rain

[mohum]

We have had non-stop rain for several days and I am trying to keep my outdoor aviary and food as dry as possible even though the floor is waterlogged. I have just arrived home to find that they have all had a bath so it's not bothering them too much then. Someone is nesting in the feed bowls so I have put the nests back in for a few days to give them an interest but will keep moving them so as not to encourage too much activity. They prefer sunny days but this comes with frost at this time of the year so its either warm and wet or cold and dry.Not sure which I prefer.

[lovezebs]

mohum

Personally, I prefer warm and dry myself .

Hopefully you have a way to keep all the kids warm, with Winter looming over the horizon.

We have snow.
It started snowing yesterday evening, with some of it melting, then freezing overnight, with more snow piling on top of the ice. Makes for treacherous driving conditions

Hey, I'll take the rain....at least don't have to shovel it

[Spreckles]

What do people do with outdoor birds in winter? I thought they would die in the cold? Heaters?

[mohum]

I have been assured that they are fine as long as they have shelter from wind and rain and have been acclimatised. The previous owner regularly had to give fresh water to replace frozen. I have made some sheeting lined with bubble wrap for the worst days and am still investigating a localised heat lamp. There are also spare cages for bringing indoors if necessary but they would then lose their hardiness for going back outside so this would only be done in extreme situations.

[erine]

Spreckles
Unless you live in Canada. And then all your birds would be frozen stiff by the end of November. It's indoor birds only for me.

[Dramoth]

Fortunately, here in West Australia the weather isn't that bad all year round. There are a couple of chilly mornings when the weather hits 0, but on the whole our little kids cruise through winter with ease

[lovezebs]

Dramoth & mohum

As erine, mentioned, here in Canada, it becomes a real challange to have an outdoors aviary.

Some people have an indoor/outdoor set-up, with the indoor part having to be properly Insulated and heated. In the Summer, they allow their birds to come and go freely, in the Winter, the outdoor portion is closed off. Then again, we are dealing with Winter temperatures here, that can dip into the -30's Celsius.

If I had the means, I would probably try for a set up like that. For now though, my birdlings have to enjoy open windows inside my house during good weather, and central heating, along with an extra electric heater/fan thrown in during the cold months.