How Cold is Too Cold for Budgies? [Alen AxP]

From the past 50-70,000 years, budgies have been cohabiting Australians and have recently gained popularity in other parts of the world. It’s only about in the 19th century that they started living inside homes as pets. Their bodies have been genetically engineered to live in the not-too-cold surroundings as they’ve always inhabited semi-arid regions of the Australian continent. So, it becomes our duty to provide an environment to our pet budgie that is his comfort zone. And, clearly, that zone shouldn’t be too cold. But the question is when it gets too cold for budgies.

Temperature Tolerance Limits

Though being native to warmer days and slightly cooler nights of Australia, it’s been a time since little budgies have migrated to temperature-controlled breeder shops. Since ages, he has lived between a maximum of 85 degrees Fahrenheit and a minimum of 40 degrees Fahrenheit.

When you adopt your budgie from a breeder, though his genetics wouldn’t have altered much, he’ll have his tolerance limits in which he has been kept since birth. Just like us all, he’ll also get uncomfortable with extremely hot or chilly weather. He can withstand a daytime maximum temperature of 90 degrees Fahrenheit and a night-time low of 40 degrees. Leaving him outside in the sun or snow can be fatal for him.

Signs of Budgie feeling cold

Unlike other pets, budgies always let their parents know that they are feeling cold. All you have to do is know your little bird. Look for the signs he’s sending to get help from you.

Fluffed Feathers

A cold budgie will fluff up his feathers to retain as much heat as he can to keep himself warm. Feathers of budgies can keep them warm up to a certain extent. If you see your budgies with fluffed feathers for a long period, take it as a sign that it’s been a while since your bird has been feeling cold.

Note – A fatter budgie is able to brave a little more chill than a thin one due to the insulation his body gets from stored fat.

Shivering

Shivering is a natural defense of any being against cold. Rapid body movements help in warming up the body and hence provide warmth to survive. If you see your budgie exercising this defense mechanism, it’s against the chill he’s feeling.

Sleep pattern

We all sleep a little extra than usual in winters i.e. when our body is braving cooler temperature. Our budgie is no different. The colder he feels, the more sleepy he’ll get. So, if your budgie is sleeping way longer than usual, it’s the cold weather that’s bothering him.

Lethargic

When we fight against something, we feel tired as a lot of our energy gets used up. This holds for the little budgie too. If he has been secretly fighting against the chill, he’ll start feeling lethargic soon. A tired budgie would not be anything like his usual playful and cheerful self. Act immediately on this sign.

Why is it important to prevent your Budgie from the cold?

Like humans, extreme chilly weather can be fatal for budgies too after prolonged exposure. The sensitive little birds can get hypothermia, though, it takes a few days to set in. Watch out for the early signs to prevent it.

How to prevent your budgie from the cold?

After having learned your budgie’s discomfort with the cold, the next step is to act immediately to protect him. If you happen to live in the colder and snowy regions of the globe, ensure to take preventive measures beforehand.

Covering the cage

Covering your budgie’s cage with a warm cover is a great way to keep the inside of the cage warm. If the weather is extremely low, consider covering it with a heavy comforter as it will keep the cage extra insulated than a normal cover. Cover the cage in the evening when the temperature starts to drop.

Note – Do not forget to remove the cover in the day-time as it’ll disturb your bird’s sleeping pattern.

Install a bird warmer

If you happen to live in a place that gets quite chilly in the day-time too and the cage needs to be insulated all the time, then invest in a good quality bird warmer to keep your little budgie warm. They are safe to keep inside the cage, especially if the cage is big enough, provided there is an outlet in the cage to even out the extra heat. Once the cage gets warm enough for your bird, shut it off. Switch it on again when required.

Note – Make sure to buy a good quality warmer tested for all the safety standards. If your budgie is uncomfortable with the lamp inside, place it outside, near the cage.

Increase budgie’s adaptability

To prevent your budgie from feeling too cold, you can always make him a little resistant. By doing so, he can easily withstand the sudden drop in temperature without falling sick. Though you must take measures to keep him warm, the adaptability only helps to protect in case of sudden climatic change. You can start doing this by taking your budgie out for few hours in the day-time during autumn. This way his body will start adapting to a little mild temperature before winter set in.

Note – Always pay attention if he’s enjoying his time out or not. If any discomfort is seen, bring him immediately inside and comfort him.

Other useful tips to keep your budgie warm

• Maintaining a constant warm temperature inside your home with the help of thermostat might be a good option.

• You can install a thermos-perch in your bird’s cage He’ll hop on it whenever feel sudden chills. The heat generating from the perch will start warming up the bird starting from toe to head. By the time, you’ll know that his cage needs to be insulated quickly.

• You can install a heating pad underneath the bottom of the cage. It’ll keep radiating warmth from beneath and keep the whole cage warm.

Final Words

Budgies are prone to extremely cold climates but that doesn’t mean the can’t survive comfortably in it. All they need is your support in those difficult times. Be thoughtful of his needs and take appropriate steps, your budgie will always be safe in the warmth of your love.