parrot snuggies?

[parrotguy12]

Now that is getting colder here in CA, where can i find snuggies for my parrotlet and my 2 budgies and possibly my IRN if thats possible.

 

[Ratzy]

Ever heard of feathers? If you mean like a bed for them, that is a very BAD idea, especially for budgies. It is like an invitation to lay eggs. In Winter, egg binding is much more likely than Summer, which could be fatal. In males it can sometimes cause behavioural problems. I am totally against bed and hammocks for birds. In the wild they would be in much harsher weather with no bed. People are forever trying to 'humanise' birds. I realise that captive birds may have a lower immune system than they would wild, but PLEASE. Birds sleep on perches. A bed is perceived as a nest. How many people have asked me:
'I bought a bed for my bird, and it started laying eggs, why?'.
If you mean like a coat, then that would be laughable. A 'coat' would be stressful to wear and administer. As long as your weather gets cold slowly, THEY WILL be fine. If they are outside, I would recommend a plastic cover to lessen the draughts, as they can be fatal and cause ill health.

 

[Von1983]

Spirit bird made me aware of a fabulous invention the other day - I am going to import one from Cal as I could only find them from the USA.

Bird safe, heated perches.

Have a look - honestly, they're just super looking.

Much safer than a snuggle bed because, you can't be sure the lil darlings won't wind themselves up in thread during the night!

They won't prompt egg laying either which is obviously a concern Ratzyh raised.

 

[wildheart]

I know where you are coming from parrotguy and there is nothing wrong with being concerned that your fids might get cold - it just shows how much you care.

I do not think it is fare or correct to compare your birds to the birds outside. That would be like comparing my lizards to the common lizards outside in our garden. My lizards will NEVER survive the Gauteng winters outside because they do not come from Gauteng and they are not suppose to be in Gauteng.

You need to look at each bird in your home and do some research of where they originally come from. If they come from the Amazon then you need to imitate the Amazons humidity and climate to ensure that your bird thrive. One bird in your home might be able to cope with cold weather and another will suffer severely.

I hanged a 250w spotlight over my parrot's cage to give her heat during the day and she sleeps next to an econo-heater during the night. Here is the website to the heater, it is safe for pets and does not dry out the air. Econo-Heat South Africa, Global HQ

(On another note, they made heated rocks for reptiles and it caused many-many burns and these products are STILL on the market. How much research did they do on the heated perches? Does it come with a device that monitors the heat and switches it off when it malfunctions? Hie-hie, clearly I worry about everything.)

 

[bogo1]

Correct me if I am wrong, all, but isn't it a lot about avoiding sudden dramatic shifts in temp? I always thought that birds can handle some reasonably cool temps as long as drafts are eliminated. Here in the blistering hot midwest US summers, my parrots go daily from some time during the cooler part of the day outside in a space where they can choose to bath and sun or just eat fruit in the shade. Then in the hotter time of day, they are inside in a mildly air conditioned house. We time the in and out piece so that the shift in temp isn't too abrupt. Especially at night, I think a cover helps to retain a steady temp. I would be a bit frightened of an electronic perch, though it may be perfectly safe...just my lack of knowledge and the lamentable fact that with an engineer for a hubby, I am myself an electronic failure. If I can make it mal-function, I will.

 

[bogo1]

Oh, I forgot above to say. I do have a snuggle. It is a piece of soft material that can't be disassembled by even the most determined conure that hangs in the cage between the wall and the favored night perch. My girls snuggle up against it at night and against each other. Because it is not enclosed, I do not think it will stimulate nesting instinct and because it is not "plugged in" I am unlikely to set the house on fire.

 

[Auggie's Dad]

I have a Happy Hut for Auggie and have never had any issues with it. He sleeps in it most nights, but has never become territorial over it. Of course egg laying/binding isn't an issue with a male bird.

 

[wildheart]

Correct me if I am wrong, all, but isn't it a lot about avoiding sudden dramatic shifts in temp? I always thought that birds can handle some reasonably cool temps as long as drafts are eliminated.

Here in Gauteng the temps are like a roller coaster during the winter. We will have a lovely winters day of 21C and then it will drop to -5C. We also do not have any, I think you call it ferns/earns? that heats up our houses, we completely rely on whatever heater we plug in to try and get our feet to defrost.

I HATE WINTER!

Can you post a photo of the snuggle, I have never seen one in our shops yet, maybe I can make one?

AD, I gave Sterretjie her box back and she LOVES it!

 

[parrotguy12]

well i started to see my parrotlet that he would go between my body and shirt, as it he was cold, so when ever i take him out of my shirt he would go inside again, since we dont have temp control in our house no heaters or anything to keep them warm. so just wanted to find out if theres like snuggies for them 2 keep warm, ive seen some parrots with some and nothing wrong with them

 

[Ratzy]

It was just my opinion, based on what I have seen happen to birds with snuggies. The others have given good advice. I too, thought they could stand cold weather as long as the temp reduced slowly.

 

[parrotguy12]

its ok, i dont fuzz, i didnt knew that it makes birds go into breeding mode, thx anyways

 

[Colorguarder08]

I would reccomed the happy hut or birdy hut or whatever it's called that you can hang near the perches or on top or the perches it's almost like a tent they can go in and out of it as they please and im sure it would keep them plenty warm

 

[Ratzy]

I would reccomed the happy hut or birdy hut or whatever it's called that you can hang near the perches or on top or the perches it's almost like a tent they can go in and out of it as they please and im sure it would keep them plenty warm

I don't recommend them. I've already said why. With female budgies especially they are dangerous to their health. It causes chronic egg laying and possible behavioural issues.

 

[Hurricane]

I would reccomed the happy hut or birdy hut or whatever it's called that you can hang near the perches or on top or the perches it's almost like a tent they can go in and out of it as they please and im sure it would keep them plenty warm

I don't recommend them. I've already said why. With female budgies especially they are dangerous to their health. It causes chronic egg laying and possible behavioural issues.

It's not a bed and it isn't fully enclosed like the parrot snuggly things. I know exactly what they are talking about and I have one for Severus. Quite frankly, I think you are being extremely rude, and if I were the OP I would be more than offended by your tone and attitude.

ETA: Haven't you ever heard the saying you attract more flies with sugar than vinegar?

 

[Ratzy]

I'm sorry I sound like I'm being rude, my apologies. Of course I think parrotguy wants to do the best for his birds. My opinion is based on budgies, as I have little experience anywhere else. For larger parrots they are probably great. I have heard one too many horror stories of eggbinding caused by a 'bed' or hammock in budgies.

 

[wildheart]

Now that is getting colder here in CA, where can i find snuggies for my parrotlet and my 2 budgies and possibly my IRN if thats possible.

Ok so look at it this way and help me out, budgies are found in areas that can get very cold at night so you do not really have to worry about keeping them warm because they were created in such a manner that they can endure it. For your IRN you can provide heat because they come from a warmer climate and will feel cold easier than budgies. If your parrotlet comes from South America then he will definitely get very cold during winter and you should provide heat so he can stay comfortable.

I feel that we should try and imitate the climate where they come from, of course it is impossible to get it 100% right but we should still try.

 

[Vivica]

I had a happy hut for wrnts, but he started chewing on it. Thats where the little threads get in the way and can wrap around your bird's neck. Happy Huts are fine, as long as your bird is not chewing on it.

Wrnts would take the fluff from the happy hut and "polish" the bars of his cage. Freakin weirdo. LOL

 

[Hurricane]

I'm sorry I sound like I'm being rude, my apologies. Of course I think parrotguy wants to do the best for his birds. My opinion is based on budgies, as I have little experience anywhere else. For larger parrots they are probably great. I have heard one too many horror stories of eggbinding caused by a 'bed' or hammock in budgies.

No worries.

My very first parrot that I was solely responsible for was a budgie and I never gave her a bed or a nesting box or anything of the sort. She never laid an egg either.

I wonder though, parrotguy if a heat source such as herp owners use for their reptiles would work better? Now, I'm curious about this...

 

[parrotguy12]

ok thx, dont fight guys, we are here to learn more and help other new people that entered in the world of birds

 

[wildheart]

I wonder though, parrotguy if a heat source such as herp owners use for their reptiles would work better? Now, I'm curious about this...

That is exactly what I am using! But dont waste your money on going to buy basking lights for hundreds of Rands at a pet shop - a normal spot light for a fraction of the price works exactly the same and last A LOT longer.

Parrotguy12, Nobody was fighting.