How to keep birds cool in the hot summer weather?

Question

I have about 15 cockatiels in a large cage located inside an outside shelter covered with weatherproofing and a tarp. It gets incredibly hot here in Vegas during the summer months and I find myself having to replace their water up to three times per day, for cooler water, and spraying them down to cool them off. I have searched for air coolers (expensive!) but haven't been able to find one that suited my needs. I was wondering what others had to say on the subject.

Answer 1

blow them with a hairdryer but the cool switch

Answer 2

dont worry they can survive in any envirionment.  If there are trees and fresh water around they are good to go.  O and also food!

Answer 3

Please make sure the tarp is at least 3' off the cage, or replace it with 75% shade cloth available @ the Home Depot or Lowe's~it's more breathable~ If mister systems are no longer banned there, H.D. sells the Cobra which hooks up to a garden hose, with one mister nozzle~Please make sure the cage nor the birds get wet..Hanging the shade cloth over the West side of the overhang helps a  lot ~

Answer 4

Get a fan. Also put bowls of water, large enough for them to bathe in their cages.

Answer 5

Options:

1.  Bring them inside.

2.  Paint the tarp and the surrounding platform white.  White reflects light.  It's still going to be hot though.

3.  Have an air conditioning unit continually pump cool air in their direction.

4.  Have a lot of extra money to compensate for # 3, since your electric bill will be sky high.

5.  Get a part time job to accomplish #4, unless you're rich.

6.  Give them to someone else.

If I were you, I'd go with #1 or #6.