Fireworks

[steve]

Hi all

With the Festive Season upon us I got to thinking how my birds are going to handle people letting off Fireworks. This obviously happens at night and I am extremely worried, I lost a Grass Finch because of Thunder the other night. Is there anything that can be done in the way of precautionary measures.

Regards
Steve

[MiaCarter]

Hi Steve!
I'm sorry to hear about your grassfinch. That's awful that you lost her from thunder.

I would keep the lights on so they don't startle in the dark. That's key.
I would place them in an internal room or pull the shades so they can't see the fireworks. That eliminates the potential for fear from the visual aspects.

Then, I'd put on a fairly loud television or radio. (And I might start doing this now at a moderate volume, so they're used to it.) Not blaring, hurt-your-ears-loud. Just a bit louder than you typically listen to it.

Part of what makes thunder and fireworks so bad is the fact that they're startling. So if you put them in an atmosphere of consistent noise, it's drowned out and anything they do hear is part of an ongoing cacophony of noise.

I've found this method is very effective. Hopefully it works nicely for you!

[Sheather]

Steve

@MiaCarter has it!

I keep a box fan running outside the bird room door at night to drown out sudden noises that can be problematic if it's silent. Works well, I've never seen a night fright.

[MiaCarter]

Sheather - Ha! I use the same method in my bedroom. I'm a freelancer so I work odd hours. I often tend to work at night and sleep during the day.
So I have 2 little fans that drown out all the neighborhood sounds, like car doors closing, dogs barking, etc. And I sleep with the TV on, so it works beautifully to prevent the dogs from jumping up barking or trampling me en route to the window because they've heard something interesting!

[delray]

Mia did a great job covering this! I totally agree with everything she said, good luck and I hope everything works out.

[steve]

Hi all

Thanks for all the advice, my biggest problem is that all my birds are outside, I think that light will be my best option.

Steve

[Jen]

I agree with the radio idea. I have a friend that raises chickens outdoors and there is always a radio on playing music. You might be able to plug a radio in close by for them now so they get used to it and it will help with all the fireworks that will surely be popping around them soon! Good luck!