Gouldians - can they adjust to cool temperatures?

[Nipper06]

I have a pair of Gouldians in a large cage in my sunroom. It is heated but it's not easy to keep it as warm as my main house. Now that we are in the middle of winter, it can get down to the low 50s in there some nights and it rarely goes up beyond 65'F during the day. I have a heat lamp over their cage and keep a radiator next to them - so their immediate surroundings are usually in the 60s - but they still huddle under that heat lamp. So I am wondering if this is still too cool for them? Maybe I should just give up and bring them in the main part of the house for the winter at least? I know Gouldians are more temperature sensitive than other finches but I was hoping they'd adapt.



I have my Green Singing Finches and Ringneck doves out there in the sunroom too but they are pretty unfazed by the cooler temperatures. Even my Green Singer baby seems totally adjusted to the cooler temperatures.

[Sally]

I think the key is adjustment. You can't take Gouldians that have been in a heated environment and throw them out in an outside aviary, for example. There is a breeder, www.friskyfinches.com, that is located in I think central California, keeps the Gouldians in an outside aviary year round, with access to an indoor aviary. Since yours have been on the sun porch as the temperatures gradually got cooler, plus you are giving them some heat, I woud think they would be fine. The fact that they are huddling under the heat lamp means they are enjoying that extra heat. Some people feel that the reason Gouldians got the reputation of being delicate was from being over-coddled.

[Nipper06]

Sally - Thanks for the tip. I went to the "Frisky Finches" website http://www.friskyfinches.com/ and asked my question to the web site owner. Gary. He wrote back and told me that his Gouldians endure much colder temperatures - close to freezing - and they are OK as long as they are dry and not in a draft. So I will try mine out in the sunroom a while longer before I give up and bring them inside. As I mentioned before, my Gouldians have been out in the sunroom since it was hot, back in September so they have adjusted gradually to the cold - and Gary thought, as you did, that was good the way I did the long transition.

We are probably close to the peak of winter cold right now - by the end of February, crocuses start blooming here (Delaware) so it's just probably 4 more weeks are real cold like this. In December and earlier, it was much easier to keep the sunroom warm.

[TammyS]

I don't keep my bird room above 65-68 degrees during the winter months and my birds do adjust to the cooler temps. But I have noticed that the Gouldians are less active at these temps than when the temperature is above 72 degrees.

[Rae2]

I keep my stars and societies in my living room, where the temperature never goes under 70 degrees.
Normally 72, which is where I am comfortable.
They are all active and seem comfortable with that temp.

Sounds to me yours are cold and staying close to the heat source.
I would move them in and see if that makes a difference in their activity.
Do they spend most of their time under heat lamp, or mainly at night to sleep?

Their body language will tell you how comfortable they are with the temperature.

[hilljack13]

I only have zebras and usually keep the vent and doors shut year round. They seem to adjust fine. The temp is between ~50 - ~100 F. They are just as active when its cool as when it is hot. I sometimes think this is better because its only natural for them to have seasons, even though they are more tropical like they weren't born and raised that way.

[mandy]

I have six zebra finches in an outside avairy un heated and they dont mind the cold at all they are all healthy and active they are in and out of there bath everyday in the outside flight area. but as for other finches i wouldnt no, sorry.

[Fancie Flight]

I personally think your birds will do fine as you have them. I keep my bird room in the 68 degrees area, and my birds are happy healthy and active, I also keep a red heat lamp at each gouldian cage INCASE they choose to use it which none have yet,
I think you would do more harm by moving them to a warm place at this point , because the gradual increase/ decrease indeed as stated is best,

every time w ehave c ompany my husband wants to warm the house and Im like NOOOOOOOOOOO cause that will effect my bird room as well, lol let the folks be chilly at 68 I say

[Marigold]

I have my Ladies in a stand alone Bird House. They have been living in there for 3+ yrs. As other said. My Ladies have gotten used to it being from 90 degrees to 38 degrees in their home. All is well so far.