The temperatures in the USA have been dropping quickly. Did you see that snow hit many areas of our country? This blog will include suggestions on how to monitor your bird and keep your feathered friend warm and safe.
Most parrots, finches and other pet birds are native to tropical habitats, but summer weather can still be a threat to their health. Wild birds have numerous ways to regulate their exposure to extreme temperatures, but caged pets must rely upon us to take action on their behalf.
Heat Metabolism in Birds
A basic understanding of avian heat metabolism will help you to evaluate the risks presented by the local weather conditions. Birds maintain higher internal temperatures than do people – 105 F for most species, and up to 108 F in some. So, if you are uncomfortable with the temperature, your bird will likely be so as well.
Most birds also eat more than we do, given their size, and their metabolisms are very fast. Digesting all the food they take in produces a great deal of metabolic heat – a 5-pound chicken, for example, generates the same amount of heat as a 20 watt light bulb (I didn’t do the conversion, but it is a poultry industry standard!).
How Birds Lose Heat
Birds lose heat to the environment in 2 basic ways. Sensible Heat Loss refers to the passive loss of heat that occurs because the bird is (usually) warmer than its environment. This is similar to what occurs when a hot bowl of soup is left out at room temperature. Birds lose more heat when the air temperature is cool, less as it warms up.
Heat is also carried away from the bird via the evaporation of water produced by the respiratory system. This process is known as Latent Heat Loss. Humid air slows the loss of heat via this process, dry air speeds it up.
One way to keep your bird’s temperature at a good level is to have a cover for their cage. Here is our best selling Cozzy Bird Cage Covers and if you use the coupon code SLEEP you will receive 15% off!
As low as $54.95
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