It’s Hot! Is My Parrot?
Whether your parrot is hot or not depends more on what he or she is used to. If you parrot lives outside, then they have adjusted with the gradual change in temperature that season change bring. On the other hand, if you parrot is accustomed to being inside your air conditioned home, then putting him outside in the summer heat is ill-advised.
Parrots are very adaptable, if they are allowed to acclimate. Most species of parrot can be outside during the summer when they have been given the chance to get used to the temperature, if they are given drinking water, a ‘pool’ to bathe in and plenty of shade.
NOTE: They Need Sunshine, Parrotlets Get Too Hot
PLEASE NOTE: The only exception I am aware of are Parrotlets – they can’t take temperatures 🦜 Their temperature must be between 65 and 85 degrees F – as I understand. In other words, they are more challenging to offer some golden rays to. Parrots require some sunshine in order to produce vitamin D, which in turn allows them to absorb calcium (used for their beak, feathers, bones -and every system in their body!)
This means that putting your parrot outside for a couple hours every day would be super-dooper fantastic for them- if they are acclimated. I compensate by putting them out for a couple hours in the early morning when it’s not too hot. However, my Parrotlets don’t go out this time of year because it’s too hot – and they can’t be out in winter when it’s too cold. I have carefully watch the temperature and I also provide a Full-spectrum UV light to satisfy some of the need.
The Un-Romantic Popcicle
Unfortunately, as humans, we really like to spoil our parrots and give them treats that we think they will like, like seeds or fruit. I’ve seen videos on YouTube in which people talk about making your parrot romantic (as in neat, fun and special) treats like fruit popcicles or honey-sticks with seeds on them.
As you can imagine, there are no such things in nature. In the wild, parrots tend to eat a lot of what they find growing on trees, but not sweet fruits or honey. We like these, so we think our parrots will too. Unfortunately, honey and ripe fruits provide too much natural sweet – fructose – which parrots are not accustomed to.
So, the best ‘treat’ you can give your parrot is seemingly boring, not fun and not special. It’s clean drinking water, shade and, perhaps this could be special, a parrot-pool to splash around it.
Kami, our Harlequin Macaw, requires extra nut-fat in her diet. I could freeze her peanut butter fork-pop!
Most Parrots Love Baths
Life offers us pleasures: the pleasure of eating or taking a nice dip in the pool on a hot summer’s day.
Parrots are the same! It delights me to watch my parrots bathe. They open their wings wide, put their heads back and deeply enjoy the water splashing all around them. They look blissed out!
Also not terribly romantic, but you can always add ice to their drinking water or pool during the hot summer – or have a misted area they can choose to go into. Like us, parrots need to be able to choose to seek shelter, refresh themselves with water or get wet. This can be challenging – your back yard is probably not set up to offer shade (which is easy to do with plants like palms that are non-toxic to parrots and that they will enjoy biting) a misting section or a parrot pool. I know, I’m challenged too. Parrots are not easy exotic pets, right?
But they are worth the effort. The same basics apply even if your parrot is indoors: fresh, clean drinking water and a bowl large enough to dunk their head and body into are essential for healthy bliss!
Have a questions about parrots?
As the author of “The Parrot Bliss Bond,” I love and welcome questions about having a parrot and creating one of the best experiences of your life!
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