Just want to take a moment here to remind folks about a few issues where its now approaching winter for most of us that there are a few things we need to consider for the overall health of our birds and their safety...

1. be sure to clean all heating registers or ventilation systems...and change filters ...
2. consider maybe moving the location of a cage away from doors that are opening so cold drafts are not suddenly hitting your birds...
3. dont place cages near heating sources as warm drafts are just as bad as cold ones...
4. remember air gets drier with less moisture in it which can cause dry skin and some respiratory issues in some birds so a humidifier should be considered to keep moisture in the air not only for the birds but us.
5. if you dont have one consider the cost of a full spectrum light as now just like us we will and our birds suffer from less sunlight for our health.
6. check more often your water containers that you give water in to your birds as it will evaporate faster and get dustier just from the dust floating in the air during winter.
7. offer more baths...with room temperature water.
8. watch for little critters now seeking warmer places an sneak into your house...spiders etc.
9. and watch out for all those holiday decorations that we all are pulling out now to place around in our homes as they can be a danger with ingestion or getting caught up in...
10. also remember some of those brightly colored items can be a bit overwhelming to some birds and they may suddenly act spooked about something an it could very well be the COLOR.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS AND A SAFE WINTER

oh yes another thing...remember about chimneys and furnace cleanings...creosote is a very noxious fume from chimneys as well as fumes from your furnace even if you think its far enough away ..it is a safety issue

I am assuming that alternate heating sources during power outage like Kerosene or indoor propane heaters are off limits? What about candles or oil lamps when electricity is out?

Merry

Nice reminder illusive..it sure is starting to get cold in my neck of the woods. brrrr
If you plan on using electric space heater make sure it is a CERAMIC heater..because some electric heaters have teflon components in them

You are right Merry..kerosene or propane heaters are a no no.
Same with oil lamps and most candles.
Candles made with beeswax or soy are ok. It would be a good idea to stock up on flashlights and battery operated lanterns..along with extra batteries of course.

Maybe some hand/foot warmer things like hunters use-you stick in mittens or boots to keep warm? Or what I keep on hand are the Thermacare heatwraps you would use for back pain..they are bigger. Can be placed under grate and cover cage to hold heat in.Maybe even sew little pouches on cage cover in strategic locations to insert warmers.
Hot water bottle under grate-if you have a way to heat water..or fill thermoses with very hot water if you THINK there might be a power outage so you can refill hot water bottle as needed.

Any other ideas as to how to keep our feathered ones warm during power outage, or winterizing tips..by all means let us know!


eeeeeww the thought of spiders starting to come in seeking warmth...*shiver..and not from the COLD either! LOL I hate spides!!!! Thanks for THAT reminder to illusive

candles are a no no so is indoor propane a huge no no... and oil lamps,, there is battery operated gadgets for light...and if there is a power outage how would you run a ***self contained** kerosene heater anyway..if it is not contained the fumes would be unforgivable...most areas do not have outages for very long and ..keets can tolerate a slow drop in temperatures, so again dont panic...there are thermal heating packs that you just smack to activate that hunters and ice fisherman use you can find in the sporting goods area and place them ***under your cage and cover...if your cage is huge this is why i keep advocating also having a smaller more adaptable cage for situations such as this to place a keet or two...

its one of the considerations when you have many keets that you need to be prepared for if you decide on a entire flock...a hot water bottle is good for under a small cage an your water in your tank will stay warm enough for several hours...you can even safely put the hot water bottle INSIDE the cage some even have a cover made for them if not just a small hand towel or dish towel to wrap them is fine.

however ANY FUEL SUSTAINED HEATER IS A RISK...for the obvious reasons...so get prepared now and dont wait till something happens...keets can tolerate as i mentioned cooler air with little stress as long as NO COLD AIR is blowing on them and they are wrapped up in a good warm blanket with a heat source under the cage such as the ones mentioned above..and you dont keep opening the blanket to check...talk to your bird it will let you know im here and im fine dont open the blanket cuz it will let out the little heat i have in here giggle...

so that the bird gets the benefit of the heat on the bottom you may want to remove all the perches if it appears your source of heat is going to be out for several hours...or just as you would for a sick or injured bird to keep it low.

these are some suggestions and what each does bears a responsible well thought out plan in advance...

be wise...no one dies...

in my outdoor aviary i kept my birds outside even when night temperatures got to 50degrees with NO heat source...out of winds and they were fine...all thru the nite.

i dont advocate ANY flame to any kind of candle...fire is fire...

Last year we lost power for several days. During hurricane season, we have lost power for up to a week (though it wasn't cold). No electricity or water (water won't pump from a well w/o it!).

Sounds like I need to invest in an outdoor generator & some more beeswax candles!

Thanks,
Merry

*Knock on wood, we've never gone without power for extended time.I've worried about it often tho, and I keep saying we should get a generator too. No heat without power, and to go too long with no heat...I'm sure hand warmers won't cut it! lol

then again there is another way to prepare...buy some of us all a generator giggle

Good idea!!! Put me on the list. LOL

hey hey me first i thought of it

Winter is here, and it can be cold and scary. We're all aware of how harsh winter months can be for our feathered friends. But there are ways you can help your pet birds survive the cold season. Follow these simple tips to make the winter easier for them. Get this self evaluation generator and info the review generator interested person. In the winter months, it is important for our birds to keep warm. We are always amazed by the lengths that our feathered friends go to in order to get through the coldest months.