Even if you take all possible precautions to keep your bird comfortable, unforeseen circumstances can cause your pet to overheat. In extreme cases, your bird could suffer from heat stress which can lead to heat stroke. Your bird can lose consciousness and even die when the temperature exceeds their comfort zone. Here’s what to do if you run into this problem.
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7 Ways to Keep Pet Birds Cool in Hot Weather
Birds rely on the insulation afforded by their feathers to regulate their temperature. They keep their wings close to the body to stay warm and spread them to keep cool. They also lose heat through their unfeathered body parts, in particular, their legs and feet. Overweight birds are more prone to heat stress, so keep your bird trim and healthy.
If your bird is showing signs of being overheated, you should take corrective action swiftly to avoid the problem getting any worse. You do, however, need to be careful not to cool the bird down too quickly as this can send them into shock or lead to internal organ damage. Some solutions on how to help birds in hot weather include:
1. Bird Cooling Fans
A cooling tower that is set on a low level will provide a soft soothing breeze for your birds – ideal for indoor birds.
2. Bird Baths
A bird bath is another solution that your bird can use to keep itself cool. Just ensure you change the water daily.
3. Bird Misters
Outdoor Automatic Bird Mister
Indoor Handheld Bird Mister
Perfect for cooling down birds that are swelting in the heat. Bird aviary misters are usually used outdoors but the manual handheld ones also gets used inside as well.
4. Provide Shade
Ensure your bird is not in the direct sun, especially if it is kept outdoors.
5. Move the Bird Cage
Move the bird to a cooler, quieter place in your home, away from sunlight and any sources of stress such as other family pets.
6. Use Thermostats and Heat Controllers
Thermostats are used for keeping your an eye on the room temperature of your birds and can be set to turn heaters and coolers on and off.
7. Consider HEPA Air Filtration Systems
The premium and super high end solution that will not only control room temperature but will also filter the air and thus prevent bird dander and dust. Choose this option if you have a serious dander problem or are looking for the best solution.
The video above is a short example of a budgie suffering from minor heat stress and is agitating and panting heavily.
Bird Body Temperature
On average, bird’s have higher body temperatures than compared with humans – around 105 Fahrenheit or 40 Celsius. Birds do get hot, just like other animals and because they are very active creatures, temperature regulation is very important for these birds. Birds can die from being overheated and lack of water, so it’s important that pet bird owners keep an eye on the temperature during a heat wave or in hot climates.
How Do Birds Keep Cool in Hot Weather?
Birds will employ a number of different strategies for keeping their bodies cool.
A. Do birds pant?
Panting by the bird is the most obvious sign that a bird is overheated and needs to cool down. The faster the panting, the more the bird is overheated and needs to cool down.
B. Wing stretching?
A bird will hold its wings away from its body to provide more surface area for air to reduce its temperature.
C. Bird mouth open?
When a bird keeps its mouth open, it allows a larger flow of air into the lungs and this helps to regulate its temperature.
D. Do birds sweat?
No. This is the one method that birds will not use to cool themselves since birds have not evolved sweat glands to keep themselves cool.
Why Would My Bird Overheat?
Wild birds always have some exposure to air movement which can help them cool down. Some scenarios that can cause your pet bird to overheat are given by peteducation.com. They are:
- Power failure in warm weather that halts your air-conditioning.
- Wrapping your bird in a towel for restraint for too long a period of time.
- Having your bird in an enclosed vehicle where the heat is rising.
- Forgetting to close a blind allowing the sun to stream in through the window on your bird’s cage.
- Aviary birds living outside dealing with an uncommonly long spell of hot weather or excessive direct sunlight.
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References:
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/030096299190122S
https://web.stanford.edu/group/stanfordbirds/text/essays/Temperature_Regulation.html
Post Updated: 2019-08-02
You share very nice tips and also explain the sign of bird overheated. Thanks for sharing such a useful details.
No problem Shan. It’s always a good idea to get your pet bird cooling equipment ready ahead of time before the summer heat waves hit.