What to do at birdy bedtime.

I just got a black-headed caique on Friday, so we haven't really gotten a chance to figure each other out yet. She's almost 4 years old and absolutely adorable.

The previous owner says that she used to put a blanked over her (his? I don't know for sure but I think it's a girl) cage between 9 and 11 at night for bedtime, and that she would sleep on her back. I got her a fuzzy birdy tent, and which she's slept in (not on her back) every night since I got her. It's soo cute!! I'd like to see her sleep on her back because I think that would be cute too, but I'm glad that she likes the tent I got her.

My problem is that she throws a big fit when I put the blanket on the cage! I don't have a blanket big enough to cover the entire cage (it's a BIG cage), so she peeks out at the bottom and calls and screams and stuff. I live in an apartment, so I'm worried about bothering my neighbors in the middle of the night (not to mention my own sanity).

I'm thinking of just not covering the cage when I go to bed. What do you guys do for birdy bedtime?

if the blankets not big enough, i'd not cover cage, just start with dimming lights and then turn off lights an have good black out curtains

but sleep is really important for birds, so she needs to be in a quiet room no telly ppl walkin by etc

or you can get a small sleep/travel cage an pop her into that at night an cover, thats what we do with nut, an she has spare bed room

SueBee - I was thinking of doing the travel cage thing. She also sometimes throws a fit if I put her in her cage and start doing stuff around the house. ("YOU ALMOST LEFT MY SIGHT, ALARM TIME!!")

I can't really put her in another room because I live in a studio apartment by myself, and I don't make a lot of noise, so she could sleep if she wanted to.

The only time she's fallen asleep before I officially put her to bed was when I was driving to my BF's house with her in a travel cage at night. It was so cute. She got in her tent and started growling every minute or so. I realized she was used to having her cage covered, so I covered it with a throw blanket and she stopped growling.

aww lol not sure where you can get a cover from big enough for these big cages lol but if she likes her travel cage, then just pop her into that, she might feel safer cos its a smaller space, and as long as she is gettin her sleep that is the main thing

We also live in an apartment, Mishka also used to perform, when bedtime.
I place him in a small cage, and covered with a blanket. I switch off the lights and walk out. I posted this video recently, what Mishka does when he is supposed to be sleeping.... he soon realizes it is time to sleep, gets tired and sleeps. Towards the end of the video, he gets tired and gets ready to sleep LoL.

You only got the bird if Friday, the birds needs time to adjust, perhaps, get a smaller cage, leave play soft music playing, that might calm the bird down.
Keep us updated


[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vJysCPf-MGg"]World's Amazing Talking African Grey Parrot "Mishka:" Is Supposed to be Sleeping LoL - YouTube[/ame]

lol ant way too cute!!!!

Remy the cage i have is also slightly to big for the blanket but with Cairo's cage been pushed up against the wall it only has to cover the cage's front and sides which it just about does. Or as stated you could try a smaller cage at night or even leave the blanket off and dim the lights, which i tried but without blanket over cage, Cairo seems to love to sing as loud as possible first thing in the morning at about 5am. So the blanket it is for me.

We never completely cover our birdies' cages with their nighttime sheets. I want them to get some air flow, but we're forutnate to have a room just for them (the architect thought it was a formal dining room). They get a little upset frrom time to time but, just like our biologica kids, they soon realize that it's time to sleep.

I think it'll just take a little time for everyone to get used to the routine.

Rio is in the living room were we watch TV and I put a blanket over his cage but the front is open he would come to the front and watch us until we went ot bed, But now when I put the blanket over he climbs to the top of his wooden chew toy and goes to sleep. And at 7h00 in the morning I open him and he starts his morning call

Thank you for your advice everyone! Last night I ended up putting her in her travel cage and covering it, with some space for ventilation. She walked around and twittered for a while, but eventually finally went to sleep.

lol nut does that, as soon a cover goes over she has to do a circuit around the cage roof, a few tweets an then she's off lol an if we disturb her, when we go to bed, she does snoring sounds!

In my years with birds, I have observed that parrots do much better when given a small sleeping cage. I highly recommend this system to all my customers. A small, dark, sleeping cage is much like a dark cubby in a tree and they are both warm and safe. A bird can sleep better since they can allow both sides of their brains to rest, not being in fear of being eaten by a snake or other animal.

I see that you used a travel cage last night, excellent on you! When my birds want to go to their sleeping cages they let me know. For them it's safe, quiet, dark, warm place to sleep and feel secure. I recommend it for all birds. We have taken them out of the wild, even if they are captive bred, and we need, or at least I do, to provide them with as much a semblance of the forest or jungle in which they would naturally live.

None of my birds enjoy bedtime. I cover them all and Shrek my IRN will pace back and forth across his perches going through his repetoire of words and noises trying to get my attention then has an arguement with one of his toys. Chiku my lovebird just runs around the entire cage and digs all her seed out of her seed cup. The two Tiels just chatter to each other. They settle down after a few minutes when they realise that bed time truly does mean bed time. I honestly think that because they are just so curious they hate the thought of missing out, much like human children. It's thier version of "just 10 more minutes.... PLLLEEEAAAASSSEEE?"

Parrottoys - I've been doing this at night since then, and it seems to be the best way for her.

Anna - She does something similar! She will run around in circles on her ceiling, make twittery noises, call for me, etc, to try to get my attention, but eventually settles down.

Anna said:

None of my birds enjoy bedtime. I cover them all and Shrek my IRN will pace back and forth across his perches going through his repetoire of words and noises trying to get my attention then has an arguement with one of his toys. Chiku my lovebird just runs around the entire cage and digs all her seed out of her seed cup. The two Tiels just chatter to each other. They settle down after a few minutes when they realise that bed time truly does mean bed time. I honestly think that because they are just so curious they hate the thought of missing out, much like human children. It's thier version of "just 10 more minutes.... PLLLEEEAAAASSSEEE?"

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lmao love it, just when i thought i got over difficult bed times an early mornings!!!:52:

Tori has a little cuddle corner in his cage next to his favorite perch that he sleeps on. I have his cage against the wall, so I use a bed sheet to cover the front and side of his cage when it's time to sleep. He'll chatter for a little bit, and I'll tell him "Go to bed, Tori." and he'll snuggle up and sleep. He also takes periodic naps during the day when he is feeling particularly lazy...like right now. XD