JustAnswer > Pet
Ask A Question|Register|Login|Help
JustAnswer

Pet

Ask a Pet Question, Get an Answer ASAP!

Have your own Pet question?

3 Vets and Pet Experts are Online Now
characters left:
Not a Pet Question?

Related Pet Topics:

  • Box
  • ,
  • Vet
  • ,
  • Top
  • ,
  • Two
  • ,
  • Back
  • ,
  • Bird
  • ,
  • Cold
  • ,
  • Come
  • ,
  • Died
  • ,
  • Live
Bookmark and Share

Question

I live in Christchurch New Zealand. We have converted a gazebo into an avairy. We had a pair of budgies, lovebirds and quail. Last week one budgie died (he had be fluffed up for a week and looked like he was moulting). All the other birds seemed well - eating, flying well etc. Last night was cold and this morning the other budgie had died and so had one of the quail. Is it the cold or could it be something to do with the first death. I''m worried about the lovebirds - should I buy an inside cage and bring them in for the winter

Submitted: 579 days and 12 hours ago.
Category: Pet
Value: $9
Status: CLOSED
+
Read More

Optional Information

Optional Information:
Age: <1; Breed: lovebirds (a pair)

Already Tried:
more roofing on avairy, added nesting boxes (they haven't used them though). Will worm them tomorrow

Posted by Dr. Amanda 579 days and 11 hours ago.

Info Request

Hi Trudie,

How cold did it get last night (in Farenheight for us backward people)?

579 days and 11 hours ago.

Reply

It must have been freezing point because there was a frost.

Posted by Dr. Amanda 579 days and 10 hours ago.

Info Request

Hi XXXXXX,

I just wanted to let you know that I am going to opt out of this question. You can repost this question if you wish.

Apologies,
Dr. Amanda

Posted by TheCaretaker 579 days and 6 hours ago.

Info Request

Hello XXXXXX, I hope there haven't been any more losses to your aviary. Have you got nest boxes in the enclosure ?

Any climate control methods at all ?

 

578 days and 13 hours ago.

Reply

Reply to TheCaretaker's Post: Yes I have put nest boxes in, but they aren't using them. I thought I would go and get a heated perch today which might help - if they hop onto it.
No losses today thank goodness - but the avairy looks very empty. I'm to scared to replace them.

So do you think it might be the cold? How much cold can lovebirds and budgies cope with?

We can get snow here in the winter with temperatures dropping below freezing.

My other thought was to catch them by net in the evening and house them in cage inside at night and then let them back out in the morning - they're quite wild, will the stress kill them???

Accepted Answer

XXXXXX, if these birds were hatched in this climate and always outside, they may be able to handle it; however, it sounds like pretty extreme temps for even a more hardy variety.

Heated perches may have their benefit, but more extensive modifications need to be made to outdoor aviaries for weather like this and even summers.

Not just nest boxes that they actually use, but the ability to cover the aviary and shelter them from winds, rain, snow. An outdoor heating method - in an aviary, electric is safest to avoid toxic fumes - should be considered, but it has to be safe from shorting itself out or starting a fire.

Summertime temp modifications would include partial covering of the top and a side for shade opportunity all times of day and shelter from rain if any bird decides not to use a nest box.

A misting system helps cool the surrounding air down in particularly sweltering temps.

At this point it would be my choice to bring them inside for the entire season and work on making their aviary more climate controlled.

They should also be vet checked for any disease that this might be. That is a very prudent move given that you've lost multiples. It would be ideal if you found a vet to come to you and double check your aviary.

If you can't find one, then take one or two of the survivors in for a genetic/DNA blood screening for the more common diseases as the vet feels warranted in your particular area.

Let me know how you do - I'll try to support you all the way on this ok?

 

 

Picture
Expert: TheCaretaker
Pos. Feedback: 100.0 %
Accepts: 
Answered: 4/23/2008

Own Animal Care & wildlife habitat

Animal Rescue&Care Org Owner; Animal Care author; Animal Behavior Consults.;Cert. Avian Specialist;

+
Read More

Related Pet Questions

  • If you use superbugs in your koi pond do you need to
  • waiting on a reply from lastnight my fee has been paid
  • Do you know about a "new Bacteria" that attacks cats - and
  • i am out of food for my hamster? can i feed er bell pepper
  • My 2 year old male g.pig is eating everything but his pellet...
  • Two males hamsters were together and one bit the other one
  • I have two dutch dwarf rabbits which live outside, I have no...
  • My 6 year old short hair cat is losing her fur on her unders...



Disclaimer: Information in questions, answers, and other posts on this site ("Posts") comes from individual users, not JustAnswer; JustAnswer is not responsible for Posts. Posts are for general information, are not intended to substitute for informed professional advice (medical, legal, veterinary, financial, etc.), or to establish a professional-client relationship. The site and services are provided "as is" with no warranty or representations by JustAnswer regarding the qualifications of Experts. To see what credentials have been verified by a third-party service, please click on the "Verified" symbol in some Experts' profiles. JustAnswer is not intended or designed for EMERGENCY questions which should be directed immediately by telephone or in-person to qualified professionals.
Question List | Become an Expert | Terms of Service | Security & Privacy | About Us
© 2003-2009 JustAnswer Corp.