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Post by Scratchpost on Jan 11, 2022 8:44:59 GMT -7
Hi everyone,
Since African Greys (and all birds, I assume) shouldn't get cold, do we need to give them a parrot-safe jersey in winter? The flat we stay in is nice in Summer but very cold in Winter. On very cold nights I put sheets against the windows to help with the heat, but apart from that (and heaters which we don't have), there isn't much we can do about the cold.
I am a little bit concerned about Aka, he will be fully feathered by winter, but the temperature drops to about 15/16 inside the flat in peak winter, (there are lots of reasons for this, mostly the placing of the windows and orientation of the house, so there isn't anything we can do other than sheets and heater). Should we get him something like a jersey or fluffy collar? He has the humidifier which helps at night, but not so much during the day. We don't have a heater at the moment but if you think Aka will need one we'll get one before winter starts.
Thanks.
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Post by Jane on Jan 11, 2022 9:39:34 GMT -7
They can deal with temperature variations as long as they are not sudden, they are not in a draught and they are not ill. I don't have the heating on overnight and it probably gets as low as that sometimes during the night. There is nothing wrong with getting a heater though. If he is cold he will fluff up his feathers.
I think if you tried to put something like that on him he would just chew it off.
Jane
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Post by Haz on Jan 11, 2022 13:04:21 GMT -7
I cover Chy’s cage with a big bedspread at night. We have a programmable thermostat which is set to 19 degrees at night. Chy is quite happy and talks while covered up.
Haz
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Post by Scratchpost on Jan 12, 2022 3:45:18 GMT -7
Damnit my messages don't seem to send the first time.
Thanks, Jane I will keep that in mind. I'll leave the jersey then. I assumed you could get parrot jersey's made from the material used for the harnesses which is quite strong but I see those jerseys are for medical purposes only. We'll see how it goes with the heater, we might get one anyway and take it from there.
Oh that's cool Haz, I'll see how he is at night. Normally he's OK, its just when it rains I put an extra blanket on the cage (with an open piece for air). I'll see about that if the extra blanket isn't enough in Winter.
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Post by Jane on Jan 12, 2022 4:12:14 GMT -7
I think the other issue with a jersey is that he wouldn't be able to preen and that is important from both a behavioural point of view and to keep the feathers in good condition. They use oil from the preen gland to distribute through the feathers.
I think the presence of a jersey might annoy him and that could lead to plucking.
Jane
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Post by Haz on Jan 12, 2022 12:59:42 GMT -7
Years ago, Chy crashed and split the skin over her keel bone. When the vet bandaged her, she became so depressed that she wouldn’t eat or talk. We had to take her back for a smaller bandage which she then chewed off. She chewed off every bandage put on her so she needed an operation to sew her up.
When we went to pick her up after the operation, they brought her out and when she saw us, she said, “hi sweetie pie. Let’s go and eat”.
She really didn’t like having anything around her body.
Haz
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Post by Scratchpost on Jan 15, 2022 13:24:06 GMT -7
Hi Jane, of course, I didn't think about that (I feel silly now). We will definitely leave the jersey or anything with a similar function like scarves etc.
That is so cute Haz, I'm glad she was OK after her fall, I'm so afraid of that happening. Yeah I'll leave the parrot clothes, not worth the risk of him chewing it off and eating the fibres, and now with Jane's comment about the plucking. We should be fine, I'm probably just worrying about nothing. How old was Chy when she started speaking? I know Aka is way too young for that, but everyone's parrot seems to start at a different age.
Kushra.
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Post by Haz on Jan 15, 2022 19:49:56 GMT -7
Chy started talking around 5 months old with full sentences. She is one of the more vocal birds.
Haz
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Post by Scratchpost on Feb 10, 2022 15:19:26 GMT -7
Sorry Haz I missed your message.
That's cool, Aka is extremely vocal with parrot noises and there are definitely some sounds associated with actions (when I say I am bringing his food or when I ask him if he wants to go outside and some other noises).
The other day I was sure he was trying to imitate me saying 'water' but I'm not sure, might have just been wishful thinking on my part. I made a big deal out of it anyway haha.
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