Autumn will be here sooner than we know it; after all we are already at the end of August. What happened to summer? Last winter was pretty harsh with heavy snowfall here in the UK, so there's a good chance that this winter may turn out the same. Your tropical pet birds need to be suitably protected to withstand a harsh winter season.
Larger tropical pet birds are more likely to be able to cope with the freezing conditions but they still need some protection. Small pet birds however will require good quality protection from the onslaught of winter, as their smaller size means that they will cool down much quicker than their bigger cousins. Fortunately your small pet birds are quite hardy and are more than able to stand the cold than you might imagine as long as suitable requirements are met. For example, in Australia where many tropical pet birds originate from the night time temperatures can become very cold in certain areas but the birds survive OK.
For more information read my article about this matter at 'GoArticles'.
Have you noticed that when the weather is freezing cold you are usually quite comfortable if there is no wind and you are dry. Tropical pet birds are the same; they don't mind getting wet, they don't mind cold wind or draughts, they don't mind freezing cold temperatures, but they are not going to take them all at once. As long as your small pet birds have had a good feed and built up a nice layer of cold-protecting fat they are happy. So make sure they've got a plentiful and continuous supply of food to help them feel comfortable.
Also don't allow small pet birds like finches to go without light for more than a maximum of eight hours. An automatic switch that switches on and off at pre-set times and connected to an artificial light source is a good idea, just be sure your tropical pet birds cannot come into contact with the bulb and burn themselves. This is because due to their small size and active nature small pet birds like finches need to eat on a regular basis to keep up their energy and fat levels. They will only eat if it is light enough for them to see clearly.
More about this by reading another of my articles at 'GoArticles'.
Tropical pet birds in an outdoor aviary need to build up their fat reserves to keep their inner bodies warm so if they have been breeding you must ensure that they do not breed during the winter. The chicks would surely die in the cold conditions and raising chicks certainly exhausts their parents and diminishes their food supply much quicker than if they were not looking after youngsters. The best way to prevent your small pet birds from breeding again is to remove the nest boxes at the end of summer regardless of how many clutches they have raised; don't do it until any current babies have flown the nest though.
The tropical pet birds’ aviary will need to be dry and free from cold draughts. This is not a necessity however as long as it is dry and draught free. Artificial heating can be used as long as no fossil fuels are used to provide the heat, so no coal, gas or paraffin for example.
To ensure the aviary for your small pet birds is in good repair for winter, and to avoid having to work in the cold you need to carry out any repairs during late summer or early autumn. To allow enough time before winter sets in it is necessary to inspect the aviary and fix any issues. As long as your aviary is secure, draught free and watertight your tropical pet birds will be fine.
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