Makena Posted October 20, 2007 Share Posted October 20, 2007 We put a cover on Makena, but we only cover it on 3 sides so he can still see out the front. The reason is that his cage backs up to a window and it is really bright really early. Plus I think he has gotten used to his bedtime routine Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MARIR Posted October 20, 2007 Author Share Posted October 20, 2007 I cover Izzy, Gabby and Sammie up each night, at 9pm, anything later than 9pm and I'm surrounded by "night night mom" "night night" and the smacking sounds of lips...:kiss: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TinyTimneh Posted October 20, 2007 Share Posted October 20, 2007 well, if you ask me it depends on the bird. my 'tiel has no problems and actually is calmer if his cage is xcovered at night. in the TAG however, it seems to increase his plucking so i don't anymore (altho i think becuz of his past he associates being covered in his current cage with punishment). also, mebbe some birds are unnerved by hearing things moving outside their cage without being able to see anything. so try it with your grey, but the most important thing is to have quiet and darkness for them to sleep, not a cover. even if you cover them, if the room isn't quiet or dark they're not sleeping. hope that helps! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blackman Posted January 1, 2008 Share Posted January 1, 2008 I have a charming 1.5 year old Timneh and have not covered the cage since I brought him home at age 12 weeks. The room is dark enough but he can also see a bit if he needs to. It is not completely dark in the wild either, particularly when there is a full moon. You don't need to cover the cage. They will get used to whatever choice you make. Not covering the cage also removes one more ritual that pet sitters and visitors have to do when you are away. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chapala Posted January 1, 2008 Share Posted January 1, 2008 You are right Blackman. It isn't necessary to cover the cage. But, in some people's homes there may be lights that bother the bird, people walking by at night, etc., and a partial cover can help the bird get its beauty sleep. Also some more skittish birds probably feel more secure in the covered part of a partially covered cage. I sometimes cover my Grey's cage if there's a light I think will bother him. But, I always leave a part uncovered (facing away from any night time light). I like our birds to wake with the natural light and wouldn't want a completely dark cage, not exactly natural. There's a lot of light on moonlit nights in the jungle, I just don't want a light directly in the bird's face. Reta Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nychsa Posted January 1, 2008 Share Posted January 1, 2008 When I only had my conure Jiggy, I did cover his cage, even though that was drama ever night - he hated the cover and woudl attack it vehemently. When Bella came home, she'd never had a cover and the breeders said they preferred the birds react to the natural light as far as their sleeping habits went. So, initially I tried to cover her cage as well as I was concerned about drafts, but she would chew on the cover. Then my partner read some where that a Cockatoo chewed and swallowed part of the cover and died, so I freaked out about that and since then have left the covers off. They seem to be fine, they know when it's bed time. They sit with me and the dogs in the evening until about 9 pm, and then I put them to bed. By then Bella will have fallen asleep against my chest with her head tucked under my chin, and Jiggy will have exhausted himself picking at everything. The only thing I've always wondered about, particularly as it relates to Jiggy, is if they should have like a little nesting box or something. When I let them hang out with me in my bedroom to watch TV, Jiggy instantly makes himself a "nest" in my covers and would stay there all night if I let him. Bella seems to like the covers as well, even though she prefers to stay snuggled with me. I tried giving Jiggy a little nest, with cuddly stuff in it, but he tore it up and threw it out :unsure: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toni Posted January 2, 2008 Share Posted January 2, 2008 I cover Alcazar when daycare kids tkae their nap and I cover him up at night time. Yea its a preference Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coachdes Posted January 5, 2008 Share Posted January 5, 2008 I'm new, my baby bird Gizmo is still in a brooder so I probably should not respond but I read somewhere that when you cover an african grey you risk it panicking, treshing around in its cage or "throwing its body" and possibly injuring itself. The article said they can do this if they hear something that scares them and can't identify it in the dark. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coachdes Posted January 5, 2008 Share Posted January 5, 2008 I'm new, my baby bird Gizmo is still in a brooder so I probably should not respond but I read somewhere that when you cover an african grey you risk it panicking, treshing around in its cage or "throwing its body" and possibly injuring itself. The article said they can do this if they hear something that scares them and can't identify it in the dark. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chapala Posted January 5, 2008 Share Posted January 5, 2008 I think 'Tiels are the most susceptible to "night frights" though it can happen to Greys also. We had a small tremor (earthquake) several years ago at night, and Kali fell and thrashed around his cage. He was not covered by the way. Reta Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KatB Posted January 5, 2008 Share Posted January 5, 2008 The people I got Oliver from complained that he would peep all night. I don't think they knew covering the cage was an option. I have been putting a black sheet over his cage every night since he came to live with me (3 months now) and he appears to be comforted by it. When he sees me bringing the sheet out he gets excited, hanging upside down from the top or climbing on the bars -- I'll tickle his belly through the bars and I would swear he giggles -- then I put the cover on and he goes silent immediately. If I peek under the cover, I'll see him on his sleeping perch with one leg tucked up, ready to sleep. I do leave the bottom 12 inches or so uncovered, so if he wants to see out he can go to the bottom of the cage and look out. I should point out that it isn't pitch black under there. It's darker than the rest of the room, but still enough light to see. I think the benefit is to give him the illusion of being in a protected place, as if the cover were some sort of solid wall keeping the boogie man out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
judygram Posted January 5, 2008 Share Posted January 5, 2008 I too use a black sheet to cover Josey's cage at night and have never had a problem with it. She goes quiet when I cover her and you don't hear any more out of her until I uncover her in the morning. I do the same with Sunny my sun conure. I have been doing this for as long as I have had them and of course they are used to it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HoboHiltons Posted January 5, 2008 Share Posted January 5, 2008 I have never covered Cowboys cage... at night or to get him to be quiet. In the mornings he wakes me up and I love to hear him calling us. It brightens my day!! He sleeps all night and gets plenty of rest. As far as covering the cage to make a bird be quiet.. personally I would never do that. I love to hear my birds sing, talk or make their adorable mimicks of sounds. If I need to have quiet for a phone call I go to another room. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MazyAK Posted January 6, 2008 Share Posted January 6, 2008 In Mazy's part of Alaska there is only 2 hours of dusk in the summer, so we cover. In winter we make sure there is a very low light they can see through the cover so they can move around the cage if they want or if they fall , can get back to their sleeping perch. Bruce & Mazy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
loviechick Posted January 6, 2008 Share Posted January 6, 2008 Greys don't get covered in the wild per se, so I don't cover any of my birds, and they all act fine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KatB Posted January 6, 2008 Share Posted January 6, 2008 True-- but in the wild they're high up in their tree branches, surrounded by the other 200 members of their flock for protection. They also don't have electricity in the wild to keep the lights on and prolong the daylight. They go to sleep when the sun goes down and wake when the sun comes up. In the wild, that would be 10-12 hours sleep a day. In my house, it's maybe 8, at best. So if I cover the cage, it delays the time when the sun comes up and gives the fellow a bit more sleep time. An aside -- I've also read that many times behavior problems and nippy birds can be traced back to lack of enough sleep. I found that to come close to home, as sleep is a precious commodity in my house! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ICERAT4 Posted January 7, 2008 Share Posted January 7, 2008 Well my grey never gets covered.As a matter of fact when it gets dark in the room she will say night night go to bed.And then goes in her cage by her self in her favorite place to pearch.She knows when were ready for lights out and will do this everynight.TOO funny Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nevjoe Posted January 8, 2008 Share Posted January 8, 2008 I have sleeper cages for them. In the small bedrooms I keep them, and when its time for sleep they go in there cages and keep them in a dark room. Thats how I do it. Joe Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KatB Posted January 8, 2008 Share Posted January 8, 2008 ICERAT4 wrote: when it gets dark in the room she will say night night go to bed. I love that Joe, I've been thinking lately about getting a separate sleep cage for Oliver and putting it in a room I can close off at night. What size cage is good for a sleeper cage? I don't have a lot of space in the room I'll need to put it in. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
graciecatt Posted January 8, 2008 Share Posted January 8, 2008 With Tyler, I cover her cage if I want to stay up and watch TV, listen to the radio or use the computer. I do try to have a bedtime, but don't stick to it 100%. It just really depends. During the week I am more stuck to a schedule and on the weekends we are more laxed. The one advantage of covering a cage is that they are relaxed and can sleep. Although Tyler will nap during the day without the cover. I don't use the cover as a means to keep her quiet, but sometimes when she is having a fit I assume it is because she is tired so I will cover her then. It usually works, but I would assume it depends on the bird? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
graciecatt Posted January 8, 2008 Share Posted January 8, 2008 I have to elaborate on my last comment. I don't cover her cage all the way. I just lay a blanket on the front so she can at least see through the back part of her cage (which faces the wall) and see me when I approach her cage so not to scare her. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nevjoe Posted January 8, 2008 Share Posted January 8, 2008 Hi KatB, Since I have done that the birds are well rested for the day. Use a cage large enough to give him room to move side to side. I use a cage 18x18x30 high. One for each of my birds. Sleep from 10pm to 9am. Joe Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KatB Posted January 8, 2008 Share Posted January 8, 2008 Thanks, Joe. I definitely think a separate bedroom for Oliver is my next project. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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