Outside aviary - UK

[Stephanie100]

Hi, I have two sennies that I moved to an outside aviary this year. They have hollowed out logs but do not sleep in them. I need to add a heated box for them to sleep in and would appreciate some help on design/size/light/heat source. I live in Sussex on the south coast. Thanks

 

[weco]

Hello Stephanie, welcome to the forums, hope you enjoy your stay.....

It may surprise you, but your sennies probably don't need any extra heat to handle the winter, even if it were to snow....there are breeders in the Netherlands that break the ice every morning on their bird's water dishes.....

Our feathered friends are able to fluff their feather layers separately, to control their body temperature and the way their legs and feet are veined, it would take sub-zero temps, with the bird not moving for an extended period before the cold would affect their feet.....I don't recall the UK getting that cold in recent history, so I think that as long as they have somewhere to get in out of a chilling wind, they would be fine.....

In the event you are still of the opinion they need some sort of heat, a controllable heating pad would work, as long as they don't try chewing the pad and/or the electric cord.....

 

[Stephanie100]

Thank you, most insiteful.

They do have logs to sleep in but they only seem to go in during the day to chomp holes in them! I will provide them with a bigger box with perches so they have more shelter. Any ideas on how to get them to go in over night (I dont really want to lock them in ). Thanks.

 

[weco]

The chomping out of the logs is probably they're building of a nest or two.....as to convincing them to go in at night, I think that when they get their log holes hollowed out, you may see them using one during the week and the other for weekend retreats that once they get them far enough along, will allow them to get away from the kids for a time.....

 

[Jayyj]

We do have feral parrots in the UK that go back a good few generations and do just fine over the winter - there's a sizable ring neck population up here in Manchester and the south coast is generally a little milder.

 

[Stephanie100]

Thank you. The little monkeys have chewed holes int he back of the logs so the wind will now whistle through!! I am considering building another shelter for them but they seem to be ok at the moment.

 

[ZephyrFly]

Would it be similar with a smaller bird like a green cheek conure? It wouldn't be kept outside, its just in winter the room we plan to put him/her in gets quite chilly at night in winter. This is coastal south west of the UK.