This may come as a surprise to some people, but pet birds are the fourth most common domestic animal in Germany, ahead of horses. For every 13.4 million cats and 8.6 million dogs in German households, there are about five million small animals such as rabbits, guinea pigs and hamsters as well as 4.6 million pet birds. Often these are kept in groups of several, and that is a good thing, because most bird species are swarm animals such as budgies it concerns swarm animals, which feel well only in the community. However, keeping birds in a species-appropriate manner is anything but easy. A bird must fly, is often the criticism. In fact, they should not be kept in a small cage. The more space, the better.

Ornamental Birds Are Not Caged Animals

Unfortunately, just a few years ago, it was a common sight to see a lone budgie sitting in a tiny cage in grandma’s kitchen. Fortunately, awareness of species-appropriate bird keeping is slowly but surely growing in Germany. If birds are kept in too confined a space or they become lonely, they tend to develop behavioral disorders and diseases, even fatal ones. If you keep pet birds, you should therefore definitely pay attention to the minimum size of the cage.

Better still would be a large aviary, in which the birds can move freely and flutter around sufficiently. Clearly, for it only in the fewest dwellings and/or houses place is. In addition, such a flock of birds can also make a lot of noise, which is certainly not desired indoors, not to mention the smell. Most bird owners therefore prefer an aviary outdoors. This can be easily self-built and thus cost-saving as well as installed in the appropriate size or shape. But what actually happens in winter? Can birds be kept outdoors even in the cold season? A question that occupies many people who are thinking about the acquisition of pet birds in an outdoor aviary.

Winterizing An Outdoor Aviary: Here’s How To Do It

The good news for bird lovers is: Yes, in principle, pet birds can stay outside even in winter. So if you don’t have enough space in your living quarters to let them hibernate indoors, you still don’t have to give up keeping birds. However, the outdoor aviary must be winterized for this purpose and there are a few things to keep in mind so that the animals do not perish in the cold temperatures. So how does wintering birds outdoors work?

It Depends On The Animal

Even though pet birds can usually be kept outside for the winter, there are some exceptions, as there are to every rule. First of all, it is a question of the type of bird: “Winter-proof” in an appropriate environment are, for example, budgies, many parrots, zebra finches, red cardinals, quails and cockatiels. It may be a little more difficult with Canary or tropical birds, which by their nature are not made for cold temperatures. So once you know which species of bird it should be, get more individual advice on wintering.

If wintering outdoors is approved by an expert for the bird species in question, it is even often the better choice than indoors. Ornamental birds need a lot of fresh air and oxygen, so heated rooms with closed windows quickly become a problem. In addition, direct sunlight is important, especially in winter, to be able to produce enough vitamin D, a vital vitamin for birds. Finally, sufficient space for free flight would also have to be ensured indoors to keep the circulation as well as metabolism going. However, as you already know, this is exactly a problem in many apartments and houses.

Nevertheless, regardless of their species, birds should never winter outside if they are sick or weakened. Therefore, before each winter, it is essential to check the health of each animal.

The Right Location For The Outdoor Aviary

Not only, but especially in winter, pet birds must be protected from drafts. Many species of birds are extremely sensitive to this, sometimes even with a fatal outcome. Furthermore, the winter-proof outdoor aviary must offer both sufficient shade and direct sun access. A southern to eastern orientation is best suited for this. At the same time, it must be protected from wind as well as weather, so that the birds can escape rain or snow.

At the latest when temperatures drop below ten degrees, which is common in German winters, it is no longer possible to do without insulating the outdoor aviary. This includes covering the walls with Plexiglas and the roof with roofing felt. By means of thermometer you should permanently check that the temperature in the interior as well as the insulated outdoor area never falls below these ten degrees.

If it gets colder, there are two alternative solutions: Either the aviary is completely closed or you install sufficient red light lamps in the indoor as well as outdoor areas. However, so that the animals do not burn themselves on them, these must be installed outside the area accessible to the birds. Lastly, the pet birds really only need one thing to get through the winter healthy and happy: enough food, and they need it before the cold season. They should have a small fat cushion. Nuts are a suitable food for this. In addition, the peacocks should not lack nutritious food such as sunflower seeds in winter.

By the way: Depending on the city, municipality and bird species, different regulations apply to bird aviaries, about which you should definitely inform yourself in advance. In addition, you may need one to several permits. Otherwise you risk penalties such as high fines up to the collection of your pet birds by the animal protection.