Hot Summer & Birds
Though keeping birds in Pakistan is an old hobby, but due to lack of access to valuable information, most of the fanciers making up the rules as they go along but they have one problem in common, they all complain that a lot of birds die during the summer months but they could not find an appropriate way to stop this. It is petty to know that Birds who reach at victory stand in previous Shows also expired.
It was at the end of March, when I was started getting worried about my budgerigars for forthcoming hot summer. I contacted many people including Dr. Rob Marshal who were all so kind as to respond my emails. However, none of the fancier or veterinarians from the
In my search I found a local distributor who advised me that a few fanciers are using Vetafarm’s Spark Electrovet in
Now I was looking for an idea which is not only effective but harmless as well. I discussed it with every one I could who have birds and no body could assist me, as they too were looking for a solution.
It was by chance that I went to another city which had a nearby village. I was concerned about how these people are living in such hot weather without having Air Conditioning or even Desert Coolers. So on request my fallow friend, whom I went to see took me to the village. There I found an old man sitting under tree and smoking. After having little chit chat, I came to the point and the out come I got was so simple and natural that I had to start scratching my head. He said “Son, it’s very simple. We shower our mud floors with water as the hot air hits the floor, it produce coolness and a very lovely earthy smell which we love. This gives us coolness in our environment and so makes our life easier”.
Though it considered prohibited having mud floors in aviary but we have saying that for an unusual problem one have to go with an unusual solution. Luckily I did not change flooring of my lawn so it was easy for me to take necessary measures. So I took gardening stuff and made the hard mud floor a little softer in the way gardeners do. Then I watered my aviary and watched my birds from a distance, it was 47 degree C that day when one of them fly down to drink water & did not fly back to perch, bird stayed there on wet floor keeping body close to wet mud floor. Other birds also start getting down and sitting in same way. It looks like they all sleeping on floor like human. I went back in the aviary and for my delight the temperature falls some 12 degree C down the floor then roof of it. I am very pleased that I found a way to save my birds from our hot summers. I am so happy that an old and apparently uneducated person taught me a lesson and my birds finally get some relief. Now I have mud roof as well, but I have to de-worm my birds on quarterly basis after moving to mud flooring. I have to use an appropriate anti insecticide and anti-insect growth regulator after couple of months, which may be a cost and hazel but I put it in my normal routine now.
Today, I have a lot of home grown green plants for my birds, which when grow at a level I moved in side the flight and let them enjoy fresh plants, currently I have almost 9 different types of plants which we also use in our kitchen so my family is also happy with these things. I stop using greens from bazaar as it is noticed that they use pesticides and other harmful chemicals which most of the fancier may not want to feed these small companions.
Though People I come across said, it is an open invitation to germs. I always respond them that death rate in my aviary is lowest comparing other fanciers. I had zero casualties in the last summer. My secret is, I listened them well and took note so from this year, I am planning to put a removable wired net on floor so I can avoid “germs” in normal weather conditions. I am also moving my aviary to back yard and doing rework on design, it should be 26ft x 9ft x7ft with two flights and one breeding room.