ideal temperature?

[alleyj]

it's summer here and the AC is on in my house - I just want to make sure cha cha won't get too cold. how chilly is too chilly for her, and what are the signs that she is too cold?

whenever i bathe her i am always mindful of the air and the temperature outside.

 

[SailBoat]

Well, you have the A/C on and your in North America, so your likely not in Alaska.

If you're comfortable in shorts and a tee shirt in the A/C in your home, your parrot should be fine. However, if you have a winter coat on, good chance your A/C unit is a little to cold.

It is a good idea to location your parrot away from the register (i.e. the cold draft of the A/C unit). This area will likely be much cooler than the area on the other side of the room.

So, what is the temperature setting that you have your A/C set too?

 

[MikeyTN]

If she's been acclimated to your temperature in the house gradually, she'll be just fine. They can tolerate a lot more then what most people give them credit for. I keep my house between 65-68 during summer and 65 during winter.

 

[SailBoat]

I will admit that I had to let this Thread sit for a while just to see if I had understood one of the Posts. After all, I find that I have a problem with my fingers out running the mind from time to time.

I going out of the branch here and guess that in the Winter 65 degrees and with that I would easily agree. But a Summer indoor temperature of 65 - 68 degrees would be obtainable, but expensive. So, I guess here that you are either 75 - 78 with A/C or 85 - 88 without A/C. With air movement and misting the upper level is acceptable, but require a greater level of observation for any signs of over-heating.

By the way, I noted that the OP never provided what temperatures their home was being kept at. Interesting!

 

[coopedup]

This had been a very useful thread for me. In summer we try and keep inside temps under 80 (and under 72 if we can). Most times it is realistically around 78 and im using a portable fan. Windows open at night and it gets cool quickly but without a house fan to pull the cool are in we dont always get it under 70 at night. Winters are chilly inside. We keep it around 65-68, but some mornings it can be low 60's. I bought a K&H bird heater (cage mount, not the perch) but do I really need it? What about open windows and breezes? and breezes from the fan (fyi, we have no ceiling mount fans and all the portables have covers)

 

[Flboy]

If she's been acclimated to your temperature in the house gradually, she'll be just fine. They can tolerate a lot more then what most people give them credit for. I keep my house between 65-68 during summer and 65 during winter.

no way am I gonna let my kid see this! 65-68 summer?? OMG! I cry when I set the air to 77 during the night! 79 day!

 

[SailBoat]

Keeping a home cool during the Summer can be an undertaking. But, it is possible. Moving Hot air out and Cool air in during the night and early morning is the goal. There are a couple of tricks that you can use:

Know the placement of your home based on a compass, i.e. N, S, E, W. Now, what direction is the Wind coming from. If the evening weather report states that the Wind is coming from the West and will range from 3 to 6 mph. So what! Well the Wind will develop pressure on that side of the house that the Wind is coming from and will create a vacuum on the opposite side of the house. By opening the windows on those two sides will result in air moving into your home and out the other side. So, placements of the fans inside the home to support that air movement will increase the transfer of air. So, by setting a fan to push air out of the house will improve air movement into the house, because it will create a vacuum on the side of the house that the Wind is coming from. The greater the temperature difference between the outside of the house and inside, the easier it is to exchange air.

Once the outside air temperature is near or the same as the inside air, leaving the windows open will only add heat inside the house.

Window covers, blinds, etc... close them on the Sunny side of the house in the Summer and open them in the Winter - When the Sun is Shining!

Heat stroke is a danger for Human and Parrots alike. Be very mindful as inside temperatures rise above 85 degrees. Keep a very close tab on everyone when inside temperatures rise to 90 and above - Start Looking for Cooling Stations!!!

Cold is to the bone and temperatures of 60 degrees in one area of the home can see much lower in other areas. It becomes important to measure temperatures where Humans and Parrots are.

 

[MikeyTN]

Seriously I keep my house that cool during summer. We absolutely can't stand the heat. My family would come to visit me with a coat on while we're in teeshirt and shorts. We have a energy efficient system so it really isn't that expensive. I made sure of it when I had it installed. Our energy bill have been cut in half since the installation plus with new energy efficient windows. My last month's electric bill was like $80. All appliances, lights, etc are all energy efficient.

 

[SailBoat]

I'm assuming that you are getting your electrical power from TVA. Electrical power generated from the River Dams built during the Second World World to power Aluminum Smelting / Melting facilities, which was used to build air craft from. Most of North America is unaware of that vast project and its resulting electrical generation plants. The so what factor: Much lower electrical costs then what the balance of the US pays.

So, that explains why you're looking at the monthly costs you are, plus the upgrades you have added to your home.

65 to 80 is an easy range with time to adjust between the highs an lows. And for those who are either side of that range, understand as you push to and beyond the outer points of this range that it requires you keeping much closer tabs on everyone.