Heating blanket?

[labyrinth001]

So, it's starting to get colder at night, and I've added extra blankets onto my bed. We have very drafty windows, and it gets VERY cold in our house during the winter (which my dad denies...but he doesn't let us turn the heat up past 65, and the cold air just comes through the windows and doors like crazy and the heat feels like it barely does anything). Anyway, I literally have to pile on the blankets as it gets colder, and I KNOW it will be too cold for Phoenix as time goes on.

My question is, would a heating blanket over her cage be a good idea? Like, put a sheet over her cage, first, then put the heating blanket just partially over it so it gives her warmth but doesn't suffocate her? Or are there better ideas?

Suggestions are great.

Thanks!

[michael]

Personally, i'm not too convinced that heat blankets are totally safe. .. For one, there is a slight possibility of providing too much heat, and two, I don't like the idea a bird can chew through it. .. Another problem, heat blankets don't sound too economical. .. Heat blankets to me, are better suited for emergency quarantine (where its generally placed UNDER part of a cage), or incubating a large number of eggs. .. Yeah, I know, who the heck incubates a large number of eggs with a heat blanket these days?:wink: .. Better alternatives, might be to look into either an avitech heat panel, ceramic heat element (bulb), or heated perch. .. Could even opt for a "cozy"...just have to hope your bird/s will climb into it. ... Just as important, is that birds don't get exposed to too many drafts, or persistant sudden changes in temperatures.

[lemonypickett]

I think a heated perch and a proper (snuggish) fit sleep hut would be a few safe options....

[linda040899]

Heated perches are nice options but make sure you get the one called Thermo Perch. Thermo perches are made specifically for birds and are thermostatically controlled so that tender feet don't get burned. The small one would probably work well and I know several of our members use them for their lovebirds. The heat panel from Avi-Tech is another great option. It's made for birds and emits heat but no light. :) Lovebirds are cold tolerant as long as they acclimate to the temperature change as it happens. Below 60F is when I turn on the heat in my main aviary.

[labyrinth001]

Awesome, I had no idea they had heated perches! I just found one on amazon.com :)

It's just that our house is old and so are the windows, so they are drafty...I don't have her cage next to a window and I think her cage cover for night works okay, but I'd just feel better knowing she has something warm she can use if she needs it.

Thanks!

[linda040899]

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=10899&ref=4069&subref=AA&mkwid=SsPYHoUGY|pcrid|8527100121&cmpid=PPC-_-G-_-4069
The link is from Drs. Foster and Smith but this is the perch you want. There are other perches available but many birds have had their feet badly burned because they were not specifically for birds. This is the only one to buy!

[light487]

60F is 15.5C.. well it certainly gets lower than that here.. but certainly not below freezing.. probably around the 40 to 45 F mark is the lowest it gets here (outside) and occasionally lower on really cold days.

If he is inside, with his little snuggle tent, do I need to worry about heating during the night? I'm hesitant to put him in our room while we are sleeping due to the fact that we like to sleep with the door closed and the heater on.. don't want to suffocate him.. but do I need to get another heater for his room?

[Enko_chan]

My birds all have perch ponchos. http://www.chopperstoys.com/CatalogSleepers.html Its the second to last one toward the bottom of the page. All my birds except my quaker love them. My quaker I had to cut the perch off and drape it over his favorite perch because he hates anything that's even vaguely like a swing. The birds can face in or out, and I've found that on chilly nights they can wrap up in them so that only their tail feathers are sticking out. They don't inspire nesty behavior. There's one without the perch attached on the same page.