[audit]

Lately the weather has been awful cold in Oregon. I have noticed Pippen and Berry have been not very active and been extra fluffy just sitting on their perch. Are they cold? I put a space heater in the room, but they are still doing this. Are they sick? :S

 

[Budget baby]

Budgies are often much more active when the sun is shining and it is warmer, do you have the cage covered on three sides this will help keep some warmth in the cage as well. It sounds like they are a little cold. Don't have the cage near any windows, or open doorways, nor place the heater directly next to the cage. it is a fluctuating temperature that is more dangerous than a constant one.

 

[audit]

Alright Ill put a blanket or a towel over some of the cage. Thanks

 

[Bearnoname]

Thank you for posting this. I am not in Oregon, but in Northern California it quite cold here as well. I noticed that if the temperature in our home is lower than 70 F the budgies tend to appear "cold" more fluffed up and less active (no to the extreme of sick). So, I've been keeping it a bit warmer now 75 F hubby isn't to stoked on our heating bill but I'm home all the time too, so we may as well be cozy together, right?

 

[FaeryBee]

You can take a look at the information in this thread as well:

http://talkbudgies.com/articles-general-budgie-info/314674-keeping-budgies-warm-winter.html

 

[Jonah]

Sound's like they are puffing up to keep warm, and are less active to conserve energy for also staying warm. Check out the
info Deb linked, and keep an eye on their dropping's just to be sure...

 

[Bearnoname]

Thank you for the link Deborah.

I have done most of the suggestions listed, so that's good to know I'm doing things right. I was interested in the pet snuggle things that were mentioned.

"You can also purchase a pet snuggle that is heated in the microwave and will stay warm for up to 8+ hours."

I am wondering if it would be safe to make one of my own? I regularly make Christmas gifts that are neck/body warmers, I use cotton fabric and fill with dried beans and/or rice. could I possibly make a smaller little pad like perch for the budgies?
I'm concerned they may chew on it or attempt to get to the beans inside. If they did would the dried beans that have been microwaved again and again be safe should they get to them? Or am I being overly paranoid?:S

 

[FaeryBee]

Thank you for the link Deborah.

I have done most of the suggestions listed, so that's good to know I'm doing things right. I was interested in the pet snuggle things that were mentioned.

"You can also purchase a pet snuggle that is heated in the microwave and will stay warm for up to 8+ hours."

I am wondering if it would be safe to make one of my own? I regularly make Christmas gifts that are neck/body warmers, I use cotton fabric and fill with dried beans and/or rice. could I possibly make a smaller little pad like perch for the budgies?
I'm concerned they may chew on it or attempt to get to the beans inside. If they did would the dried beans that have been microwaved again and again be safe should they get to them? Or am I being overly paranoid?:S

I've asked Jo Ann to answer your question as I believe it was she who suggested the "Pet Snuggle" and she will be more qualified to respond to your questions about it than I.

 

[Bearnoname]

Thank you again

 

[Kate C]

If it is the same Pet Snuggle that I use it is called a Snuggle Safe Heat Pad. It is made of a type of hard plastic with a special filling and now they come with a removable material cover as many people (me included) use them for hot water bottles for their bed in winter, and if you don't wear socks they will burn your feet. I use it in the winter to supply heat for my brooders when I am hand raising babies. Also in the past I would get baby parrots from other people to hand raise and the heat pads are handy if you need to travel with babies and keep them warm. Pretty much everyone has a microwave so I could keep babies warm on the trip home or if I am hand raising and going somewhere and the babies will need feeding while I am there and I have to take them with me.

Here is a couple of links to purchase them in the US.

Amazon.com : Snuggle Safe Pet Bed Microwave Heating Pad : Pet Supplies

Snuggle Safe | Snugglesafe | Heated Pet Beds

They are quite reasonably priced in the US. Over here they are at least twice the price.
Please note they must always be heated according to instructions, overheating can cause problems. If used properly they are great, I purchased mine back in 2003 and have never had any problems with them and have used them every year since, including this winter to keep baby lorikeets that I was hand raising warm. I have 2 of them.

 

[Jo Ann]

Are

Hi, Every Birdie.

Yes, Kate C is spot on. I love to give these as Christmas gifts for birdies and Kitties and puppies, And people with cold toes too!!! We have had one for 20+- years. Follow instructions and they last forever. We have at least 6 for us people with cold toes and Travel companions visiting the vet. Just place a heated disc on top or under travel cages wrap in a towel/or soft blanket and off we go. It is amazing. They are really still very warm eight hours later. No wires to Break or chew easy to wash, there is a replacement cover. We take the disc out of cover when in the microwave as the repeat microwave exposure fades the cover. The snuggle works best in smaller cages where you can cover the top or bottom to seal out drafts.

We like ceramic heat only bulbs in a reflector no more than 60 watts in the reflector. We aim this away from food and water but near favorite perch for the bird. so the bird can move in and out heat as needed in larger cages. The same applies to snuggle. make sure birds can move to cooler area.

Keeping birds warm is critical to keeping sick birds alive as without heat they seem to slip into something like a coma. A cold bird will not eat and birdie motors will not run with out fuel and it needs to be room temp or a bit higher for some soft foods. use a thermometer when feeding babies especially. The crop can shut down and clog so that food never moves into the rest of the GI tract.

We have moved whole nests and both parents in emergencies with a snuggle as heat back up. You can now purchase the mylar space blankets attached to the outside of a light weight blanket which will hold and reflect heat in
to keep people and animals warm during emergencies like when power goes out. Best wishes, Jo Ann

 

[Jo Ann]

Are

Dried beans in a sock or other cloth covering will work for maybe an hour and you need to monitor the birds and warm and repeat as needed, small plastic bottles with hot water and covered in a sock or towel work as well, small hot water bottles will work too. The snuggle lasts so much longer like at night so you can sleep.

If you use a sock with dry beans try wrapping it in a small cage
with a mylar space blanket around the outside as it should capture the heat and reflect back into the birds body and keep it warmer. The mylar is cheap but is also delicate. It lasts better attached to outside of a small blanket .
I am seeing these blankets for people and pet beds with mylar sandwhiched
in between the layers here in the US. This could be a cheap experiment making cage covers cut to size with mylar and soft blanket attached to the outside. Best wishes, Jo Ann

 

[Bearnoname]

Dried beans in a sock or other cloth covering will work for maybe an hour and you need to monitor the birds and warm and repeat as needed, small plastic bottles with hot water and covered in a sock or towel work as well, small hot water bottles will work too. The snuggle lasts so much longer like at night so you can sleep.

If you use a sock with dry beans try wrapping it in a small cage
with a mylar space blanket around the outside as it should capture the heat and reflect back into the birds body and keep it warmer. The mylar is cheap but is also delicate. It lasts better attached to outside of a small blanket .
I am seeing these blankets for people and pet beds with mylar sandwhiched
in between the layers here in the US. This could be a cheap experiment making cage covers cut to size with mylar and soft blanket attached to the outside. Best wishes, Jo Ann

Just what I needed to hear, thank you.
Now I have a good excuse to get one and hubby can't be annoyed that I want to get one because the snuggle thing lasts soooo much longer