Worried about Winter

[BiancaK]

Winter is around the corner and this will also be our first winter with Layla as well as her first winter.

I understand that Ekkies are used to tropical climates, and therefore don't know what to do regarding heating espescialy during night time. Our winter temperatures range anything from 16 C - 10 C during the day and 2 C to anything in the minus during night time, and when a cold front strikes it stays in the minus range day and night.

Our apartment is also very cold during winter and it doesn't have carpet. We considered a panel heater, but Layla has a corner cage and it faces both outside walls, therefore the panel heater would not realy provide any heat, as it would work overtime trying to heat the wall, and I don't even want to think what our electricity bill would like like at the end of the month. The apartment has an open plan style therefore there is not really any other corner walls that I can move her cage to for winter time.

Any suggestions would be highly appreciated.

 

[BiancaK]

We have a gas heater, and I was wondering if we can still use this when we are home, or would it be harmful to our Baby?

 

[weco]

Your 16-10 degree range is something Layla should be able to handle without any problem, even 2 degrees would be manageable as long as it is not in wind.....colder temps I would be concerned about.....

Is your gas heater installed or what we call a portable space heater...one you can move around? If it's professionally installed & vented outside there shouldn't be a problem...a no vent heater might not be a problem as long as you get a constant blue flame...other colors is often a dirty burner or trash in the gas line.....

You do realize that when using gas heaters indoors you need to open a window slightly to replace the air the heater burns up.....

I'm sure you do in SA, but a small ceramic heater (be sure there is no teflon coating on any parts) could be used to keep temps around her cage at 2 degrees or above.....you could also use a heating lamp, but be sure that it is not coated with teflon...some heating bulbs are.....

With all this global warming stuff, maybe your winter will be warmer.....good luck.....

 

[BiancaK]

Thanks for the advise!

Yes, it is a portable heater, and I always leave a window slightly open for fresh air come rain or shine

I'll go look up the ceramic heaters and light bulb, and see what I can find.

Thanks again!

 

[Greenwing]

I believe your best option would be a ceramic heat emitter ("they come in various wattages.. 60watt thru 275watt)In a domed porcelain brooder fixture to direct the heat..

Just mount it above her perch or in the middle of the cage... It just has to be kept away from her so she doesn't touch it and get burnt...they also last for yrs..

 

[vinnyb123]

Birds are use to temp change in the wild. As long as it is a gradual temp change and there is no drafts you will be fine. Just keep it at a temp that is warm for you. I also have a heated perch which gives their feet a break from cold stone and wood perches.

 

[Kiwibird]

Parrots can adjust to somewhat cooler temps, so long as it's a gradual thing. I'm sorry I'm not familiar with the celcius temp scale, but parrots can usually handle down to about 65F without risking health (again, it has to be a gradual change, not 85F one day then 65F the next). We usually keep our apartment around 68F in the winter, and Kiwi doesn't seem to have issues. We provide him with a cozy fabric "hut" he will sleep or just snuggle up in, and I switch his covers to a big fleece blanket in winter to keep as much heat in at night as possible. I know he also grows an extra layer of down feathers, because they all come out in the spring. Gas furnaces are safe, so long as you keep a window cracked (one the bird will not feel a draft from). As mentioned, you can try a portable heater near him in especially cold weather. I personally prefer the portable oil-filled radiators, as they seem to get things warmer and run more efficiently than other space heaters. Best of luck.

 

[vinnyb123]

I agree. I keep my temp at 65 - 67 and he loves it. I cover the sleeper cage at night for more warmth. Be carful with any portable heat which can cause fires while un attended.

 

[sodakat]

15 - 10 C is not too cold. I know someone who keeps many Eclectus where the nightime temps hit about 7 C for several months out of the year.

I like the oil filled radiator heaters too. My bird room is glass so the cold radiates inside somewhat and I live where it gets to minus 27 C in the winter frequently, and colder. So I keep a space heater in the bird room. On cold nights I cover the 3 sides of the cages that are away from the heater.

Acclimation is the key. Make sure she always has plenty to eat so she can consume more calories when she is expending them towards keeping warm.

Birds can loft their feathers and trap air between down and feathers, thus insulating themselves.

 

[Customcasket]

I know with my guys I have a portable space heater. It's up on a stand and has a thermostat. When I was shopping for a space heater I knew I wanted one that would turn on and off on its own because I spend 8-9 hours a day at work or school and at night when I'm sleeping buried under blankets I knew I wouldn't feel it getting chilly in the room. The bedroom they're in has 2 walls exposed to the outside so sometimes it gets pretty chilly in there. I keep it set to turn on when the temperature reaches 68 degrees Fahrenheit. The rest of the house is kept at about 70 degrees so its rare that the space heater kicks on but it's there anyway just in case. If you get one that has a thermostat and will turn itself on and off your electric bill shouldn't go up too much versus one that runs constantly all day.