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First Time Keeping Conure In Colder Room, need advice/reassurance!

Dostc426

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Hello!

I'm most likely being over the top about this, but I wouldn't mind general advice and/or reassurance I am doing everything I can for my conure.
I live in Southern Cali and for the first time my husband and I have moved into a two story rental home rather than a single level apartment. While the apartments we've lived in weren't perfect for maintaining similar temps throughout the rooms, I found a system that made it so whatever room my conure was in, the temps stayed somewhat decently cool in the summer and warm in the winter (about 67-73 temps). In this rental home I am finding it more easy than ever for my husband and I, but less so for my conure.
We have my conure in the guest bedroom, which is the smallest room and makes the most sense for our setup (we work from home and have our office setup/bedroom in the largest room), and it is above the garage. The rest of the house stays at 71-78 degrees throughout the day no matter the cold temp outside, and we need to run the air conditioner during the day to stay cool, but the room our conure is in lately has been around 68-71 throughout the day, and then drops to 64 degrees at night when the rest of the house stays in the 70's. Our conure hasn't shown any signs of being cold, but just in case I've put up thermal curtains and wrap his bedtime cage in a thick fleece blanket each night. I put one of those magnetic covers over the air vent in his room as well since we are still using the air conditioning. Am I worrying too much about the temperature? He's healthy, goes to the vet every year for check-ups and nail grooming. I've started looking into plug in heaters, but honestly that rabbit hole is very overwhelming trying to find ones that are safe and PTFE/PFOA free. :(

Any advice/tips/reassurances are greatly appreciated!
 

MommyBird

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Amazon sells a heater that can be attached to the outside of the cage that I and many others use.
It is called "Sweeter Heater" and is used for chicken coops.
I use it on my cages and it works best with the cage being at least partially covered. The XS size is good so that they have an area of the cage they can move to if they are too warm.
You should plan to run it outside for a few hours to burn off the smell from the factory coating but it does not have PTFE/PFOA.
 

Dostc426

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Oh I'll look into that, that's reassuring that you and several others use it too. I can definently find a place to have it burn off. I might have to get creative as far as how I keep it near him, he has two cages that he uses, a larger day cage and a smaller travel sized nighttime cage (he's an oddball and likes to snuggle up on seagrass mats on the bottom of his smaller cage at night). He's also scares easily so I partially cover his cage at night and during the day so he doesn't have to worry about movement when he's sleeping/ when playing with his toys. It mentions on the site not to cover it because of obvious fire hazard reasons, so I might look into a small metal easel that I could put it on and set it close to his cages.

Is this something that can be run all night safely while we're home?

This probably comes off as so silly, I live in Southern California of all places! :roflmao:
 
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Mockinbirdiva

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You can safely use electric oil filled radiant heaters. I would also suggest using a quality surge protector that you will plug into the wall and then plug your heater into the surge protector. Brands of heaters I use are Delonghi and Pelonis. ( I have one of each in a room that has large windows on three sides .... the room is 10 x 20 ft. Was an elevated porch built on the house without any central heat and air). My youngest conure is 15... there are four birds in this room and they've done extremely well through the years with this heating. Without it the room would probably get as low as 40 F .... pretty chilly. It has gotten as low as 60 and they did fine but my preference is to keep it warmer especially now they are getting older. Check your local Lowes or Home Depot to see what they have on hand and buy before the weather dips colder and people flock to buy them. Walmart has also carried them ( I haven't looked lately) . Read reviews too. There are a LOT of choices out there. This is the front of the panel on my Delonghi and a new surge protector I need to change over on an older one I have.

IMG_4452.jpeg

IMG_4453.jpeg
 

MommyBird

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It mentions on the site not to cover it because of obvious fire hazard reasons, so I might look into a small metal easel that I could put it on and set it close to his cages.

Is this something that can be run all night safely while we're home?
/QUOTE]

They don't want the heating face of it to be covered. You can cover the back of it safely.

I've been using them for over 20 years and have not had any problems leaving them on overnight and sometimes all day too (we get spells of minus 25 F here in Colorado foothills)

I buy the XS side mounts. There used to be a place that sold a lovely hanger for the outside of the cage that was easy to remove them during the day or move them around. I just got a heater for a 5th cage (5 parrots) and need to MacGyver something as those hangers aren't available anyore but I don't think it will be hard. I can send a pic of the hangers if you want. I also have an oil-filled radiator (Delonghi) in the room as it is the coldest in the house and the thermostat is in another room.
They don't want the heating face of it to be covered. You can cover the back of it safely.

I've been using them for over 20 years and have not had any problems leaving them on overnight and sometimes all day too (we get spells of minus 25 F here in Colorado foothills)

I buy the XS side mounts. There used to be a place that sold a lovely hanger for the outside of the cage that was easy to remove them during the day or move them around. I just got a heater for a 5th cage (5 parrots) and need to MacGyver something as those hangers aren't available anyore but I don't think it will be hard. I can send a pic of the hangers if you want. I also have an oil-filled radiator (Delonghi) in the room as it is the coldest in the house and the thermostat is in another room.
 

Dostc426

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You can safely use electric oil filled radiant heaters. I would also suggest using a quality surge protector that you will plug into the wall and then plug your heater into the surge protector. Brands of heaters I use are Delonghi and Pelonis. ( I have one of each in a room that has large windows on three sides .... the room is 10 x 20 ft. Was an elevated porch built on the house without any central heat and air). My youngest conure is 15... there are four birds in this room and they've done extremely well through the years with this heating. Without it the room would probably get as low as 40 F .... pretty chilly. It has gotten as low as 60 and they did fine but my preference is to keep it warmer especially now they are getting older. Check your local Lowes or Home Depot to see what they have on hand and buy before the weather dips colder and people flock to buy them. Walmart has also carried them ( I haven't looked lately) . Read reviews too. There are a LOT of choices out there. This is the front of the panel on my Delonghi and a new surge protector I need to change over on an older one I have.

View attachment 452924

View attachment 452925
Oh thank you for all of this info! I've been seeing several people mention that brand, the oil filled part seems intimidating to me lol, but I will look into it! I appreciate you telling me about your birds situation, I'm glad the room never gets to that level of cold though I have been opening his door later in the night so the other rooms could help heat it a little bit so I'm not sure what it would get to if I did leave it closed! I've always preferred keeping it warmer than 64 degrees for him as well, though now I'm starting to wonder if he likes the colder temp! He hasn't been fluffed up or shivering and he even just took an icy cold bath! :wacky: He's fourteen years old, the goober!
 

Dostc426

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They don't want the heating face of it to be covered. You can cover the back of it safely.

I've been using them for over 20 years and have not had any problems leaving them on overnight and sometimes all day too (we get spells of minus 25 F here in Colorado foothills)

I buy the XS side mounts. There used to be a place that sold a lovely hanger for the outside of the cage that was easy to remove them during the day or move them around. I just got a heater for a 5th cage (5 parrots) and need to MacGyver something as those hangers aren't available anyore but I don't think it will be hard. I can send a pic of the hangers if you want. I also have an oil-filled radiator (Delonghi) in the room as it is the coldest in the house and the thermostat is in another room.
Oh I would love to see pictures of the hanger! That is probably how I would want to hang it for convenience, then I could just attach it to either cage when needed! I'm glad to hear you have a Delonghi as well! That brand sounds reliable!
 

Mockinbirdiva

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Oh thank you for all of this info! I've been seeing several people mention that brand, the oil filled part seems intimidating to me lol, but I will look into it! I appreciate you telling me about your birds situation, I'm glad the room never gets to that level of cold though I have been opening his door later in the night so the other rooms could help heat it a little bit so I'm not sure what it would get to if I did leave it closed! I've always preferred keeping it warmer than 64 degrees for him as well, though now I'm starting to wonder if he likes the colder temp! He hasn't been fluffed up or shivering and he even just took an icy cold bath! :wacky: He's fourteen years old, the goober!
It does sound intimidating. There are so many styles and brands. The prices vary and look like they've gone up a good bit since I bought mine. They are contained units... you never need to add any thing to them so there are no worries about harmful fumes. You can invest in a room thermometer that includes a humidity indicator ( for lack of better words). I have one that is battery operated. I bought it years ago at Walmart. In the winter when you run heat the humidity in the room can be a bit low. I will place a metal bowl on top of my heaters to keep the room from being to much dry heat. Though... my birds love bathing in their water cups every other day or so. They can certainly withstand lower temperatures but you know your bird and should observe body behavior as an indicator on comfort. Something like this: they are in a wide range of products/ prices. It would help you gauge the temp in the room along with the humidity. The link I attached is a cheaper one found at Home Depot. Read reviews so you can find one that is reliable.

 

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Oh thank you for all of this info! I've been seeing several people mention that brand, the oil filled part seems intimidating to me lol, but I will look into it! I appreciate you telling me about your birds situation, I'm glad the room never gets to that level of cold though I have been opening his door later in the night so the other rooms could help heat it a little bit so I'm not sure what it would get to if I did leave it closed! I've always preferred keeping it warmer than 64 degrees for him as well, though now I'm starting to wonder if he likes the colder temp! He hasn't been fluffed up or shivering and he even just took an icy cold bath! :wacky: He's fourteen years old, the goober!
As mentioned earlier, the heater has the oil already in there and it just cycles it around. No need to ever replenish it. I keep one in Rupert’s area. Despite being in Florida, the two large windows in the room suck out a tremendous amount of warmth. I literally just keep the heater on the “keep the room from freezing” setting when it gets too chilly.
 

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My house is 63 at night and tops out at 65-68 during the day. No one really seems to be bothered much. My Jardine's has a heated perch he uses year round because it helps his arthritis, but the little birds have ignored any offers of heating devices so far!
 

MommyBird

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Oh I would love to see pictures of the hanger! That is probably how I would want to hang it for convenience, then I could just attach it to either cage when needed! I'm glad to hear you have a Delonghi as well! That brand sounds reliable!
here are some pictures of the hanger for Sweeter Heaters, let me know if you need more info!
You click on the thumbnail image to see larger.
P1010252sm.JPG P1010253sm1.JPG P1010255sm.JPG P1010251sm.JPG
 

Mockinbirdiva

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Dostc426

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It does sound intimidating. There are so many styles and brands. The prices vary and look like they've gone up a good bit since I bought mine. They are contained units... you never need to add any thing to them so there are no worries about harmful fumes. You can invest in a room thermometer that includes a humidity indicator ( for lack of better words). I have one that is battery operated. I bought it years ago at Walmart. In the winter when you run heat the humidity in the room can be a bit low. I will place a metal bowl on top of my heaters to keep the room from being to much dry heat. Though... my birds love bathing in their water cups every other day or so. They can certainly withstand lower temperatures but you know your bird and should observe body behavior as an indicator on comfort. Something like this: they are in a wide range of products/ prices. It would help you gauge the temp in the room along with the humidity. The link I attached is a cheaper one found at Home Depot. Read reviews so you can find one that is reliable.

Oh I'm glad you mentioned that, I do have one of these readers! :) Luckily in the area we live in the humidity is on the higher side, and there is also a shower in the room that he is in that occasionally gets used so that would hopefully help! I would most likely go with the Delonghi brand since that's the one I have seen repeatedly used on this forum and by you as well!
 

Dostc426

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As mentioned earlier, the heater has the oil already in there and it just cycles it around. No need to ever replenish it. I keep one in Rupert’s area. Despite being in Florida, the two large windows in the room suck out a tremendous amount of warmth. I literally just keep the heater on the “keep the room from freezing” setting when it gets too chilly.
I appreciate hearing that, thankfully the room isn't freezing (it got to 62 degrees last night naturally, too cold for my comfort at least) and from what I've seen he doesn't appear to be uncomfortable, I have his cage wrapped in to thick blankets and the windows have thermal curtains up, but I like having it be a more comfortable temp if possible so I'm going to look into this!
 

Dostc426

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My house is 63 at night and tops out at 65-68 during the day. No one really seems to be bothered much. My Jardine's has a heated perch he uses year round because it helps his arthritis, but the little birds have ignored any offers of heating devices so far!
That's exactly how that room is being currently, the room got to 62 last night and its about 69 in there now with the furnace turned on for a little bit, but normally its within that 65-68 temp during the day. He hasn't appeared fluffed up more than normal and has been eating, bathing, and playing with his toys during the day like normal so I'm probably being more over the top about it than it actually bothering him! :roflmao: I've usually had better temperature control in my past rentals. Normally I would just put him in another room, but all of the other rooms are high traffic areas and he gets interrupted sleep really easily. :( He'll jump to the front of his cage if he hears someone even approach the door to the room.
 

Dostc426

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To help anyone else with finding a heater, I reached out to De'Longhi because I noticed they also have some ceramic desk heaters as well and they told me that none of their heaters use any PTFE nor PFOA's (though he spelled it PFAs). He wasn't able to disclose what the Thermoblock technology was made of, but this is the information they provided me:
1731105049607.png 1731105173314.png 1731105186439.png 1731105196744.png
 

MommyBird

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Darnit that would be perfect, is this the one you mentioned is discontinued?
the Sweeter heaters are still made, but the hangers were made by a bird charity group, called The Parrot Posse, they have a facebook group that I can't access as I'm not on facebook. The person I was speaking to about the hangers was named Judith , back in 2019. She was considering having the hangers made again but I never heard anything. Maybe you could check that way.
It is still possible to hang them on the cage but not as effectively and easily as using the hangers.
 

MommyBird

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To help anyone else with finding a heater, I reached out to De'Longhi because I noticed they also have some ceramic desk heaters as well and they told me that none of their heaters use any PTFE nor PFOA's (though he spelled it PFAs). He wasn't able to disclose what the Thermoblock technology was made of, but this is the information they provided me:
View attachment 453275 View attachment 453276 View attachment 453277 View attachment 453278
one thing to consider in the ceramic heaters vs oil filled is some of those ceramic models use a fan to circulate the air. Not always a great option with parrots. got a lot of dust and debris flung around which could clog up said filters for the fan models, or be otherwise unsafe.
 
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