Outdoor pet birds—find out which bird species are best suited for an outdoor environment
A while back, I got a question from one of my readers regarding keeping pet birds outside (in a cage or aviary), and I gave my honest opinion (and recommendations) in this post.
However, I got some follow-up questions, and the one that came up most was, “If indeed you can keep birds outside, what pet species are best suited for outdoor cages (aviaries).”
Well, that is what we will look at in this post.
But the short of it is…
Most birds that qualify as pets can be kept outside if the conditions are similar or close to what they are accustomed to in their natural wild.
For instance, love birds kept by owners in the tropics, such as in Africa, will survive in an outdoor aviary almost all year round, and so will cockatoos and cockatiels in Australia and ringneck parakeets in India.
However, you might have an uphill task trying to keep the same birds outside if you live in the temperate regions, due south from the North pole, where the sun only shines so much, and the winters are a heap sight more than chilly.
Despite that, some birds are generally hardy and survive outdoors, almost anywhere with appropriate care and housing. From the top of my head are toucans (sadly not too popular), lovebirds, budgies, pigeons, doves, finches, cockatiels, and African greys
Cockatoos, macaws, Amazons, large conures, and parakeets are noisier and are most peacefully kept outside by people with acreage.
What follows is a list of several birds I would try raising outside given the option. Even so, note where I live, winters are not too cold (snow in December is a lap of luxury), and the days are not half as gloomy as those in London (at least not most of the year).
Still, the sun does not scorch as much as in Africa (perhaps Southern California and Florida in mean summer).
**1—**Cockatiels
Cockatiels are small, and perhaps most people assume they are also fragile, but they are not. You will be surprised to know that tiels might let you get away with more mistakes than larger birds, such as cockatoos.
Tiels are also more accomodating and will live in flocks with their own species and even other birds in an aviary hence the perfect candidate to keep outside.
However, note that due to their small size, cockatiels often fall prey to predators, including larger birds, and thus are best kept outside in places with minimal bird hunters.
In the same breath, if you decide to keep your cockatiels outside, I recommend making sure the climate you live in is appropriate, and know to bring them inside when there is bad weather.
Plus note, cockatiels do much better outside when kept in a flock.
A single tiels raised indoors, particularly if your bird was bred solely to be kept as a pet by a commercial breeder.
**2—**Budgies
Budgies are almost as misunderstood as cockatiels when considering their hardiness. These tiny balls of down and feathers are almost as hardy as any bird, more than most larger parrots.
Because they are so accomodating, they also do well in outdoor community aviaries and thrive as they would indoors with proper care.
Perhaps the only shortcoming (same as tiels) is their small size and timid nature, making budgies vulnerable to almost any animal bigger than the bird.
As such, you only want your budgies outside if you have a lockable, well-insulated aviary that will offer the little feathered fellas a safe environment.
**3—**Pigeons
Pigeons and doves are arguably more accustomed to outdoor living than most birds and are flexible with their accommodation. They can live in a predator and rodent-proof aviary or in a shed or coop outside your house.
The only caveat is a pigeon cannot be raised singly outside. They need to be in a flock, to enhance the sense of safety, security, and companionship.
A pair of doves or pigeons living outside is ok, but anywhere 3 birds are more advisable. Also, note that these birds are more likely to wander off. So if you don’t think yours are safe outside your acreage, you may want to clip their wings or apply any other trick you prefer to keep them from flying off.
**4—**Toucans
Toucan make good pet birds, though not many bird parents have had the experience of owning one. The only challenge is they require plenty of space hence best kept outside than indoors.
Moreover, when toucans get stressed or panic, they have a tendency to fly around wildly without focus, almost as though they are wearing blinders, the more reason you want to house them in a sizable outdoor aviary.
Perhaps one more sense you want your toucans outside is their wild nature.
See, cans are not popular house birds like parrots, pigeons, doves, finches, and canaries, meaning their wild instincts are more apparent, including a preference for a vast, natural environment.
Most will be terrified of being in closed spaces and feel safer, comfy, and more in control outside your house.
**5—**Lovebirds
Lovebirds are beautiful birds native to the open lands of Africa and enjoy a nice warm bask outside with brief swims in shallow pools of water.
So, if you live in an area with a tropical or subtropical climate, you can comfortably have these little gems in an aviary outside your house.
They are also hardy enough to handle spring, fall, and summer weather further away from the tropics when provided with the proper care and housing.
You’ll only need to bring your lovebirds inside during the winter months or any other time of the year when the weather in your area goes too far south of the temperature scale.
Still, please note that the average outside temperature in a lovebird’s natural habitat rarely goes below 55 degrees Fahrenheit even in Winter, meaning the mean temp in temperate regions might still be too cold for lovebirds.
**6—**Zebra Finches
Zebra finches are adaptable and will survive in outdoor cages and aviaries in an area with a climate akin to (or better than) East and Mid-West USA.
On the temperature scale, anything above 60 degrees Fahrenheit is safe enough for a pet finch living in an outdoor cage. They can even survive as low as 40 degrees Fahrenheit, but you do not want to put your pet to the test.
Another plus for keeping your zebra finches outside is they enjoy being in a group, and an outdoor aviary can host several. You can even keep them with compatible companions of a different species, such as budgies.
Only note that zebra finches are tiny prey birds that though agile, can fall prey to almost all other animals in your home.
**7—**Rainbow Lorikeets
Lorikeets are another set of birds you won’t have much problem keeping outside, especially in Australia or any other region with similar weather.
They will even survive slightly chillier conditions akin to Southern summer, anywhere in the world, as long as they have a fur snuggle hut kept under a cover (or something close) to sleep in and stay warm.
Cover your lorikeet’s aviary with blankets slightly thicker than usual during winter days, and birds will do fine.
**8—**Hycinth Macaws
Perhaps the main reason most people keep hyacinth macaws and other large birds outside is limited space, though noise and activity levels can also be overwhelming when kept indoors.
These birds need a large cage, enrichment, and substantial time outside to thrive, which are best provided outdoors.
Even so, keep in mind, these birds still need protection from environmental perils, including foul weather.
Well, that’s all for this post.
See you in the next one. Have a birdy-happy day🦜🦜.