I have a water heater made for a dog's dish, to keep her water from freezin. Temps like last night(-17 F) it dosent work to well. Any Yankees have some better ideas ?
I'll see what I can find out. On another list I am on, they where talking about heaters that where designed specificly for this purpose.
Eagles may soar, but weasels don't get sucked into jet engines "Give a man a fish, and you'll feed him for a day; give him a religion................ and he'll starve to death while praying for a fish."
check the ranch suppliers they some times have large water heaters they may have some to go under the pan and some that will go in the pan. If you can try for one thet goes under the pan.
I have a small heater in my side of the mews, but is not enough to keep it above freezing on her side. I dont think that would be good for her anyway. What I have used for a water container is the motar mixing pan. It's fill is automatic with an overflow. That keeps the water three inches deep. Dog gone overflow freezes up. May have to put heat tape on it.
In the winter monthes hawks or in fact any other bird do not consume hardly any water during weather below 35 degrees. I make sure mine has at least a small rubber or strong plastc bowel of water if she needs it each day. Most birds, hawks, pigeons or what ever only take one good drink in the winter monthes when it is cold, and below 35 degrees. When you fed your hawk 1.5 ounces of meat daily( or more) there is usually enough moisture to see her through until the next day. Now, when you are bringing her down in weight in cold weather then dehighdration is a threat so you will need daily at least a container that will hold a half pint or more of water. Once that temp is back up or if the temp is up and down then more caution should be used. Now I go out every day and check on my bird sometimes three or even four times a day, not everyone has the type of job that they can do that. but check your bird at least once in the morning and once in the evening or vicea/ verasa. You should be weighing every day that will tell you all you need to know on everything that is going on inside of your bird. So then you see a electric heater is not necessary, they may also cause a fire/ I f you want to hear some real war stories I'll tell you a few about electric heaters and pigeon fanciers which I was for about" 40 years..
I must say I do agree with Austin and that water shouldn't be an issue when fed propperly. This said my bird still likes her baths even as cold as it is now,-5 F So ahe ends up in the Kitchen till she is dry enough to go back out. This is in fact the reason I don't leave water out in cold weather, cause I have gone out to find her with ice on her chest and tail. When water is left out you need to watch in cold weather that the feathers are preened sufficiantly so that air is under the feather to protect your birds from cold. This is our third winter with MAry and she has from time to time been brought in to defrost ( my wife now insists on watering her every day) no ill effects as yet so on we go.
Chris I agree. My bird is the same way, will take several dips in the water during nice weather every day, loves it. During winter I use a large bowl one she cannot get into and I only put about a pint or so of water in it. Electric over night in a mew scares me I would not be able to sleep a wink. Here when it gets down to 20 or below at evening time I just go out and get her put her in the large carring box in the garage where the temp is about 35 to 40 degrees and then she has all the company she needs and we never hear a sound out of her. If I could, she would be in the house, but, once again I would probably out of the house Brrrrrrrr!
Thanks for the information . I think I will follow your sugestion and just bring her in the house everyday for her drink. I also was concerned about the possiblility of a fire. The heater is electric and set up on a GFCI. I figured it was safe enough.
Got four black squirrels in the back yard. If she could see them it would be driving her nut's. LOL No pun intended. Thanks again .
Post by Master Yarak on Jan 7, 2005 11:42:02 GMT -5
Injecting the food with water is the most direct delivery system. It goes straight in and is metabolised very quickly. When Bane had WNV she became dangerously dehydrated and for many days every meal was swollen with injected water. It made a big difference in a hurry. While lightly dusting with Vita-Hawk her cere and feet yellowed very nicely. Yarak
If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer. Let him step to the music he hears, however measured or far away
Thanks Yarak that's someething I hadn't thought of, Though I haven't had a problem with dehydration it's always good to have ideas before there is one. I have used soaked food before but that's usually in conjunction with defrosting it.