birdmom Posted December 4, 2007 Share Posted December 4, 2007 More wood! Argggh I thought I was tough, I used to live in Denver. Here in Cali I keep my thermostat at 70 and start to chill when it gets 68 in here. We had a cold snap last week and it got into the high 30s and low 40s at night. Does anyone know how cold a temp the Greys can tolerate? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MazyAK Posted December 5, 2007 Author Share Posted December 5, 2007 Hey birdmom: I don't think greys should be exposed to temps. below 68 degrees. 70 is more preferable.Today it is -8 degrees outside and the bird cages are at 69 degrees by the wood stove. We have a big open house so we're heating a lot of space. If you're concerned put a thermometer by their cage. (where they can't possibly get it) (mercury would be fatal if they got some)Our 10 cords are put in for the winter<br><br>Post edited by: MazyAK, at: 2007/12/04 22:43 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MazyAK Posted December 5, 2007 Author Share Posted December 5, 2007 -8 degrees at the Funny Farm today but the birds are toasty warm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
birdmom Posted December 5, 2007 Share Posted December 5, 2007 Well thats what I thought, if its comfortable for me its okay for them is the rule of thumb I go by. I like it 70 to 72, at 76 I get warm and 68 I get cold. I do have a thermometer on the wall out of their reach, for that purpose. Just thought I'd do a reality check, since you really live in a cold place. I know of someone here in Northern California who breeds birds and has an outside aviary in an old barn. She says they are out there all winter, no problem. But it's below the snow line, and I guess in the barn they stay warm enuf but we get some nites down in the high 30's or low 40's between Dec and Feb. She says her birds have always lived out there, and has greys. They must have nests and stuff to stay warm. No heater. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
judygram Posted December 5, 2007 Share Posted December 5, 2007 Now thats a nice winter scene at -8, brrrrrrrrrr, are you sure 10 cords of wood will be enough. I know we go thru a bunch of wood, we have a woodstove for backup for we never know when our power is going to be off and we use our fireplace in the family room almost every night. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danmcq Posted December 5, 2007 Share Posted December 5, 2007 What wonderful Photos Mazy!! That is a hug home to heat, I would imagine you also have a wood or other fuel heater upstairs too or perhaps you rely on the heat rising? I agree with everyones posts on the temps staying around 69 or up in the Winter. As others have posted, my local Breeder also houses all their Breeders outside in 3 huge unheated aviaries that get down into the high twenties and thirties here in central California. The Parrots from Conures to Macaws do just fine. In fact, we were over visiting with the Breeders the other night and they were telling us a pair of Hawk Headed Conures they have love to jump in and take a bath when they go out and crack the ice in their water bowls!! :-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MazyAK Posted December 7, 2007 Author Share Posted December 7, 2007 DanMcq: Our radiant heat has several zones throughout the house, and two ceiling fans circulate the wood stove heat. I was worried about the fans , but the birds don't seem to want to go that high. They just like to go to the upper balcony rail and look down. I'm finding out through you folks that the parrots are a little more resilient to colder temps than I thought. (thank goodness it's warmed up here, if you call 9 degrees above warm) Bruce & Mazy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MazyAK Posted December 7, 2007 Author Share Posted December 7, 2007 <br><br>Post edited by: MazyAK, at: 2007/12/06 19:58 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danmcq Posted December 7, 2007 Share Posted December 7, 2007 Ah Ha! Thanks for the description of how your house heat is circulated. :-) 9 degrees is too cold for me!! I know it gets much colder than that. :-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MazyAK Posted December 8, 2007 Author Share Posted December 8, 2007 I think we're in a heat wave it's finally above 13 degrees. I'd enjoy knowing if anybody knows of any other bird owners in Alaska. Come to find out there are 5 Greys in our small borough of Haines, and one Macaw. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KatB Posted December 8, 2007 Share Posted December 8, 2007 With all this talk about cold, I have to ask the standard question: Is it dry cold? I spent 3 weeks in Iceland during winter a couple of years ago, then another month in Maine in the depths of winter, and found the Maine winter to be much colder, although the temps were much higher at right about -10. The Icelandic cold in the negative teens didn't seem near as cold. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MazyAK Posted December 8, 2007 Author Share Posted December 8, 2007 Hey KatB: Where I live in the upper most part of South East Alaska in Haines, it is a dry cold. Just 100 miles south is the Tongass Rain forest which is a very wet cold and generally not quite as cold .I think we are more like your Iceland experience. I'm hoping our snap is over for the winter , however January usually has a snap also. My birds don't notice it but the other day Mazy got a wide eyed look when I opened the door with her there. (She isn't very helpful bringing firewood in) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
birdmom Posted December 9, 2007 Share Posted December 9, 2007 Wow! Hey Dan, do you live near Tulare? I have cousins there. So it sounds like somebody down there breeds Hawk headed Parrots? They are so beautiful, they get them in the Bird Shop here periodically and they're soooo sweet! Buddi and Charlie also like to bathe in ice water. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MazyAK Posted December 9, 2007 Author Share Posted December 9, 2007 I assume Tulare isn't in Alaska, and I assume you were writing for the "Water Party in Ice Water" thread. By the way,,,,,, Where is Tulare? Bruce Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danmcq Posted December 9, 2007 Share Posted December 9, 2007 Hi Birdmom and Mazy - Yes, Tulare is only 10 miles south of Visalia where I live. These cities are located in central California. The Breeder I purchased Dayo from, breeds Hawk Headed Conures, amongst all the other Parrots she breeds..Greys, Macaws, Ringnecks, Suns, Green Cheeks etc... :-) We love visiting her and her husband. We become very good friends during the 10 weeks we were visiting Dayo before we brought him home. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MazyAK Posted December 11, 2007 Author Share Posted December 11, 2007 Hey Dan: That's great you have made these great friends in the bird world. Breeders can be so helpful. That's one reason I'm grateful for this site. There are virtually no resources in Alaska. There is a bird club in Anchorage but 900 miles away. If there is an bird vet that's the only place there would be one. There is a vet that flies from Seattle to Juneau every so often, but then we have to fly from Haines or take the ferry. One of the drawbacks to living in the bush. I know it's a off subject but can you play golf all year round? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danmcq Posted December 11, 2007 Share Posted December 11, 2007 Wow, you are really remote mazy!! Yes, except for the occasional rain in Winter. But, hey you can too, just paint you balls red so you can see them.....oh and put a parachute on them so they don't sink in the snow ;-) :laugh: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MazyAK Posted December 29, 2007 Author Share Posted December 29, 2007 Hey All: The latest from Alaska is snow, snow, bitter subzero, then more snow. Our birds like to watch out the window at the snowflakes falling. The X-mas decorations are exciting after they got used to them and they took great joy in ripping paper wrapping on Christmas day. Talk about easy bird toys for the day. Hope you all had a wonderful holiday and enjoy whisking in the new year. We hold the annual New Year's party in "The Valley of the Eagles" We have the largest gathering of Bald Eagles in the world from October till January,here outside of Haines. Here's the "Funny Farm" in all it's glory. See ya out there Bruce & Mazy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MazyAK Posted January 30, 2008 Author Share Posted January 30, 2008 A winter update from Haines Alaska. I hope most of you are warmer than we are. This last month we've got over 5 feet of new snow giving us a total of over 12 feet so far this year. The last few days we've been spared any new white stuff which has allowed me to catch up on removal ( love my backhoe), but the reprieve has come with a penalty. The last couple of days it's been -27F. Much too cold to be out and about but a great time to spend with the birds and cleaning the attic. The birds love to help clean. Only they usually help the mess get bigger instead of smaller. I've learned so much since joining this group and hope I've helped others. Keep the spirit. Bruce & Mazy Bruce plowing Post edited by: MazyAK, at: 2008/01/30 03:01<br><br>Post edited by: MazyAK, at: 2008/01/30 03:03 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
judygram Posted January 30, 2008 Share Posted January 30, 2008 WOW, 12 feet is a lot of snow, glad it is you and not me, I wanted a little snow but I couldn't handle 12 feet of it.:blink: :ohmy: :laugh: Don't you worry Bruce, you have helped us here immensely and I thank you for that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MazyAK Posted February 1, 2008 Author Share Posted February 1, 2008 It is getting ridiculous now. At least the snow stopped for a few days. The downfall is that it has gone to -20F to -27F. Many more days of this cold and I'll welcome the snow again. The birds are staying warm near the wood stove though. They spend a good deal of the day upstairs where it's a little warmer and besides nobody here is spending much time outside. We throw old rolls and bread out on the lower roof and they love to watch the magpies get it. I included a picture of the birds observation window. As you can see there is plenty of the white stuff. Bruce & Mazy <br><br>Post edited by: MazyAK, at: 2008/01/31 20:51 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
judygram Posted February 1, 2008 Share Posted February 1, 2008 Thanks but no thanks, I couldn't take a lot of that, too much snow and bitter cold for me!!B) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MazyAK Posted February 1, 2008 Author Share Posted February 1, 2008 So I guess Alaska is out of the question for a grey gathering,,,lol. The one thing the cold clear does is give us natures light show which is something that must be seen for yourself. Here's a shot of the Northern Lights above our house. Bruce <br><br>Post edited by: MazyAK, at: 2008/02/01 03:21 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
judygram Posted February 1, 2008 Share Posted February 1, 2008 Now that is something I would like to see for myself, thanks Bruce for sharing that with us. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danmcq Posted February 1, 2008 Share Posted February 1, 2008 Wow, that is a beautiful shot Bruce, thanks for sharing it!! That is just tempting enough to make me want to come up just to view that in person. :-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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