Will My Birds Make It?

[Robo]

Okay, tonight it is going to be 18*F. I am not worried about this, but I am this: On Monday night it is supposed to be 10*F with a wind chill of 0*F. On tuesday night there will be freezing rain with temps in single digits or low teens. These are coturnix, and they have a heat lamp. I think I will slide wood over their wire floor tomorrow night. Do you think they will be okay or should I move their cage into the garage? Thanks for the help. Oh, and if it helps we are getting pounded by snow as I speak. The sun won't shine tomorrow and more accumulation is expected.

 

[BobwhiteQuailLover]

They should be fine, it is -8, -18f wind chill, and 3 feet of snow here!!

 

[Robo]

I hate winter. I wish it was early fall all year long. Do you have coturnix in that?

 

[BobwhiteQuailLover]

No, just bobs.
Me too!!

 

[Robo]

I have a heat lamp in there and I have a removeable wooden floor. I think they will be fine. I wish the eggs wouldn't freeze though.

 

[BobwhiteQuailLover]

Yeah!!

 

[Rozzie]

Make sure they can stay dry.

I'd definitely put the wood in the bottom, if you can. Also, can you wrap most of the cage in a tarp or canvas? Make sure to leave some openings for ventilation. You don't want too much heat or moisture building up, especially since you are using a heat lamp!

Also, if you have some straw, put it in with them BUT NOT where it will be ANYWHERE near the heat lamp. You don't want to start a fire!

 

[Robo]

I have a small vent in the corner, and I have already borded up all of the windows. They are fine right now, but I can't keep the waterer un frozen.

 

[peewee]

The cold should not be a very big factor for your birds but I would be worried about the wind. Me personally, I would bring the birds into the garage. As long as you cover your birds well with a tarp to keep out the drafts and the rain and put the wood bottom on your pen that you were talking about they should be fine. I personally would put the heat lamp in there as well. You could also put a layer of hay down for them to burrow into.
Good luck with your birds and try to stay warm.

Edit: Rozzie and I were posting at the same time. She just hit submit before I did.

 

[Rozzie]

I'd bring them in if they were mine, too. However, I'm a softy & don't have any outdoor critters. Heck, in weather like this, I'd probably bring a polar bear inside if it were my pet.