Do Budgerigars Tolerate Cold Weather

1 Cold Tolerance of Budgerigars

Budgerigars have some cold resistance but can die in severe cold. In captivity, keep them indoors through winter with the room above 5 C. They cannot withstand sub-5 C temperatures, and without warmth they risk freezing. Some heating in winter is necessary.

2 How to Keep Them Warm

When it gets cold, move the cage indoors. For very low temperatures, place a large box with an incandescent lamp inside, or drape a quilt or thick cloth over the cage for warmth and wind protection. A room heater works too. Chicks are especially vulnerable, so fit a warming lamp for them.

Add oil-rich foods in winter, such as rapeseed, peanuts, perilla, hemp, sesame, and sunflower seeds, to build fat reserves against the cold.

3 Bathing and Colds

Cold, damp conditions invite infection, so bathe less often in winter, about once or twice a week, only in warm water and in a warm room.

If a bird does catch a cold, signs include lethargy, sneezing, and nasal discharge. Keep the environment warm and give a crushed antibiotic such as erythromycin or ofloxacin in the drinking water, twice daily; most improve within about three days. During treatment, clean and disinfect the cage often.