Hi all,

Having managed to get through the 3 odd weeks of over 40 degree heat in summer, I was wondering how my little buddies are going to cope in winter?

It got down to -2 here last night and I haven't been game to go out and check yet but there seems to be the normal amount of morning noise coming from the aviary.

Apart from the tin parts, all parts of the aviary open to wind and rain are covered with a tarp, so even with the rain we've had lately, it has stayed dry inside, I'm just worried that they will freeze.

 

Will they be okay? Anything else I need to do or give them to get through the cold nights?

 

P.S. The silly Tiels are still sleeping out in the open flight, so I figure they must be a bit tougher than the budgies???

 

Debbie

As the breeders in the UK state. "provided the drinkers dont freeze, the birds will be fine"

 

Budgies are very tough to weather... what they can't handle is large fluctuations in temperature. Make sure the covered avairy doesn't get too hot through the day. Hot days and cold nights will knock them around. Keeping the aviary dry is much more important than warmth

They should be okay! feathers crossed

As others have said they should be fine, especially if sheltered from cold winds. Very important is if you get any water come in on the ground, to put a course of coccivet in their water to prevent coccidiosis....only if the floor gets wet.

Edited June 11, 200915 yr by KAZ

My guys tough it out each year.

I suffer from the cold temperature more than the birds! :

Cold winds will ruffle their feathers and then they lose the protective layer of warm insulating air that is achieved by them fluffing up their feathers to keep warm. If they are protected from the wind and rain they should be fine.

 

Also, I put warm water in their drinkers in cold weather, so when they have a drink first thing in the morning it helps warm them up.

 

It doesn't get too cold here so they don't usually need additional warmth.

 

If I think they do, in the most sheltered part of the aviary I put a large bucket or icecream container filled with hot water and tightly secured lid so it functions like a hot water bottle through the night. The lid is essential to keep the water and heat in the bucket and the budgies out so they don't drown.

 

Cardboard or wood boxes and crates are also very good insulators, and they can be strewn about the aviary for the birds to huddle together in. Even having lots of branches with foliage allows them to shelter within it.

Hey pebblez72 i live in wagga as well my birds cope with the cold fine i breed through winter as it is way to hot to breed in summer i think some temps got to about -5c last year sometimes i just cover my cages up at night

 

p.s. do you have a cock bird that is ready to breed that you will be willing to sell i need 1 pls pm me

Mine cope fine in the cold, it gets around -1 here. it helps to cover the aviary/cabinets at night to prevent cold wind from blowing in