Keeping Pet Finches Warm

Indoor birds must be kept in a warm room during the winter, anything below 46F will make them shiver and could even lead to a depressed immune system. A simple way to judge whether or not your finches will be satisfied with the temperature is if the room temperature is comfortable for you, it’ll be comfortable for your finches.

Finches that are feeling too cold will sit with their feathers fluffed up with minimal movement (on the switch side, if a finch is too hot they will sit with their wings spread apart and their beaks open). Covering their cage overnight is a way to keep them warm.

Birds kept outdoors like these Owl Finches need to be kept warm in the colder months

Houses with indoor heating or storage heaters will not face too many problems, especially if you have temperature regulators on each radiator. Make sure that the room you plan on keeping your birds in is well-sealed and won’t have any draughts or big temperature plunges. Double-glazing helps keep rooms warmer.

An open fire isn’t all that hazardous to Finches, as long as all the smoke is going up the chimney. If the fire is the only source of heat it will soon cool down during the night, so make sure that the room is as cosy as possible.

What Temperature do Canaries and Finches Need?

Canaries and larger finches can all survive temperatures as low as 17F in the wild, but these are extremes that should be avoided. Outdoor and indoor birds alike will need protecting from the winter cold with some form of heat. If you have your birds in an aviary, you can get a special aviary heater. Indoors any form of heating will be fine, just try to keep it above 46F.

For healthy birds, naturally hot or cool air temperatures won’t be a problem. They can be kept all across the USA. This being said, sudden and large drops in the temperature are bad for the birds. Drafty spots such as doorways or by a window should always be avoided. Also don’t place your birds next to a radiator or air-conditioning units.

You can check for drafts by holding a candle or lighter on each side of the cage for a few seconds, if the flame flickers and moves then you may have some draft to contend with. You can place something over the source of the draft to combat this.

If you plan on keeping your birds outside in an aviary be sure to provide plenty of shelter from the elements. This protection can be offered in the form of screens, canopies or indoor areas which your birds can go to if it gets too rough outside. See the Aviaries and Bird Rooms section for more details.