To make the warmness of summer tolerable, we all turn on our air conditioners. In summer, while many of us rush to stay inside our air-conditioned rooms, our pet birds might get a bit too cool.
Amidst the hottest months of summer, ACs keep on putting out cold air for keeping your room cool. While you and your family appreciate it, it could upset or even cause health hazards for your pet birds.
So, there are a few things that you must know if you plan to turn AC on in a home that pets share with you. Is air conditioning safe for birds? Can we keep cockatiel in ac? Read this article to find some fact about how does the air conditioner affects your pet birds.
Bird physiology and temperature shifts
Birds come under the warm-blooded animals. They have a higher metabolism than human beings. So, their best body temperature is also higher than that of humans. The exact best temperature differs for every bird species. But, on average, the best body temperature for birds is 40 degrees Celsius (105 degrees F). So, when you turn the AC on, the temperature falls between 70 to 78 degrees F. This huge temperature shift increases stress and metabolic pressure on birds. So, in short, we can say that most of the birds do not fear well in the air-conditioned homes.
Weight of the bird
Very slim birds own less amount of subcutaneous fat and less muscle volume for keeping themselves warm. So, slim birds might not be able to bear a cold temperature as a bird with more muscles would do. Fatty birds are more prone to overheating and can’t do well in hot weather as compared to birds with low weight.
Also, the birds that can access moving air, have the higher ability to withstand the harsh climate. So, the pet birds usually do not survive at the cold climate of air conditioned home.
The average temperature in which birds live
Birds can bear extreme hot and cold weather if they adjust or adapt to it over time. Yet, sudden temperature shift can be stressful for pet birds. So, as a pet owner, you should not expose your pet birds to sudden temperature shifts. This is true for both hot and cold temperatures. So, in summers, if you are going to turn on your air conditioners, make sure that your pets do not have to face a temperature change of more than 10 to 15 degrees. Although birds are adaptive to extreme temperatures, they take their time to adjust.
Temperature changes and air conditioning
Birds do not go well with the shifts in their surrounding environment, so make sure not to let dramatic shifts in their surrounding temperature. So, it is crucial to keep your birds away from cold drafts, vents, and air conditioners. If cold air keeps on blowing at your pet birds, they would not be able to regulate their body temperature. The harmful impacts of blowing cold air could cause feather plucking, pneumonia, and respiratory problems in your pet birds.
Also, the air conditioners tend to draw out the dampness from the air, which could harm your bird. Most of the birds come from humid and warm climates, so cold and dry air can be hazardous for them. An easy and simple way to assist your bird in getting some required dampness is through misting and showering.
Like humans, birds also become cold and stressed in air conditioned homes. Offering them different ways to stay warm is both vital for their health and comforting to the birds, thus an improvement in the health.
Keeping your birds warm
There are different ways to assist your birds stay warm. To counteract the impacts of cold drafts and air conditioning, there are many bird warmers available in the market. These warmers help the pet birds keep their optimal body temperature, decreasing stress, and offer a safe and consistent heat source.
Another choice is to keep a heated perch with your bird in the cage. Thermo-Perch is also available in the market. It reduces the stress of your pet birds along with keeping them warm. In case your bird is feeling col, they would jump on to it for getting instant warmth.
You can also offer warmth to your pet bird with a soft-sided tent. These tents provide a private and safe place for the birds to receive warmth and do rest whenever they need it.
Moreover, cooked foods also help your pet birds stay warm. If you feel stressed or chilled, you expect a warm cooked meal to make you feel better. The same is the case with your pet birds. So, providing your pet birds with cooked meals might be enough to keep them warm. In this way, they can tolerate AC cooling better than before.
Can birds stay in air-conditioned room?
Usually, birds have a high-temperature tolerance than humans and they do well in summers.
Yet, some overheated birds can withstand air conditioned enclosures. So, for healthy birds, you do not need to put them in air conditioners. But, you can place some overheated birds should in air conditioned rooms and check. You can spot such birds because of their heavy breathing and bobbing tail
Preparing for winter
Although it might be early to plan for winter now, keeping these warming objects will assist prepare your pet bird for the winter. There are many steps you can follow to make sure that your pet bird is doing well in the winter season.
It is vital to offer your pet bird a thermostable environment. By preparing your pet birds for seasonal changes and providing them with many means to help them stay warm, you can make these climate shifts easier for both of you.
So, birds make very sensitive pets. When planning things for your own, consider them also. If you must need to turn your AC on, make sure to devise means to keep your pet birds warm. In this way, you and your pet birds both can escape any health risks.
Extra tips: Do you own a guinea pig too and want to know can guinea pigs be in air conditioning? Or you own a puppy and curious to know can beagle puppy sleep in ac?
