Anyone used a Reptile heat rock in the cage?

Ragdoll · Post by **Ragdoll** » Sun May 20, 2007 12:17 pm

Hi Everyone,

I've been investigating ways to keep Zoe, my Gouldian warm over winter and one of the suggestions was using a reptile heat rock. If you havent seen them, they're a fake rock with a heater inside that keeps a constant temperature of 26 degrees C (think this is 78.8 degrees F) and reptiles lie on them to keep their body temperature up. What I'm trying to figure out, is if this is going to be too hot for Zoe to perch on at night? So far the 'rocks' I've seen don't have a temperature control - it's 26 C or its off!

Any thoughts on the matter are much appreciated

Post by **Sally** » Sun May 20, 2007 2:39 pm

Hi, Pam - I don't know anything about the heat rocks, but I used the ceramic heat emitters sold in the reptile section to keep my birds warm. I screwed the emitters into those cone-shaped clamp-on reflectors they sell here for brooders for chicks, etc. I had some 100w, and some 150w. Hung them outside the cage aimed at one perch, so the birds could gather under the heat if they wanted, or move away if needed. I was really pleased with them, and a lot cheaper to run than the electric space heaters I was using.

tammieb · Post by **tammieb** » Sun May 20, 2007 3:55 pm

I don't know how well the heated rocks would work. Where would you place them?

They do make heated perches. They are usually sold for parrots, so don't know if they'd be to large for finches. You might check into it.

Rue · Post by **Rue** » Sun May 20, 2007 6:25 pm

I've heard bad things about heated perches...and burning feet...so I'd be careful...

...but I've heard that heated rocks are adequate for hospital cages...might have to put a towel on them though...

...but NEVER use them for reptiles...too much danger of the reptile burning itself...

tammieb · Post by **tammieb** » Sun May 20, 2007 6:33 pm

Ideally you would only provide them with one or two heated perches. That way the bird could move to another perch if their feet got to hot. I don't think they are dumb enough to stay put if their feet are being burnt.

Rue · Post by **Rue** » Sun May 20, 2007 6:52 pm

tammieb wrote:... I don't think they are dumb enough to stay put if their feet are being burnt.

...well, yes...sadly that's open for debate...

Thalia · Post by **Thalia** » Sun May 20, 2007 8:04 pm

I would be afraid with the perches that the same thing would happen with reptiles and heated rocks. They would heat so gradually that damage would be done before they realised how hot the perch was.

tammieb · Post by **tammieb** » Sun May 20, 2007 10:13 pm

So you don't think birds are smart enough to move to another perch if the one they are on is too hot??

Rue · Post by **Rue** » Sun May 20, 2007 11:48 pm

I've been looking for the sites/posts that listed injuries from heated perches...can't find them...I'll look a bit more. If I can find them I'll link to them...

I've never tried them personally...it's just what I've heard from others...

I like the radiator heaters best for heating the bird areas...and I think some of the heat lamps available recently are better options...

Thalia · Post by **Thalia** » Mon May 21, 2007 8:51 am

oh no that's not what I'm saying Tammie, what happens with reptiles and those hot rocks is that they heat gradually and then by the time the animal realises "ooh too hot" they've already burned themselves. It's like when you sit out in the warm sun with a good book and suddenly more than an hour's gone by and you look like a lobster. You're not too stupid to get out of the sun, but you heated up so gradually you didn't realise the damage until it was too late (coming from a person who gave herself 2nd degree burns one summer doing exactly this).
With the birds the same thing [i]might[/i] happen, they land and it's nice and warm and their little feet heat to the point of burning before they realise to hop off.

Crystal · Post by **Crystal** » Mon May 21, 2007 6:22 pm

Heat rocks apparently also have a tendency to short circuit and overheat. They are generally considered bad news. I agree radiating heat (i.e. ceramic heat lamp) is the best and safest option, as long as part of the cage is sheltered from the lamp so that the bird has a choice as to how warm it wants to get.