Power outages

[Billy29]

Being I love in the north east and power outages in the colder months are a real threat, other then getting a generator, how would you keep your bird warm? What are the coldest temps they can tolerate before getting sick? I'm trying to think ahead.

 

[Featheredsamurai]

You'll get a lot of input here, wish I could add some ideas but I live in sunny CA

 

[antoinette]

We have a lot of power cuts here in South Africa, well the area I live in anyway.
The temperature gets very low going down to 12 degrees.
Luckily we do not have snow very often.

Mishka's cage is very near a window, no drafts at all, but he has the most beautiful sun shining through each day, warming him up.

If I know it's going to be cut, I fill all the hot water bottles.
Placing two directly under Mishka's cage (he never goes there)

When training at night, Mishka sits on a hot water bottle covered by blanket.

When going to sleep I place a blanket over his cage, then two hot water bottles on top and then another blanket over.

 

[kiwiS]

I think so long as the temperature change is gradual they are okay. A warm blanket that covers the whole cage would help. But the best thing to do is get a generator. We didn't have one, and after hurricane Sandy, 11 days without power in the cold and dark. It was miserable and stressful. For your sanity and others in your household, it's worth the investment!

 

[weco]

Billy, you've got a couple of options.....since loss of heat usually equates to loss of electricity, hot water bottles might be a bit hard to fill.....

Portable kerosene heaters and portable propane/butane heaters are available and of the two, I prefer the propane/butane because it is much cleaner and an accidental tip over will not allow flammable liquid to spill out and you don't have the odor of kerosene around your birds. Given that, I suggest "Buddy Heater" models by Mr. Heater.....they can keep a 80sf room toastie.....just be sure to have other propane bottles on hand for the long haul and keep the temps lower than you normally set your thermostat at.....saves propane.....

Since I don't use kerosene, I don't know if operating a kerosene heater is cheaper, but seeing a recent posted price when getting gas for the car, I doubt it.....

 

[Pajarita]

The temperature range depends on the species, some can stand lower than others but it has nothing to do with how gradual the change is, it has to do with the bird's natural habitat.

 

[Billy29]

I have one of those little buddy heaters but wouldn't the fumes kill the bird?

 

[weco]

I have one of those little buddy heaters but wouldn't the fumes kill the bird?

My birds & I are living testaments to their safety.....whenever needed, I use the dual burner model.....just remember to leave a window cracked, in the room the heater is being used, for ventilation.....

Good luck.....