Heat source, by Garyslackjaw

[garyslackjaw]

Hi all, I realise this is an old thread so I don't know if anyone can help but I've been considering a ceramic great lamp or heat pad for the winter. Me and my budgie live on a boat and the temperature on board can drop down to 5*C if it's below zero outside. I can use an oil radiator to constantly heat the boat to maybe 15*C for the very coldest weeks while I'm away at work (and will do if I have to) but it will cost a lot of money. I thought if his cage is covered and there's a heat source he can get near it might be warmer for him and cheaper for me. Any advise would be appreciated.

[Hezz]

You can also get little heat sources to hang in the cage that the bird can snuggle up to if they want. I don’t know how safe they are though; anything like that would need to be plugged in and how to be sure that a budgie wouldn’t chew on the chord when there is no one around?

Heat pads can malfunction, they rely on a thermostat to regulate the temp. I would favour a heat lamp positioned at one end of the cage, but not touching, so he can move into or out of the warmth as needed.

[tweetiepiesmom]

My avian vet keeps recommending a heat lamp for my budgies but I didn't get one because I didn't think it was needed. A bird owner recommended this heater which is bird safe although a bit expensive:
www.amazon.com/Pet-Products-Snuggle-Warmer-Medium/dp/B00CLA19BQ/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?dchild=1&keywords=heater+for+birds&qid=1632495798&s=pet-supplies&sr=1-1-spons&psc=1&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUExVTNFVUxURUEzN0xLJmVuY3J5cHRlZElkPUEwODUyNjYwMVE2S0pHWkMzREdCNiZlbmNyeXB0ZWRBZElkPUEwOTIyMzg1MjdHWDVPQzlKSDFLOCZ3aWRnZXROYW1lPXNwX2F0ZiZhY3Rpb249Y2xpY2tSZWRpcmVjdCZkb05vdExvZ0NsaWNrPXRydWU=

I did get one and placed it in the cage near a top corner where Buddy and Tweetie Pie sleep. I turned it on at night. It doesn't get hot, just warm to the touch. It was beside the perch where Tweetie Pie sleeps. Once he got over being scared of it, he did sleep beside it. I think it was too warm for him because he started sleeping on another perch away from it. My conclusion is that my guys don't need it - its not that cold where I live. I took it out the cage.

[garyslackjaw]

Sept 24, 2021 15:11:36 GMT tweetiepiesmom said:

My avian vet keeps recommending a heat lamp for my budgies but I didn't get one because I didn't think it was needed. A bird owner recommended this heater which is bird safe although a bit expensive:
www.amazon.com/Pet-Products-Snuggle-Warmer-Medium/dp/B00CLA19BQ/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?dchild=1&keywords=heater+for+birds&qid=1632495798&s=pet-supplies&sr=1-1-spons&psc=1&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUExVTNFVUxURUEzN0xLJmVuY3J5cHRlZElkPUEwODUyNjYwMVE2S0pHWkMzREdCNiZlbmNyeXB0ZWRBZElkPUEwOTIyMzg1MjdHWDVPQzlKSDFLOCZ3aWRnZXROYW1lPXNwX2F0ZiZhY3Rpb249Y2xpY2tSZWRpcmVjdCZkb05vdExvZ0NsaWNrPXRydWU=

I did get one and placed it in the cage near a top corner where Buddy and Tweetie Pie sleep. I turned it on at night. It doesn't get hot, just warm to the touch. It was beside the perch where Tweetie Pie sleeps. Once he got over being scared of it, he did sleep beside it. I think it was too warm for him because he started sleeping on another perch away from it. My conclusion is that my guys don't need it - its not that cold where I live. I took it out the cage.

Yes they're a lot more expensive in the UK imported, around £70 but I'm still considering getting one with heated perch they do too. 🤔

[garyslackjaw]

Sept 24, 2021 15:11:36 GMT tweetiepiesmom said:

My avian vet keeps recommending a heat lamp for my budgies but I didn't get one because I didn't think it was needed. A bird owner recommended this heater which is bird safe although a bit expensive:
www.amazon.com/Pet-Products-Snuggle-Warmer-Medium/dp/B00CLA19BQ/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?dchild=1&keywords=heater+for+birds&qid=1632495798&s=pet-supplies&sr=1-1-spons&psc=1&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUExVTNFVUxURUEzN0xLJmVuY3J5cHRlZElkPUEwODUyNjYwMVE2S0pHWkMzREdCNiZlbmNyeXB0ZWRBZElkPUEwOTIyMzg1MjdHWDVPQzlKSDFLOCZ3aWRnZXROYW1lPXNwX2F0ZiZhY3Rpb249Y2xpY2tSZWRpcmVjdCZkb05vdExvZ0NsaWNrPXRydWU=

I did get one and placed it in the cage near a top corner where Buddy and Tweetie Pie sleep. I turned it on at night. It doesn't get hot, just warm to the touch. It was beside the perch where Tweetie Pie sleeps. Once he got over being scared of it, he did sleep beside it. I think it was too warm for him because he started sleeping on another perch away from it. My conclusion is that my guys don't need it - its not that cold where I live. I took it out the cage.

Thanks, I'll do more research into the ceramic bulbs and see if I can't set something up for him. Thanks

[Hezz]

You can get heat-emitting bulbs that don’t give off a lot of light so the birds can sleep easily at night. They are usually found in the terrarium section of a pet store, not to be confused with UV lamps and bulbs for reptiles.

The ceramic bulbs don’t give off any light and take a long time to cool down so there is the risk of burns to both yourself and the birds if you are a little absent minded like the most of us.