[Posted on behalf of a WPT member]

I started keeping cockatiels over 25 years ago. I have 5 birds now along with 2 tame ones inside. The aviary birds have always had a heated shelter in winter and I am extremely worried, if anything happened to me there is nobody to look after the birds. I`m living in Northern Ireland and after making enquiries there is no Parrot Sanctuary over here. The anima rehabilitation centres here are for wild animals and birds but one of them offered to place the birds in outdoor aviaries, but couldn’t promise they would have heating in winter. I am very worried about their future without any heating in winter. What should I do?

Our winters in Northern Ireland are usually mild about minus 2-5 degrees for two or three nights.  We had a severe winter about 12 years ago with frosts minus 12 degrees. Hopefully its not as cold again for a long time.

Looking for advice.

Elizabeth-

Elizabeth,

Apart from your desire to find a sanctuary for the future, I think you need not be concerned about your cockatiels and the weather in Northern Ireland. I have had friends who kept and bred cockatiels for decades in areas of California that got to freezing temperatures and were below 20 for days sometimes. The birds were fine as long as they stayed inside out of the wet and wind. Cockatiels, once acclimated, are very hardy birds, existing in Australia in quite cold climes during the winters. You also might add some solar glass windows to your building which helps keep temperatures up.