Hello all, just some extra food for thought if you think it is achievable and helpful to your situation for our hot climate.

 

TSR ( Total Solar Reflectivity)google for more info), what color are the top's of your aviarys and bird rooms, a good quality white paint can reflect up to as much as 65% of the suns radiation, in comparison, black can make it up to 100 deg c hotter . There are also now a wide variety of Paint colors and products on the market for these types of situations.

Depending on your local council you might have to check against what colors can and can't be used though.

 

I'll try and give this a go on RIP's setup when she gets her heap in a pile(I'm her son by the way, been about 10 years out of the fancy, might be returning to a station near you), if it's achievable or if she lets me .

 

My hands on experince so far with this came from my lawnmowing trailer, my roof was mostly rusty and bare, 36+ deg days were unbearable, and having my whipper snippers located near the roof, after a few jobs they couldn't cool down enough and it was a real headache to start them there after for the rest of the day, trying to touch the roof was like cooking a good rare steak, I've since painted the area's above the motors, not only do they run more effective, but I can actaully rest a hand on these spots on very hot days.

 

And if you want to get really green about it, you can attend local workshops like the ones great gardens(plus other groups) do for local communitys and learn about energy effiency for not just your birds but also your home. Big messy decidous trees are awesome for this, provide plenty of shade in summer, prune them well enough to keep your air flow, leaves are gone for winter to provide the warmth that's wanted then. Don't stress about the leaves, your compost heap will love it for those home grown greens for your birds.

 

Almost a 2c rant in the end, guess it's in the genes.

 

Great ideas and info Housey. Thanks

Yeah, REALLY good advice and much appreciated!

Hello all, just some extra food for thought if you think it is achievable and helpful to your situation for our hot climate.

 

TSR ( Total Solar Reflectivity)google for more info), what color are the top's of your aviarys and bird rooms, a good quality white paint can reflect up to as much as 65% of the suns radiation, in comparison, black can make it up to 100 deg c hotter :rofl: . There are also now a wide variety of Paint colors and products on the market for these types of situations.

Depending on your local council you might have to check against what colors can and can't be used though.

 

I'll try and give this a go on RIP's setup when she gets her heap in a pile(I'm her son by the way, been about 10 years out of the fancy, might be returning to a station near you), if it's achievable or if she lets me .

 

My hands on experince so far with this came from my lawnmowing trailer, my roof was mostly rusty and bare, 36+ deg days were unbearable, and having my whipper snippers located near the roof, after a few jobs they couldn't cool down enough and it was a real headache to start them there after for the rest of the day, trying to touch the roof was like cooking a good rare steak, I've since painted the area's above the motors, not only do they run more effective, but I can actaully rest a hand on these spots on very hot days.

 

And if you want to get really green about it, you can attend local workshops like the ones great gardens(plus other groups) do for local communitys and learn about energy effiency for not just your birds but also your home. Big messy decidous trees are awesome for this, provide plenty of shade in summer, prune them well enough to keep your air flow, leaves are gone for winter to provide the warmth that's wanted then. Don't stress about the leaves, your compost heap will love it for those home grown greens for your birds.

 

Almost a 2c rant in the end, guess it's in the genes.

 

 

I was thinking you were a chip off the old block, but I guess you already know that! :rofl:

 

Welcom to the forum, by the way.

Hello all, just some extra food for thought if you think it is achievable and helpful to your situation for our hot climate.

 

TSR ( Total Solar Reflectivity)google for more info), what color are the top's of your aviarys and bird rooms, a good quality white paint can reflect up to as much as 65% of the suns radiation, in comparison, black can make it up to 100 deg c hotter . There are also now a wide variety of Paint colors and products on the market for these types of situations.

Depending on your local council you might have to check against what colors can and can't be used though.

 

I'll try and give this a go on RIP's setup when she gets her heap in a pile(I'm her son by the way, been about 10 years out of the fancy, might be returning to a station near you), if it's achievable or if she lets me .

 

My hands on experince so far with this came from my lawnmowing trailer, my roof was mostly rusty and bare, 36+ deg days were unbearable, and having my whipper snippers located near the roof, after a few jobs they couldn't cool down enough and it was a real headache to start them there after for the rest of the day, trying to touch the roof was like cooking a good rare steak, I've since painted the area's above the motors, not only do they run more effective, but I can actaully rest a hand on these spots on very hot days.

 

And if you want to get really green about it, you can attend local workshops like the ones great gardens(plus other groups) do for local communitys and learn about energy effiency for not just your birds but also your home. Big messy decidous trees are awesome for this, provide plenty of shade in summer, prune them well enough to keep your air flow, leaves are gone for winter to provide the warmth that's wanted then. Don't stress about the leaves, your compost heap will love it for those home grown greens for your birds.

 

Almost a 2c rant in the end, guess it's in the genes.

 

 

About time you showed yourself. Gonna give it a try on my setup ay. Does this mean your paying for it?

About time you showed yourself. Gonna give it a try on my setup ay. Does this mean your paying for it? :hmm:

 

Don't I have a child parental Tab account still running, you know the endless one :thumbs_up: haha , of course i'll find something for you, i'm going to try to do my extra room roof as well for this summer, ooo and maybe my workshop.

 

Cheers for the welcome Finnie.

Well the mercury is definitely rising today and I wouldn't be surprised if we cracked the 40C even though top temperature is forecast as 37C ....

 

But for the first summer since we started with aviary of budgies I am not stressing out and rushing out to check on them every 15mins. They have cool water, the sprinkler system is working fine, and while they may go to ground I know that come the cooler weather later this afternoon they will all get up and be fine.

 

Also we a re peaking today and cooler weather is forecast for the week with temperatures rising again next week end so they'll have a few days of respite.

 

The trickiest time is when we have continuous scorchers .... it usually starts around Christmas, in fact I heard one horrid prediction that Boxing Day this year will be 45C - aaaaauuuuugh!

 

When you have up to ten days of 40C+ days it gets difficult .... but I guess we will face that when it comes ...

Brisbane has been disgustingly hot and muggy the last few days. I'd normally be complaining but my poor budgie Ash is just home from the hospital and needs to be kept extra warm. I'm hoping the warm weather pulls him through, and quickly, as I'm sitting here sweating away in my loungeroom and would like to use a fan or the air-conditioner again sometime soon. Oh what we sacrifice for our babies!

Brisbane has been disgustingly hot and muggy the last few days.

 

I'll second that, it's been like someone left the bathroom door open with the shower running! Luckily I wrapped up my breeding last weeks so all birds are out of nests now. Just spent a bit of time with the hose on "mist" and they sem to love it. I like the idea of using ice cubes in the water as mentioned earlier. Might have to give that a try over the holidays.

Just watched the news for the weather and we are going to have a scorcher weekend this coming weekend - 39 saturday and 42 on sunday I hate hot weather, So I can only imagine how much more our budgies would hate it.

 

Today was a brilliant day with the weather!

Just watched the news for the weather and we are going to have a scorcher weekend this coming weekend - 39 saturday and 42 on sunday I hate hot weather, So I can only imagine how much more our budgies would hate it.

I know!

 

How about you guys in Victoria? The news tonight about fire scares was really dire ....

Just watched the news for the weather and we are going to have a scorcher weekend this coming weekend - 39 saturday and 42 on sunday I hate hot weather, So I can only imagine how much more our budgies would hate it.

 

Today was a brilliant day with the weather!

 

Yeah, Our budgie club meeting Sunday may be cancelled due to weather being too hot. On hot days I would rather stay home and make sure the birds are coping anyway.

On hot days I've been putting cooler packs on top of the cages, underneath shade covers. The budgies sit on the top perch closest to the cooler packs - they work SOOO well. I bought a set of three from Woolies.

 

I also have a plastic bowl that has the outer edge hollow for filling with either hot water to keep bowl contents warm or cold water to keep bowl contents cool. I have been freezing it and then once it is frozen, I fill to bowl up with water and it stays cool for a few hours during the day - its brilliant

 

Does that make sense?

On hot days I've been putting cooler packs on top of the cages, underneath shade covers. The budgies sit on the top perch closest to the cooler packs - they work SOOO well. I bought a set of three from Woolies.

 

I also have a plastic bowl that has the outer edge hollow for filling with either hot water to keep bowl contents warm or cold water to keep bowl contents cool. I have been freezing it and then once it is frozen, I fill to bowl up with water and it stays cool for a few hours during the day - its brilliant

 

Does that make sense?

Very cool

I am not looking forward to today.

The forecast for Sunday was 42, we got to 46 in the shade.

The forecast for yesterday was 42, we got to 48 in the shade, in the sun was 65.

The forecast for today is 43, so I hate to think what it's going to be.

I was out every 30 mins hosing down the aviaries, filling the water cooler with ice & just praying they would all survive.

So far, no losses.

Today is going to be really bad, it's 7am and already 33.

Another day to keep my fingers crossed that I am doing all I can to help them but it's just so hot.

Same here, it is unbearable, yesterday in the shade it 44, god knows what it would be in the sun.,,

Today so far is really already really really hot and it is only 7.53am.

 

Poor birds... can't wait for the cool change tomorrow.

for Pebbles and Splat. It is horrible when you get a run of days over 40C ....

 

I wish another cyclone would come through and bring rain and drop the temperature .... not a big one mind you, don't want those up in the Kimberly to suffer devastation, just a small one.

for Pebbles and Splat. It is horrible when you get a run of days over 40C ....

 

I wish another cyclone would come through and bring rain and drop the temperature .... not a big one mind you, don't want those up in the Kimberly to suffer devastation, just a small one.

 

careful what you pray or ask for ren as manifestation can be a strong thing

 

well my birds are all okay so far but since the fires last year im not to bothered about them coping

i put up a shade sail over top and a blind to roll down a shade cloth one so its still vented

to stop majority of hot sun but have it up half so they can have sun if they like

 

im placing little shallow doxy baths so they can bath and still not be afected from their medical rutine

i have small drink bottles around side of aviary floor so any one wants to rest on one they can they were frozen night before

 

all pairs with chick getting water change every few hours to keep water clean and cool

the new terracotta pavers make a huge differences their nice and cool i was laying in their myself

 

when they are allowed im going to freeze some strawberry's and fruit like oranges and stewed apples and make squired fruit sticks for them

Edited January 12, 201015 yr by GenericBlue

when they are allowed im going to freeze some strawberry's and fruit like oranges and stewed apples and make squired fruit sticks for them

 

 

Terrific Idea mate

for Pebbles and Splat. It is horrible when you get a run of days over 40C ....

 

I wish another cyclone would come through and bring rain and drop the temperature .... not a big one mind you, don't want those up in the Kimberly to suffer devastation, just a small one.

careful what you pray or ask for ren as manifestation can be a strong thing

Just a small cyclone!

for Pebbles and Splat. It is horrible when you get a run of days over 40C ....

 

I wish another cyclone would come through and bring rain and drop the temperature .... not a big one mind you, don't want those up in the Kimberly to suffer devastation, just a small one.

:rofl: careful what you pray or ask for ren as manifestation can be a strong thing :raincloud:

Just a small cyclone!

 

:hap: you crack me up :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

The idea of the old evaporative coolers is good only if you use them right . If they are used in a breeding room or a enclosed area you need to have the back facing an opening and have a window or door at the other end open , the idea behind the coolers is that we need to be changing the air in the room thus making it cooler , if they are put in a closed room they will only stir up the heat and bring up the humidity . If they are used in a open area this is not a problem .

a nother tip is with the portable coolers is to put a toilet float valve in it with the tap only just on as this will make sure that the water is always cool and fresh .

if any of you have evaporative coolers in your homes and use your garage as a breeding room get the local cool,ing guy to add a extra out let in there , if you have your breeding boxes under a pergola that is under the same roof as the house you can do the same thing .

 

Sorry for waffling on but as I do cooling as a living I am only too happy to give away my trade secrets.

 

 

Ross

The idea of the old evaporative coolers is good only if you use them right . If they are used in a breeding room or a enclosed area you need to have the back facing an opening and have a window or door at the other end open , the idea behind the coolers is that we need to be changing the air in the room thus making it cooler , if they are put in a closed room they will only stir up the heat and bring up the humidity . If they are used in a open area this is not a problem .

another tip is with the portable coolers is to put a toilet float valve in it with the tap only just on as this will make sure that the water is always cool and fresh .

if any of you have evaporative coolers in your homes and use your garage as a breeding room get the local cooling guy to add a extra out let in there , if you have your breeding boxes under a pergola that is under the same roof as the house you can do the same thing .

 

Sorry for waffling on but as I do cooling as a living I am only too happy to give away my trade secrets.

 

 

Ross

Excellent tips Ross! Thanks for sharing them!

well weather went from 45 deg in my aviry on monday to 10 degree due to very sudden quick down poor yesterday my birds dont know whats happening its bad enough their ment to be sick but now their all looking worse than ever oh my i dont really know what to do anymore

i have blinds tarps shade clothe removable covers and their still seeming to get cold winds blow through

with all that

their is nothing more i can do but leave it up to survival of the fittest now

its 25 in their now

well weather went from 45 deg in my aviry on monday to 10 degree due to very sudden quick down poor yesterday my birds dont know whats happening its bad enough their ment to be sick but now their all looking worse than ever oh my i dont really know what to do anymore

i have blinds tarps shade clothe removable covers and their still seeming to get cold winds blow through

with all that

their is nothing more i can do but leave it up to survival of the fittest now

its 25 in their now

Fingers crossed buddy you have had enough hard knocks...things have to get better and soon

So true GB... There is only so much you can do when Mother nature turns nasty. It does come down to survival of the fittest, and as hard as it is, you just have to go with it.