Humidifiers

As we get deeper into the Winter months (here in the Northern Hemisphere) I would like to offer some advice that was given to my by Ham's vet: Please make sure you have moisture in the air in the area that you keep your fid(s).

I can't complain too much about the winter so far, I mean really, it's been a proverbial "cake walk" here this year. MAYBE we've had 8-10 inches of snow all winter (unheard of considering we can get more than that in just one storm ) and until the last few days it has been abnormally warm (two weeks ago it was in the 50's and back on Christmas Eve Day, it was almost 60).

BUT THE ONE CONSTANT THING THAT HASN'T CHANGED - THERE IS NO MOISTURE IN THE AIR! WINTER AIR = DRY AIR.

My avian vet told me that the normal habitat of our birds (no matter what species) has a humidity level of AT LEAST 80%. Now, here in the Northeast of the US we see those types of levels only during the LONGEST HOTEST days of SUMMER (usually late July, early August). Our fids need this type of moisture to help with feather/skin health all year long. 0% humidity will dry everything out (think about what happens to YOUR skin in the winter). Please place a humidifier in the general area of your fids.

Today's humidifiers have built in humidity controlls - you should be aiming for a minimum of 40% humidity in the area of your birds, but the more moisture the better.

A WARM MIST humidifier is better for your fids as during the vaporizing process many nasty germies/bacteria are killed. Also make sure that you clean the holding tank on your humidifer on a regular basis, as this is also a potential bacteria heaven (warm/dark/moist ... ).

If your fid is starting to pull at feathers, scratch certain areas and act generally annoyed it's probably not a behavior issue as much as a DRYNESS issue this time of year. Try a humidifier and see if his/her attitude changes.

*** AS ALWAYS CHECK WITH YOUR AVIAN VET FOR HEALTH ISSUES RELATED TO YOUR SPECIFIC FRIEND. NO ONE KNOWS YOUR FID BETTER THAN YOU AND YOUR AVIAN VET!

I don't have a humidifier anymore.

The last time I had one, Errol and Flynnie pulled every feather out of their body. We think it had something to do with their past, not sure what but doesn't bear thinking about.

So what I have done is the radiator that is in their room I have covered in the ones that you put water in and the heat from the radiator puts it in the air. Not as good as a humidifier but keeps some humidity in their room this time of year.

I also give plenty of showers which they love. I have also got a mister that you can hook on the door of their cage and it will mist them for about 5 mins. Again not as good but it does the trick.
I would really love to get a humidifier but its not worth the stress that errol and flynnie go through, it just means some extra work for Mum.