Re: Tequila is not feeling well - Update post 89
You really need (or should I say your bird really needs) to get the ambient temperature (which is the air temp. all around the bird, not just on one side of the bird) up to the degree # another poster mentioned (85 - 87 degrees - sometimes even slightly warmer but gradually to top out at no more than around 90 degrees F - remember, very important to do so gradually, not all of a sudden). A regular wire cage does not hold the heat very well and a towel on top of the cage or around the cage can pose a fire danger etc. ... Best to put together or purchase a hospital type enclosure/tank that holds the heat well - like a glass aquarium with a wire top and newspaper placed on top (only if needed) to keep the temp. where you want it. You will have to adjust the paper for ventilation of course and due to temp. fluctuations in your home during the day vs. during the night. Never cover the whole top with newspaper or any other material. Make sure to have a good quality thermometer (and a back-up second one is best). Make sure you keep a glass enclosure extremely clean (daily).
The way you can attach that heat emitter shroud in your picture to your cage is to drill small holes in the lip of the shround around the circumference. Do the drilling away from the bird of course, so as not to scare it. You really only need one hole at the top and maybe one at the bottom. Then take a piece of wire and thread it thru the hole(s) and tie the shroud to the cage. Very simple. Attach the heat emitter in the shroud right next to a perch, one with a little length so the bird can move away from the heat easily if it wants to.
If using a glass aquarium (better than a wire cage IMO & IME) as your hospital enclosure/tank/cage, you can put a heating pad that covers the whole bottom (under the glass) or most of the whole bottom. Set on "high" in most cases and then place some newspaper on the bottom inside and on top of that place about an inch or so of untreated pine shavings. Cover that with some paper towels and change when soiled. You can attach a perch inside the aquarium also if you are handy and inventive.
Good luck.
It already feels warmer in his cage. Its a nice steady heat over where his perch is.
