How to Keep a Pet Bird Warm
Many bird lovers wonder how they can keep their avian friends from being cold in the winter, without having the heating bill skyrocket from raising the thermostat and heating the entire house. Many pet birds require a specific temperature range to stay healthy. Space heaters can tip over and cause a fire hazard, while a desk lamp can disrupt the bird's sleep cycle at night. Localized heat using heat lamps and special infrared bulbs or ceramic heating elements is the answer.
Other People Are Reading
Instructions
-
-
1
Purchase a clamp lamp with a ceramic socket at a hardware store, pet store, or feed market. Pet stores carry ceramic heat emitters that produce no light, but you can also find infrared heat lamp bulbs at most lighting, farm, and hardware stores.
-
2
Screw the bulb or heat emitter into the lamp, and mount the lamp on or near the bird's cage. Depending on the size of the cage, you can sit it on top, clip it to the wires, or clip it to an object nearby.
-
-
3
Plug in the lamp and turn it on when extra heat is required to keep your bird buddy warm and happy.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
Birds cannot see the red light emitted by heat lamps, so the lamps won't disturb their sleep.
You can also purchase a warming perch so the bird doesn't lose heat through its feet, and a pillow or tent for it to snuggle into.
Avoid lamps with Bakelite sockets, as they can't stand up to the heat emitted by the heat lamp and tend to crumble.
Make sure there is an area of the cage that is not covered by the heat lamp, so the bird can move away if it gets too hot.
References
- Photo Credit Perruche celeste image by DJ Volt from Fotolia.com
