Keeping parrots outdoors is becoming more and more popular with bird owners wanting to give their companions some outdoor time to offer enrichment and the change to stretch out those wings! It is important, though, to remember that parrots are exotic birds and are used to higher temperatures than what the UK typically experiences.
What temperatures can parrots withstand?
As well as getting too cold, parrots can also become too hot, so it is important to place your aviary somewhere that allows your parrot to access sun and shade. Parrots can withstand up to 29 degrees Celsius, however their ideal temperature is somewhere between 19 and 22 degrees Celsius.
Anything below these temperatures could start to harm your bird, so it is important to familiarise yourself with the warning signs.
If you are keeping parrots outdoors, you should also look into other illnesses that your parrot could develop, you can find a list of potential illnesses here. Parrots are mostly prone to respiratory diseases, so it is important to regularly check on your birds when keeping them outdoors.
How to tell if your parrot is too hot or cold.
The most obvious sign that a parrot is too cold is shivering, they may also become lethargic and lose their appetite. Check your parrots frequently when you believe the temperature may be toward the lower end of their comfort zone. If you notice any of these changes, or spot any other concerning changes in behavior, you should relocate your parrot to an indoor cage or an indoor area attached to your aviary.
A parrot that is too hot may hold its wings away from its body and start breathing with its beak open. If not rectified as soon as possible, this may lead to seizures. If you notice any of these warning signs, you should move your parrot to a cool and shaded area with easy access to water to allow your parrot to cool down.
Keeping parrots warm in the winter.
When keeping parrots outdoors in the UK it is possible for the bird to become acclimated to the British weather, however it is still always safer to either move your parrot indoors during the winter, or offer them a sheltered area with their aviary. The sheltered area should aim to be free of draughts and ideally have a heater. This page tells you what to look for when buying a bird heater.