Jul 22, 2020, 6:03 PM
As summer approaches and temperatures rise, it’s crucial to protect pet birds and to keep them safe, happy, and healthy. Heat-induced stress can occur when your feathery companions are confined within a hot environment for a prolonged period. Apart from the heat itself, several other potential hazards come with summer, and in this write-up, we’ll discuss how you can protect your pet birds all summer long.
Keep Them Cool
Unlike mammals, birds have no sweat glands and lose heat through their respiratory system and exposed skin. While a moderate increase in room temperature will not prove to be problematic, a significant rise in temperature can be fatal. As a rule of thumb, never leave your bird inside a vehicle or in a place that is exposed to direct sunlight all through the day. To know whether your feathery companion is suffering heat-induced stress, keep an eye out for signs such as panting and whether they are holding their wings away from their body. Treatment in case of heatstroke must be immediate. You can choose to lightly mist your companion with cold water or allow them to stand in a shallow container of cold water. Still, we strongly advise you to consult a veterinarian to establish an appropriate treatment plan.
Keep Them Away from Electric Fans
Although electric and overhead fans are an effective way to cool down the environment, you must exercise caution when you have a feathery companion in your home. Even those pet birds with clipped wings can reach an overhead fan and suffer from severe injuries upon colliding with it. To keep the bird safe, try to keep it in its cage or in another room where fans are not being used.
Keep Them Hydrated
Like humans and other animals, birds also increase their water consumption during the summer. Contrary to what many pet owners believe, it is not sufficient to provide your pet bird with water once or twice a day. Bird owners should ensure that their companions have access to clean and fresh water all day long.
A Nutrient-Rich Diet
Feeding your bird right can make a huge difference in their overall health, wellbeing, and happiness. Like any other domesticated animal, birds also require a balanced diet composed of carbohydrates, proteins, fat, vitamins, minerals, and water. If you are someone who's in search of a high potency coarse or bird food in Dubai, then we highly recommend Harrison's Bird Food. Developed by avian veterinarians and nutritionists, their range of organic, non-GMO verified, formulated diets have been created with the health of the birds in mind. Another benefit of Harrison's formulas is that they do not require any additional supplementation along with it.
Escape-Proof Your Home
With the arrival of summer, it can be tempting to open your doors and windows to let in the fresh outdoor air. While doing so may help in cooling your house down, it may also provide your birds with an avenue to escape. Yes, it's impossible to stay locked in all through the day but exercise caution whenever you open a door or window and keep an eye on our bird. You can also choose to keep your bird in a room without any direct outdoor access to completely shut down any escape attempts.
Do Not Travel
Try not to travel too much with your birds during the summertime. If in case the travel cannot be avoided, be sure to keep the bird cool and never leave them alone in a new environment.