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[officialbizness]

Is it safe to leave the ceiling fan on in my bird room during the hotter hours of the day? I'm worried about the birds getting too hot from the humidity (about 85% in full summer swing), but I'm also worried about the air current creating too strong a draft and making them cold.

Comments

[lindabcs]

I think overheating is a bigger danger than a draft, but if you have air conditioning that is set to a normal comfortable for people level, they should be fine either way.

[officialbizness]

We don't. Or we do, but it's the sort that runs at absolute freezing. I spent summers of yore under two comforters every night.

[bloolark]

Parrots really aren't that sensitive to drafts if they're in good health and on a good diet. They're also quite okay with cooler temperatures (they're wearing down coats after all!)

If it's hot, I'd leave the fan on.

[zandperl]

If they are enclosed in a cage, and they are in goood health, then a ceiling fan should be fine. If you have a fan that switches direction, then you can pick the direction that gives them less draft where the cage is located. Just don't let them out while it is running.

FWIW my parrots generally haven't shown signs of being too warm until it's over 85-90°F. Watch for panting, open beak, feet that feel too warm, and wings held away from the body. Offer cool or cold water twice a day, cool showers, and some people even put a bottle of frozen water next to the cage for a bird to stand near.

[officialbizness]

I did ice cubes the other day. Apparently they're frustrating but fun foot toys.

"IT'S SO COLD AND WET. I must investigate further. :|a"

[prairieprincess]

I buy a bag of frozen mixed vegetables and give a few to my guys right out of the freezer - they love frozen veggies!

[zandperl]

Oh man, I want photos/video of that! :)

[slaneyder]

A dehumidifier might help, but in my experience, they put off a lot of heat. Which sort of defeats the purpose I guess.

[rumorofrain]

Just chiming in to say I think it's fine to run the ceiling fan in the birds' room (as long as they are safely contained so they can't possibly fly up to the fan).

If it's hot enough to merit running the fan, I doubt the fan's breeze will make it cold enough to adversely affect the birds' health. I think drafts are more of a problem in winter, when the birds are trying to keep themselves warm, and even then it's usually not a big deal unless the birds' health is compromised in some way.

Fan away!