If you’ve ever had a pet bird, you know how important it is to provide them with proper care. Birds are susceptible to temperature changes. Therefore, they require warmth and protection from cold weather conditions. To keep their body temperatures at optimum levels, they need to be warm. This usually means using a heating pad or other heat source. However, these devices can be expensive and impractical. This blog post will discuss the best way on how to keep a baby bird warm without a heating pad.
Why need to keep a baby bird warm?
- Survive: The first thing that comes to mind when we think of keeping a baby bird warm is to make sure that they survive. But there is more to it than just staying. A baby bird needs to grow up healthy, strong, and active. If you want your baby bird to live long, you have to take good care of them. You should not leave your baby bird alone for too long as it might get sick. It is also essential to give them enough food not to starve.
- Stay healthy: Baby birds are delicate creatures. They need to eat well and remain hydrated. Keeping them warm helps them to stay healthy and happy.
- Stay safe: When we talk about keeping a baby bird warm, we also mean making sure that they are safe from predators such as cats and dogs. These animals could harm your baby bird if left unattended.
- Provides comfort: We all love our pets. And most of us would like to see them happy and comfortable. Keeping a baby bird warm makes them feel secure and contented.
- Helps prevent feather loss: Feathers are essential for a bird’s appearance. In addition, they help to protect the bird from the elements. If you don’t keep your baby bird warm, its feathers may start falling off.
how to keep a baby bird warm without a heating pad? some tips-
1. Use a heated cage cover
Heated covers come in different shapes and sizes. Some of them can even be used on top of regular cages. However, most heated covers are made out of plastic material. They work by absorbing the heat generated by the heater inside the cage. Therefore, they can only be used on metal-framed cages.
2. Use an old blanket
You can use an old blanket to keep the baby birds warm. In your wastage blanket or bedding, you can add some dried leaves. Place the leaves inside a basket or box. Make sure that the leaves are dry before adding them to the blanket.
3. Use stack
Stack two blankets together. One can be placed on top of another. The bottom should be thick and heavy while the upper should be thin and light.
4. Use a towel
Towels can act as a makeshift heating pad. Place a paper towel over the baby bird’s cage. Cover the towel with a sheet or cloth. Then, wrap the whole thing using a rubber band.
5. Keep their mother’s feathers
The best way to keep them warm is to keep them on their mother’s feathers because they are soft and fluffy. They can be used to create a nest for the baby bird. Once the baby bird has grown up, you can remove the feathers and let them fly away.
6. Keep them warm weather
Whenever possible, try to keep your baby bird indoors during the winter months. During the colder seasons, the air outside becomes much colder. As a result, your baby bird will become chilled quickly. So, if possible, keep them indoors where the temperature remains constant.
7. Keep them cardboard boxes
Cardboard boxes are great for keeping babies warm. They are easy to clean and maintain. All you need to do is cut holes at the sides of the box. Then, put some newspaper inside the box. Finally, close the lid and tape it shut.
8. Keep them sunlight
If no cold air is blown around, sunlight can also be used to keep a baby bird warm. Sunlight provides warmth and energy. It also helps to regulate their body temperatures. However, make sure that the baby bird doesn’t get too much sunlight. Too much sunlight can cause skin problems.
Which temperature should we maintain for baby birds during cold weather?
Baby birds require warmth to survive. However, they cannot tolerate extreme temperatures. Thus, you must ensure that their environment does not fall below 15°C (59°F) and above 30°C (86°F).
If we don’t maintain temperature, what will happen?
Baby birds are susceptible to changes in temperature. Therefore, a sudden drop in temperature can cause them to lose consciousness. For this reason, they will sick and even might die.
How do we know how many degrees Celsius our baby bird needs?
You need to check the temperature every day. You can buy a digital thermometer from the nearest market or online shop. It will tell you exactly how many degrees Celsius your baby bird requires.
What happens when the temperature falls below 15°C (29°F)?
Baby birds start shivering when the temperature drops below 15°C (60°F). This is because their body temperature starts dropping rapidly. If the temperature goes down further, the baby birds will get hypothermia. Hypothermia is when the body loses its ability to regulate its temperature. When this occurs, the body starts losing heat faster than it generates it. This leads to death within 24 hours.
What will happen if we don’t maintain humidity?
Humidity plays a vital role in maintaining the health of baby birds. Baby birds usually live in a humid environment. But, when it comes to temperature, they prefer dry conditions. Thus, you must make sure that the humidity level inside your home stays at around 50% – 60%. If the humidity falls below 40%, you must increase the amount of water available to your baby bird.
Final verdict:
Temperature control is significant for baby birds. However, using a heating pad is more expensive than using a blanket. Above the post, we discussed the different ways to keep baby birds warm without using a heating pad, I hope you can understand the methods, and it will help you keep your bird warm during winters.