that a cage or flight is a circumscribed area and, therefore, the bird may never be in its comfort zone.
Most pet birds come from environments that don't experience winter. As daily temperatures are declining, these birds may become uncomfortable and stressed. Birds instinctively seek the best comfort zone available. Fortunately, the body is a very flexible and resilient device and can tolerate many conditions.
When the bird finds the most comfortable location in its cage, it can thrive. It should be remembered, that a cage or flight is a circumscribed area and, therefore, the bird may never be in its comfort zone.
Many people have asked, What is the proper temperature to keep a bird during the winter? To answer that question; ideally the birds environmental temperature should mimic its country of origin. Because a bird may originate from Brazil, that doesn't preclude that it may spend some time at higher elevations where it would be colder. I am aware of an aviary in Ohio that has had Cockatoos outside year round for many years. There are flocks of Quakers in the city of Chicago. There is a local person who has had Amazon parrots outside for years. Canaries thrive when temperatures are kept in the 60 70 degree range. It should be realized that any bird with marginal health may become sick and pass away if not detected on time. There is an aviculturist in New Jersey who maintains a temperature of 40 degrees for his Cockatoos during the winter. Dr. Ritchie found that 2 10 of every flock were harboring active health problems. Based on that Information, birds kept at lower temperatures could become clinically ill, or expire. The nutritional plane under these circumstances would be vital to maintain a strong immune system.
For most people in Michigan however, we are concerned with birds kept inside with a heated environment.
It is Important to make sure that all heating devices are properly vented and not leaking gases. Any bird exposed to low levels of combustion waste products may become ill or die, long before it would affect a human. Kerosene space heaters should never be used unless they are vented. Make sure that fireplace chimneys are not obstructed and that the damper is always open when in use. Wood burning stoves could leak gases at the joints. Be sure to check them, along with a properly installed chimney.
Another problem confronted during the winter is low humidity. Forced air heating systems naturally dehumidify the air. It is not unusual for the humidity to drop below 30 . In humans, we recognize the problem with dry skin, dry scratchy throats and a general feeling of discomfort. The Macaw probably is the most symptomatic of this problem. We see many Macaws that are shaking their heads, scratching inside their mouths and nostrils, sneezing, and sometimes, have a clear rhinal discharge. All diagnostics come up negative, suggesting low humidity. It is recommended to keep a hydrometer in the aviary. For humans, the ideal humidity level is 50 60 . This level of insensible moisture in the air would satisfy most birds. Higher levels of moisture could encourage mildew and possibly contribute to food spoilage and fungal infections .
Another subtle concern during winter is chronic dehydration. Because it is cooler, people and animals are inclined to drink less. Make sure the water is changed daily, because it becomes rancid. It may be wise to feed more foods of high water content to ensure more liquid intake. Chronic dehydration takes the greatest toll on kidney function. Notice if the eyes are retracted, check the skin on the feet for wrinkling, or separate the feathers and twist the skin. Dehydrated animals will exhibit wrinkles in the skin or slowness in returning to a normal state when twisted. There may be less urine in the droppings, indicating dehydration.
Another side effect of winter is stale air. Most furnace systems recycle the air in the home over and over. There are several products of chronic air recycling. Due to the dust levels increasing, it is recommended to have an in aviary air filtering system to remove dust and feather dander. Some people may develop a pneumonitis (lung inflammation) or chronic respiratory problem if the air isn't filtered. Dusty air can plug avian nostrils and thereby decrease effective respiratory exchange.
The best heating method utilizes fresh outside air for combustion. One of the necessities of proper combustion is oxygen, however most furnaces recycle the air already in the house. the furnace is thus burning less oxygen, leading to incomplete combustion, causing inefficiency in the heating process. This situation, therefore, reduces the oxygen content in the home/aviary, contributing to sub-par living conditions. For best health, it is good to vent in fresh air daily.
Another side effect of winter conditions is the level of viruses and bacteria in the air. We have all had the experience of going outside in winter and seeing your breath. What you are seeing is described as insensible water loss. The cold air is freezing the amount of water in your breath that you exhale. That same air also carries viruses, bacteria and other substances. During the winter, when the homes are closed up, there are increased concentrations of viruses and bacteria in the air. People have more diseases in the winter months, not because is it winter, but because of the inoculum (dose) of organisms in the air. Most diseases are dose related. In other words, we can tolerate certain levels of almost any organism, but high levels can overwhelm and cause disease in most people/animals. The solution again is ventilating the aviary.
Winterizing your aviary means checking the heating system, supply fresh water, air and adequate humidity. Low temperature levels are not as harmful as great fluctuations. Good nutrition must always be maintained .
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