TEMPERATURE: do Some like it HOT ?

[S. W. Houston]

I agree 75° is a good temperature for just about anything except Penguins !
But, just how carefully should I try to keep the environment (my house) to accommodate these nice cute Birds? Most “outside/wild” Birds can handle quite a range of temperature, and given I have Spotted Sided/Zebra Grass Finch (from Australia) so I’m told, and the range of temperature down there is quite diverse. Think that the ones I have, have lost their ability to deal with the winter/summer variations?
(Houston = mid 30’s to mid 90’s)

Is that typical of “kept” birds ?

How low and high can I go ?

And when they breed, is it more relevant, does the temperature of the “egg/nest” have any influence on weather males or females are hatched, what is the optimum temperature for an egg?

Have a good Day !

[Sally]

Since you have Zebras, which are quite hardy, and you are keeping them in the house, your normal house temps will be fine. They can take cooler temps than say waxbills, from Africa. So whatever you are comfortable with will work for them (unless mid 30's or mid 90's is comfortable for you ). The same goes for breeding, house temps will be fine. What I would watch for is cold air from a/c vents blowing right down on the cage, so you want your cage away from the vents. As for breeding, I have never heard of nest temps affecting sex of the eggs. The parents incubating will keep the eggs at the temp they need.

[S. W. Houston]

Sally,
Thanks (again) !

But given the high cost of keeping a house within "normal" tempratures, and the frequesncy of Grey Hair Days I'm experiencing more of now, I've been running the temp in the house a bit warmer (76/78°).

Don't know where I herd about the temp influnceing sex, but, if there's any thing I can do to keep from having more males, or fewer anyway, I'll try it !

Any advice there ?

Have a good Day !

[TammyS]

I keep my breeding room at 65 daytime and 60 nighttime during the winter months and my birds do fine (Gouldians, Owls, Strawberries, Swees, Cutthroats, Pearl Heads, Societies & Shafttails).

The main reason I try to keep them acclimated to cooler temps is that if I keep them at say 70-75, and someone buys a bird from me and keeps their house in the 60's - the birds would have a difficult time adjusting to the immediate temperature drop. Even a few degrees makes a difference to your birds if they have not been gradually acclimated to those temperatures.

[beccafigs]

I find that my birds are not very tolerant of cold. (I live in Arizona and have zebras) In the summer I would put my birds on the balcony (which is nearly full shade) and they LOVED it. They were so bouncy and happy out there. Granted, I wasn't doing it when it was 115, but in the 90s they were fine. Again, they were in the shade and it was a lot cooler in the shade. Now that we actually have a winter this year (actually in the 30's in the morning!) my apartment is cooling off quite a bit. I have the heat on, but the thermostat is by the bedroom, and my birds are all in the living room. In the evening as it cools down more the living room gets a lot colder first, and by the time the heat comes on all my birds are puffy. Now, I am still comfortable, not cold at all. Occasionally, I will look over (and it will be 72 degrees or so) and they will all be cuddling and a bit puffy. If I turn the heat on before it kicks on automatically they de-puff and act normal again as soon as it warms up a few degrees.

[S. W. Houston]

Thank you both for your replies !

TammyS,
That 60/65° range is just about as low as I can go personally, every time it gets below 73° or so, I start looking for Long Sleeves and Ear Muffs !
Our temp ranges here in Houston, are much like your late Spring to Early Fall there in the Windy City, your Lake Effect, equates to our Gulf Effect.

beccafigs,
I liked hearing that they like it warmer (for me as much as them), I have mine in my Living Room, north side of the house, and in front of the stationary half of a sliding Patio Door. Temps can vary quite a bit in that location, but like in your area, it getting very cold is not a frequent concern.
I had mine outside a couple days ago, just seemed like they might like it, and they did ! I really wasn’t all that sure about doing that, given the wild ones outside might light on the Cage, and give them something they didn’t ask for !
I have a sturdy Plant Hook screwed into the Eave, just outside the back door, usually used for an Airplane Plant, which got bumped in favor of the Birds.

Appreciate your thoughts.

Have a good Day !

[TammyS]

LOL...yes, we are used to it being a bit colder here in the north. I can't imagine what my heating bill would be if I kept the house at 73 degrees .

I do have a separate room for my birds - so it makes it easier for me to control the temperature and humidity of the room. I don't keep the rest of my house quite that cool .

[tjfinch]

Hello All!

I'm new to this list and have limited finch experience but not here in Tucson, AZ where I live. I have a question for anyone living in the SW where the temps get up into the 100s. I have a covered patio with ceiling fan. I am thinking of putting in a 5'x8' aviary in this patio but with days in summer getting to 110F, I wonder if this is wise. In winter, I have my Zebs and Societies (and one lone Budgie) inside but as my collection grows, I would like to have them outside in from April to Nov. Does anyone have experience with this? I have thought that a mist system would be good. I can also install more fans and there will shade except for a time in the afternoon when they would get a filtered sun in part of the aviary. Any experiences or opinions are most welcome. Happy 2008 Finch Team Members!

Terry

[S. W. Houston]

Welcome Terry !

Glad to have you here with us.
This is a GREAT Forum, nice people, knowledgeable, and from my experience, Xtra willing to help someone out with any problem concerning Finching. Hope your experience here, is as fulfilling as mine has been.

There's a Column on the Left side of this screen, where you'll find a link to the Information Center here on the Site.

Check it out, there's a LOT of good stuff there to read.

Have a good Day !

[Hilary]

I know of people who keep their birds out in very hot weather, and they don't seem to have a problem as long as the birds have shade. I believe some do use misters as well......

[Sally]

Hi, Terry, and welcome - there is a woman who moved to Arizona and added three aviaries to her patio. As soon as I can remember where I saw that, I will post a link for you.

[Hilary]

Was that Myra from Finch Niche?

Finch Niche - Outdoor Aviary

Kudos, Sally - she's got some great info there!

[Sally]

That's the one--I really like how she was able to position her aviaries so she can sit on her covered patio and be surrounded by aviaries, plus her covered patio acts as her catch.

[beccafigs]

WOW that setup she has is AMAZING. I would love something like that someday! I am in AZ and I put my bird cage outside in the shade during the day almost all summer long and the birds seem to just love it. I'm sure the mister does help a lot though since her birds are out there 24/7.