Summer is approaching quickly, and many parrot owners are taking advantage of our Southern
California climate and leaving their birds outside for fresh air and sunshine.
It is important to keep your bird safe outside, so here are some tips:
– Always supervise your bird if left outside on a stand or perch. Many urban predators like cats, dogs, and even wild birds of prey will take advantage and injure an unattended parrot.
– Even better, keep a small cage for outside use, that way it can be locked and provide added security, whether it is from strangers, or if your bird is full-flight or an escape artist!
– Choose an outside location with partial shade so the bird doesn’t overheat, and avoid taking them out on extremely hot days. Food and water should always be provided.
Many bird enthusiasts in the area also keep aviaries where the birds are outside year round. This is a great time to start acclimating birds to the changing temperatures. Begin by taking them outside in the morning when it is warming up, and bringing them in before dark. Every few days, keep them outside an extra hour or two until they have adjusted. The longer you can acclimate your bird the better. On extra cold, windy, or rainy nights, if you don’t have the ability of transporting your birds inside, make sure they are sheltered from the elements by using tarps, plastic siding, shade cloth, or blankets. If you live in a different state or area, check with other sources to make sure your aviary is set-up adequately for your different weather conditions.