What is "Too Cold" for a bird?

[Tammy]

It is going to be a beautiful day today and I need to do some work in the garden. I want to bring Laurie out with me, but I know birds are sensitive to cold and drafts. Right now, my thermometer says 62.8, which I'm guessing is too cold, but it is suppose to warm up into the low 70s. We always have a breeze here, but there is wall to wall sun today. Is it safe to take her out in her travel cage for a bit?

[BPMar]

I have heard as long as you are comfortable they should be fine....if it was really windy or something you could put a cover on part of the cage too to block any drafts if you have an open travel cage.  I would think if it is nice and sunny and any drafts are covered she should be fine and am sure she would really enjoy that too!

[Sondra]

Our (all) birds can deal with temps in the 50s, not for extended periods without getting them used to those temps. You can even get your birds used to snow for short periods. Some birds like Quakers, and Conures and Budgies can tolerate very cold temps as seen by colonies of them living in the North East and over in the UK.

Laurie should be fine as long as you have half the cage in shade and half in the sun. NEVER place any animal or bird in an area where they can not get into shade. Birds can over heat in temps as low as 72 degrees when in the sun. The earliest sign of a bird in distress is panting. If you bird starts to pant place in the house and observe, if panting doesn't stop or increases run LUKEWARM water over the bird getting it under the wings and down the back ender the wings (make sense?). IF your bird starts to pull their wings away from their body and is panting GET TO A VET QUICKLY as you have a true emergency.

[Ditty]

As said Laurie should be fine, just watch out for direct sun and overheating.  Some birds may pant at first due to being scared.  Just an FYI.  Hollywood does.

It is nice here too!!!   Hw is going out for a walk later for sure!! 

Where ya from again??  If ya don't mind me asking.  And if ya don't feel like answering then don't.   

[BPMar]

  Sondra's response of where to wet them down brought to mind when I worked in the nursing home years agooooooo.....if we had a patient with a temp we would place wet (soakers, we called them)....like a wash cloth in their pit and groin areas!  ...just brought a funny to mind!

[Tammy]

Where ya from again??  If ya don't mind me asking.  And if ya don't feel like answering then don't.   

We're in Canandaigua New York, south of Rochester.

So, I went out after I posted my question and was quickly sweating by butt off   , so I decided it had to be warm enough for Laurie. I brought her out and set her travel cage up on an old rain barrel we have where she could see me. I was worried about the sun, especially since she still has some bald spots (Can birds get sunburn??   ) so I covered half the cage with a towel to give her the option of sun or shade. I watched for shivering and panting and didn't see either. I only kept her out for about an hour.  I'm not sure if she liked it or not. She pretty much just sat there. There was one moment, though, that had me laughing....

I don't think Laurie knows she's a bird. A brown headed cow bird landed in a tree top near the garden and was singing along. Laurie called out to him with wolf whistles and "good morning"...lol

[Sondra]

I'm east of you by a couple of hours. Yes birds can get sun burn. ALWAYS cover half the cage.
Try getting her used to a harness. You'll laugh your butt of the first time you put her on the grass - they don't know what grass is. You are correct, she doesn't know she is a bird, that's one problem with having birds in our homes.  The more you have her out the more she will enjoy it. It has to be scary for them if they've never been outdoors, seeing it from the safety of their cage, playgym is one thing, but being out in the open with no roof over their heads is quite another. Never leave her unattended, even for a minute - cats and wildlife will get to her quicker than you think - squirrels will kill and eat a small bird if they get the chance.

[BPMar]

 :handshappy:You are just about local to us!!!!!  Give or take an hour and a half!  I used to live in Webster and worked in Penfield~ Just some usless FYI :twirl:

[steptoe91(tozie)]

sounds like it was nice for laurie. she'll get to love it, and the fresh air is sooo good for her.

[BuffaloParrot]

Yes.  They love the fresh air and unfiltered sunshine.  Glad you took her out and am glad you asked about the safety of it all.  A good Momma parront you 

[Nakia]

Definitely get an Aviator harness for Laurie. She will get used to it & love being able to be out with you very much. 

I got one for Roscoe and Leyla already, tho' she is not home with me yet. I put the harness on Roscoe, my macaw, last week & took him out for the first time since bringing him home in Jan. He was like: What the...is this torture contraption. And if you've never tried to adjust a harness with one hand...well, it is interesting. Even for the Aviator that is the simplest to adjust by far, it is still interesting. Roscoe refused to perch anywhere but my arm hence why I had to adjust with one hand. 

Anyway, outside he was clamping down on my arm with all his mite (I think I still have the indents to show for it  ) & vocalizing not as a bird, but a lot of "Oh", "Aha", "OOOH" & looking all around. He was sure leaning close to me, not sure about this new world, but he will love it more & more each time. Like you said, they have no idea they are birds & it is so cute in a way to hear them talk like us instead of like a bird in certain situations.  :twirl:

Just wait til Laurie decides to cuss you out when she is "parrot stumbling" mad. It won't be in birdie talk, tho' she might throw a scream or two in there. She will use every word she's ever learned & especially any bad ones you might not have known she knew. Roscoe will throw a cynical laugh & in between the words which makes me laugh back at him.  (He's only been that mad at me once so far). 

[YoshiMike13]

Im missing out lol.

[Tammy]

Thanks so much everyone! Now that we've skipped Spring and moved right into summer, I think heat will be a bigger problem than cold 
I will have to look into the harness. I'm sure she would love it.

[Sondra]

Thanks so much everyone! Now that we've skipped Spring and moved right into summer, I think heat will be a bigger problem than cold 
I will have to look into the harness. I'm sure she would love it.

Most birds do love being outdoors. Just go slow and let her get used to not having a roof (protection) over her head & she will want to go out with you. Powder LOVES being outside and patiently waits for me to cinch the harness on him, once cinched up he JUMPS on my hand and bops his way to the door. The longer the walk the more he enjoys it. He must have his own time away from trees, hedges, fences (all open) so that he can walk on the ground and investigate. Trees, hedges, & fences make them nervous because they just "know" something is gonna eat them from that place/thing.