The thing is most can not survive! Why do you think birds migrate? Part of the reason is food! Plus the predatory birds and the other wild birds attack them first because they're not from here. There's PLENTY of parakeets and Cockatiels that escape out here ALL the time, there's absolutely no population of them here outside. Yes I know birds can learn to tolerate, like I've said I keep my house on the cooler side. I know they can live in aviaries outside, BUT as you said, providing the proper shelter is the key! I've been to the botanical garden in Des Moines, they keep breeding parakeets, finches, etc within, it's amazing to walk in to see. BUT when they place a few Cockatiels within, they had to be removed cause they weren't thriving as they should, but a different Cockatiel may do better....Yes that would be the gene to pass on! But I think it's cruel to place them outside in a foreign land where they do not belong and test their bodies with the temperature. IS it a have to thing to do? NO! People do trial and error! IF you loose your two favorite bird outside because of frost, it's your own doing and should be the one to be blamed! When it comes to trial and error when their life is concerned, I do NOT believe in that sort of thing unless it's an absolute have to type of deal to better the bird's life!!!!

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Survival of the fittest, yes. But...could you, eventually, bring your pet bird along to the point, of becoming physically capable to take on the challenges of winter cold? I think that if they have the right nutrition available, water, and night time lodging, they could adapt. I definitely wouldn't put my bird out in the middle of winter without him being acclimatized first. Living in the foothills of the Sierras, we have pretty mild temps compared to easterners but still, it's been down to the 30's the last couple days and I let Mi Amigo outside when it gets 42 degrees, he let's me know when he's ready! If the sun's not out, I won't let him go, if it is, he's gone!

lol yeah i was expecting cold cold to. I am in Minnesota and in winters here with wind chill it gets to -75 degrees farenheit. So your cold is still semi summer here lol. Here I also have a basic oil space heater i got at a garage sale this last summer for liek 3 dollars =) works great and i cover my birds with a nice warm blanket, which on the coldest of nights is sometimes nice to put in the dryer for a few minutes first so the space heater doesnt need to be on so high. =)

What is your point on migration? You mention food? I don't know of any parrots that do mass migrations (May move a few 100kms to feeding grounds, but that's about the extent of it) I could be wrong, but eh. I don't see the point you are trying to make? Is it migrating birds are non native (because that is incorrect, if they naturally migrate they are naturally part of that ecosystem, even if only for a limited time)? How does that relate to feral parrots? You claim migrating animals are attacked more? I would like to see evidence of that first. And how does it relate to this? Migrating animals are not a parallel for feral populations of parrots.

I think you need to realise what people are saying. The general consensus here seems to be keeping birds inside, even if cool= good. Keeping them outside in proper housing and properly acclimatised=ok. Keeping them outside exposed to the elements =bad. No one is making that an argument, but they are, however, trying to stop the whole 'keeping a bird in a cool house' risk being blown out of proportion.

No one is advocating taking non native birds and releasing them or exposing them to the elements. It was a biological discussion on the genetic dynamics of such groups for anyone who may be interested as to WHY they survive better then captive birds, and why they are not a good comparison as a result.

As for the cockatiels in the gardens, then their avairy was probably not adequate for those birds and they were not getting the required set up. Finches have different requirements and tolerances to cockatiels, and slapping some in an aviary with them is not a good idea unless you have given the cockatiels adequate space geared to their needs. If so, they shouldn't have had a problem. I would like to see their setup though, before I make those judgements.


As for the part I highlighted in red, the person who lost their birds was violently ill and forgot (suffered from mid stage dementia in addition to her physical illness). I doubt she could get physically outside to pull down the wind sheeting/frost covers on the cage anyway by that stage. She died recently after. You would blame a woman with dementia, who was INCAPABLE of remembering for this? If so, that is disgusting. It is immensely disrespectful for you to assume something and place the blame on her not knowing the situation at all. I repeat- This poor woman suffered from dementia. My mother answered her ad and acquired her last cockatiel after (we already had one at the time) to prevent this from happening again, but how can you blame someone with dementia for forgetting to cover her birds? She was mentally incapable. If anything it was her families fault for not doing something sooner. Don't judge someone, ever, until you know the whole situation. I have absolutely no respect for people who do.

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Amber,

You left that part of the story out! Regardless she has an issue or not, maybe she shouldn't own any birds if that's the case! Does she forget to feed and give water? Your the one blowing out of proportion going on full attack!!!

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Registered to comment on this thread.

We use two Avi-Temp infrared heaters for our three birds, who absolutely love them.

Avitech Exotic Birds - Supplies, Equipment and Nutritional Supplements for Birds!

They're hooked up to the thermostat (also sold on the site), so that when it's not below a certain temperature, the heaters are off. This way, we can keep the bird room door closed, and the house can be at, say 70, while the bird room is a nice 80 degrees F. These panels are one of the only truly "safe" ways I've seen out there to provide heat to birds. They mount directly on the cage, and only provide heat to objects, not to the air, so it doesn't take away humidity. Highly recommend these products!


Edit: Re-reading my post, it sounds like an advertisement, but I'm just really enthusiastic about these heaters. Sorry about that.

Thank you!

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My pleasure! Let me know if you have any questions - been using them for about 4 years now.

So because it was 'left out' it was ok for you to make an attack on the birds owner? Their could have been any number of variables and it could be any number of situations. One makes THAT assumption when given inadequate information and thinks about the possible situations before making a statement. Regardless, it was off the actual topic, but if I need to defend someone from attacks and assumptions they don't deserve, so be it. And if you want to call that a 'full on attack' fine by me.

I am happy to discuss birds and winter, and to continue to discuss the first 4 paragraphs of my previous post which addresses migration and the like, but I will not tolerate people making assumptions about others without defending them. End of story. That's the last I will say about it as it is not relevant here. I'm happy to discuss it with you elsewhere if you feel the need.

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Like I've said regardless she was sick or not. She IS the one to be blamed. You were treating like its ok to do just because she had an excuse! Its inexcusable!!! Will you leave your child in the cold to freeze? NO!

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