Stories- ringneck, quaker, and gcc

[Wolf]

I took the heating pad out and replaced it with this http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/p ... atid=10899
I did this because I don't trust heating pads, that is just a me thing. I tossed the box that the heating pad came in but will look for it on the heating pad later this morning when I can get to it without disturbing the birds.

[liz]

I like that perch and did not know they existed. My cockatiels don't want to be caged but want access to a cage for some reason. I am going to buy a few for the winter so I won't have to run electric heaters.

[Wolf]

I would still maintain an air temperature of at least 62 degrees F. in the room. I got this perch specifically for Marley who is naked from feather plucking to the extent that the follicles are damaged preventing the regrowth of most of the missing feathers. And, Liz, you have a good idea of the weather conditions of where I live.
The weather is starting to cool off here and I now keep two sides of the budgies cage covered to prevent drafts. but a birds that is missing this many feathers just can't properly regulate their body temperature.

[Pajarita]

Hmmm, I think they are more a gimmick than actually useful. I guess it will keep the bird's feet warm but I doubt it does anything for the body because they don't really produce enough heat for it to reach the body before it dissipates in the open air. And birds feet are made in such a way that heat or cold doesn't really affect them... For one thing, there is almost no flesh whatsoever in them (they are bone, tendon and skin mostly), for another, they are completely dry (it's cold moisture that freezes), then you have the fact that they are covered in scales (a non-conductive material) and last but not least, they have what is called rete mirabile, which is a special circulatory system where arteries and veins are next to each other and uses the 'counter current' of both to minimize heat loss. Aren't birds REAL COOL?!

I still think that a heat pad is the best option for sustained, even heat to the entire body.

[Wolf]

As to whether the perch works or not, we will be able to know for sure and after I have observed it over a period of time I will post a review of it here the same as when I tested tools for a DIY club that I was a member of. I will also try the 12 volt heater that sits on the outside of the cage at the perch and review it as well.

[liz]

I blocked the register in the cockatiel room this summer so I would not freeze them out. That room seemed colder than the others. I keep my air conditioner on 78 because we wear summer clothes.

I keep the furnace on 70 because of heavier winter clothes. I expect that room to be warmer anyway. The sunroom in NC was drafty so I kept it heated with a thermometer on the top of the cage registering 65. There are no drafts in their new room.

We are in the 80s during the day and have gone as low as 65 at night.

[Pajarita]

As to whether the perch works or not, we will be able to know for sure and after I have observed it over a period of time I will post a review of it here the same as when I tested tools for a DIY club that I was a member of. I will also try the 12 volt heater that sits on the outside of the cage at the perch and review it as well.

Wolf, do me a favor and test both the temperature of the cage with the heated perch and with a heating pad so we can see which one is more efficient. I would assume you would have to put the thermometer at the same height as the shoulders of the bird using the heated perch.

[Wolf]

Shiraartain, I am sorry that it has taken me this long to get back to you with the heating pad information that you asked me for. The heating pad is CVS Moist/ dry heating pad. Although the box does not give a model number the paperwork inside the box is for models 981-511 & 982-511 it has 3 heat settings.

[shiraartain]

The crying stopped once I added in the hut. Had our first study/cuddle period for the first time in a while. Was surprised to find him flying over and just sitting in my lap with the occasional nudge against my elbow to request petting. Worked with one hand and petted him with the other until I realized it was sunset (daylight savings is really throwing me off) and THAT was why he was so content to just cuddle while I worked instead of hopping and flying around. He has a hard time staying still the rest of the day.

[shiraartain]

Haha..nevermind. He emerged from his cage this morning with poop on his tail and wings. Thought it was strange but sister bathed him (he was not happy) and we left for school and forgot about it. She glanced under his cage cover today and discovered that he's taken to burrowing under the newspapers to sleep. We took the grate out when he was injured and while it is washed, never got around to putting it back in. Dad quickly made a makeshift cuddle hut/ tunnel for him using thick adverts as support for the cloth, but it collapsed on itself when Fajr tried to enter. He can still go in and it'll open up for him, but it's a new cage item so I doubt he'll try it tonight. So a homemade hut design is in the works now.