucky was pretty nervous the entire evening and he kept hissing. I put his cage in my bedoom and just shut off all lights and tv and called it an early night.

[lhv412]

I'm in WI too- we have finches in a big aviary cage in a birdroom in the basement and a green cheek conure upstairs on the main floor. I got home from work yesterday just as the sirens started going off around us. I just put the conure in his little travel carrier and brought him into the basement with me. The bird room has a couple of windows on one wall but they are on the opposite side from where storms usually come in from so I don't worry about them too much. I think your idea of moving cages into the safest part of your apartment is a good one- its tough with the little guys because you can't exactly catch them and pack them up the way you can the larger guys. Anyway- I'm ready for this weather to be over with now!

[Lotis9]

I think this is a great question!

I live near Chicago and our weather has been bad, but where I'm not it didn't get nearly as bad as it has been elsewhere. However, during the tornado warnings I too was worried about what I would do with my birds. I live in an apartment home and do not have a basement. I know to get away from windows and doors and cover your head and all, but not too sure where I would go here! Anyways, I don't know what to do with my guys because it doesn't seem safe to leave them in a carrier or cage. If a tornado hit and the cages were swept up they would surely die or be severly injured because they would have no escape. Though I would not want to lose them, I would rather they have a chance to get away. Then again, they aren't strong enough flyers to make it far, but I bet instincts would save them.

Anyone with birds actually been through a tornado?

[lhv412]

I kept my conure in his travel cage figuring it would offer more protection from getting bonked by flying debri inside the house if a tornado actually hit. By the time a fid is getting sucked up and blown away by an active tornado I think being in our out of a travel cage is the least of his worries!

[Freedomoflight]

When we had tornado warnings earlier this year, I brought all the fids carriers inside and set them up (they are collapsible). I got food, water, and stuff ready and put it in the bathroom so that if something were to happen I could shove the birds in their carriers and everything would be OK. I've had power go off both during the hottest part of the year and the coolest.. I keep extra blankets in a closet to cover the birds and ice in the freezer to put in their bowls.

[ndeben]

This is a GREAT topic, when really bad weather is forcast for this area (New Orleans is just below me) I have carriers for each bird/set of birds, bottled water for each carrier, and fresh seed/pellet mixures. Along with the cat carrier for Megan and set up too. Since Katrina, I have been "ready" for just about anything!! I am a shelter manager for the American Red Cross, so my babies will be with me, new policy for the American Red Cross, animals in their carriers are welcome. As long as you take care of them AND have food and water.

[Ashling]

They are all the scariest thoughts ever. I'm glad we don't have tonados! I really feel for you :( I'm sure you'll be allright, but it helps to be prepared.

[Yeka]

Thanks everyone for your replies! I'm really grateful for all of the ideas for future reference.

I live just north of Milwaukee but I'll be moving to Madison next year. I really do hope that the storminess of the season is over.