How To Keep Your Parrot Warm & Cozy This Winter - Pet Bird Tips for Cold Weather

Are you concerned about keeping your parrot warm during the cold winter months? While their plumage offers some form of thermal protection, it's still not enough to preserve their body heat during the peak winter months.

Their body heat will gradually escape, stressing them both mentally and physically. And if the temperatures are low enough, it can threaten the health and well-being of your parrot.

Depending on where you live, you may want to take some additional steps to keep your parrot warm. For some helpful tips and tricks on how to accomplish this, keep reading.

Warm Your Home To 65+ Degrees Fahrenheit

Whether you live in Honolulu or Milwaukee, maintaining a temperature of at least 65 degrees Fahrenheit in your home will ensure your parrot is safe and protected against winter's ever-decreasing cold temperatures. This will provide a comfortable environment for parrots of all sizes to enjoy.

Whether you own a large African Gray or a small budgie, maintaining a constant indoor temperature of 65+ degrees Fahrenheit is recommended during the winter.

Of course, owners can also use space heaters to take some of the burden off their home's central heating. These devices offer a quick, easy and energy-efficient way to warm specific areas of the home without relying on central heat. However, there are a few things you should know before using them around your parrot

Space Heater Warnings:

• NEVER use space heaters (or cookware) containing Teflon or Teflon-coated parts, as they produce fumes which are highly toxic to parrots.
• Make sure the electrical cord is placed far away from your parrot's cage so there's no chance of them chewing it.
• Don't leave the space heater running unattended.
• Give your space heater at least 3 feet of space in all directions.
• Avoid kerosene-fueled space heaters -- stick with electrical.

Get a Heated Perch

If you are still concerned that your parrot is growing cold at night, purchase and install a heated perch in their cage. There's perches heat up just enough to provide a superior level of comfort for your parrot during the cold winter nights.

Make Use of Cage Covers

Another tip to keep your parrot warm this winter is to invest in a quality cage cover. A bird cage cover is a simple accessory that every parrot owner should invest in.

Whether you own a larger parrot species like the African Grey or a small Parakeet, you'll find a cage curtain is a neat accessory with several different uses.

Tossing a soft cover over your parrot's cage will trap their warmth inside rather than allowing it to escape, which in turn helps preserve their thermal energy.

Cage covers are useful in a number of situations, such as introducing a parrot into a new home, transporting them in a vehicle, helping them sleep more soundly at night, and of course keeping them warm.

Check out the best bird cage covers available here.

Uses For a Cover

Allow Your Parrot To Sleep Better at Night

One of the most notable benefits to using a cage cover is the fact that it allows your parrot to sleep better at night (in most cases at least). Wrapping a black cover around their cage blocks their view and prevents light from coming through; thus, creating a sense of security.

Studies have shown that parrots are more likely to fall asleep when they have relaxed and comfortable, and using a cover over their cage works to accomplish this. You don't have to keep their cage covered all the time, but you should use it at night time to help your parrot sleep better at night.

If you intend on using a cover over your parrot's cage at night, make sure it's wrapping thoroughly around so they are unable to see through it. Some owners may simply toss an old bed sheet or blanket over the cage, but this isn't recommended. Soft bed sheets are more transparent, and parrots can actually see through them. Instead, make the investment into a proper cage cover.

Separate Multiple Parrots

Another use for covers is to block out multiple parrots from seeing one another. If you have multiple parrots in your home that don't seem to like one another, you can try using a cover to block their view.

Doing so will reduce the chance of them screaming out in aggression.

As they grow more accompanied to each other, you can slowly try to remove the covers. If your parrots remain docile and calm, you can hopefully leave the cover off.

Easier Transportation

Are you planning on traveling with your parrot in the near future? If so, you should consider using a cover over their cage during transportation. As you can expect, riding in a car can be a bit of a traumatic experience for a parrot. Even a simple ride down the street can make a parrot tense and anxious.

While there's no way to completely avoid this, you can use a cover to block their view and hopefully calm them down a bit.

Wrap Up

Parrot’s health during weather and season changes should always be a top priority. They are very sensitive to temperature changes and as a pet parrot owner, you do not want for them to have any health complications.

While this post addresses strategies for specifically keeping your parrot warm, there are additional precautions you should take.

We hope this post has helped you in knowing how to keep your parrot warm during the winter season. Do you have your own winter stories with your parrot? Let us know in the comments section!