FINCHforum

We are heading into winter my side of the world and it will be my first winter with the birds. They have all been outside since I started up with birds again last October (beginning of our summer) and I have since only bought birds from breeders who breed outside, to ensure that they are acclimatized to living outside.

Our winters are relatively mild with the temperature seldom dropping below 5’C (41’F) but our winters are wet and windy. I’m putting up extra sheeting this weekend to make my aviary weather proof but I am now wondering about daylight hours. We generally have a minimum of 9 hours daylight in the middle of winter. I currently have a safety light which throws light into the front of the aviary only at floor level.

Do you think it is necessary to add additional lighting in the evenings for an extra 2-3 hours of light?

I don't add any additional light to my outside aviary. I don't want to encourage any breeding during the winter and long daylight hours may encourage some species.

Perfect, thanks Debbie! That was my thought as well, so I'm glad to hear I'm on the right track

Rox, are you going to provide any source of heating? I know 5 C isn't terribly cold.

Debbie, I know you have a heater for them, but what do you do if there is a power outage (G-d forbid)?

We actually did have a power outage when Hurricane Sandy went through but they did fine. I guess enough warmth stayed in the coop for them, though I have to say all winter long they were zipping in and out the little doorway to go outside to play in the snow and cold.

For now I'm not worrying about additional heating but I will be keeping a beady eye on them during winter and if I feel the need, I will set up some heat lamps.

Our main concern in the Western Cape is rain, wind and damp. I have a pair of Goldenbreasted Waxbills which a local finch breeder and vet told me will probably die during our winter, as they come from more northern regions of South Africa and further up Africa. Up north, the temperature gets much colder but the winter is dry and sunny. I'm determined to prove him wrong, which is why I'm adding extra sheeting on this weekend and closing off 3 sides and adding a large overhang in front to prevent rain blowing in too much. As my aviary is planted, with a dirt bottom (basically sunk into the ground), I also went and bought concrete paving slabs to put along the front and side of the aviary to stop water running in from the lawn. We also dug drainage routes around the aviary for the water flow to run in the other directions.

I'm preparing as much as I can and only the first real heavy rains will tell me if I prepared enough...

My biggest fear with a power outage is not so much the cold, but the darkness. All it takes is a fright and the birds will go crazy! I have had this happen for absolutely unknown reasons even during the day.