Cage location issues

[Strawfrawg]

I am getting a Senegal parrot and have concerns about where to put the cage in my house, which is old and has poor window insulation. I live in South Carolina so cold weather is brief, but of course I am concerned about drafts and unfortunately every room I could put him in has a large window on at least two walls, with other walls interrupted by doors and other features. The best room in the house for temperature/draft control is actually the living room, but we tend to stay up late watching TV.

My cockatiel (who passed away last April) was a mature bird when we moved into the house, and he adapted fine to sleeping with the TV on but I am concerned that a young bird might be more sensitive. I want my baby to get the rest he needs...suggestions? What is more important if the bird is covered at night...temperature variances or noise level? If noise level is worse, what do you think about running an electric space heater in the room on cold nights?

[Andromeda]

Preferably the bird would be in a quiet location during the ~12 hours it needs to sleep.

Never, ever use a space-heater around a bird because most of them contain Teflon which is poisonous and very deadly to birds. There are stories all over the internet of birds who have died from Teflon exposure from a space heater, and some even die within minutes of exposure.

If you are 100% sure that the space heater does not contain Teflon it's probably safe, but personally I wouldn't take the chance with any space heater, period, because you're basically trusting that the manufacturer is providing you with correct information and if they are wrong for whatever reason, the price is a dead bird.

[friend2parrots]

andromeda's offered good advice re: space heaters.

re: location, i think it might be a good idea to have one location in the house that's a "daytime" location - like the most active place in the house where your whole family gathers (it can be the place where you watch tv, or any other noisy, active, social area - birds like being with their flock) , and then,
have a SEPARATE, quiet room or area of the house that is designated as the birds sleeping area. you can get another cage as a sleeping cage, or wheel the usual cage into that quiet area, depending on what the set up of your house is, etc. that way, your bird can get its restful sleep, and also be part of the flock during the day.

[marie83]

I agree with the others, be wary of heaters.

I don't know the layout of your home, nor do I know if the windows are drafty -its drafts more than temperature that you need to be concerned about but I was going to suggest that placing the cage so its across a window with two thirds of it across the wall is acceptable and even offers some enrichment for your parrot if it can see outside too. Before you get your bird you could place a candle in various places around the room to see where drafts may be a problem but don't do this once you have the bird as the fumes are no good for them at all.

If noise will be an issue then a small travel cage will be absolutely fine as a sleeping cage in another room and will be much much easier than wheeling a big cage into another room each night. Its always a good idea to have a travel cage which can double up as a carrier and/or carrier on hand anyway. TBH I feel like everyone should have both, my birds travel cage is too heavy to be used for things like vet trips but its ideal for weekends away and currently its in use as a hospital cage as one of my pets is not sick enough to be in a proper hospital cage but too sick to be in his big cage.

[Strawfrawg]

All good advice...no space heaters for me. It's not worth the risk. Also a great idea about using a candle to detect drafts. I'm writing all of this down.

I was wondering abut a sleeping cage, especially because of my previous experience with night frights. I have a travel cage that would work well for sleeping. Duh, Me. Problem solved.

During the day when temperature permitted I always had my last bird at a window. I also have an outdoor aviary for nice days. It cost a bunch but it was worth the investment to see how much my little guy enjoyed it. One good thing about SC is the number of months suitable for being outdoors!