Bedtime dramas

Bit of background first.
My birb is a shy but inquisitive fellow. At the moment they will lick their favourite jam from my finger. But won't allow touch and won't come close without the jam. So aren't completely trusting yet. But is clearly curious of family life from a distance. (fingers crossed) I am hopeful a bond will form.

They are generally quiet wee lorikeet, few happy chirps here and there. The cage door is constantly open but they don't have any interest in leaving the cage, enjoys the toys and their favourite perch too much. And instead gets really excited when we wheel the cage outside.

For the moment as they are still getting used to surroundings and my family, (as well as my dog who really wants to act like mum) they are a generally quiet bird.

Except when it is bedtime. We put the cover over the cage at 8pm and plan on taking the cover off at 7:30am (which is about 10 minutes before the last person leaves the house).

This isn't very accepted by our bird and begins chirping excessively when the cover goes on, which isn't a bother to us, we find the noise cute and endearing but it's obvious they aren't sleeping. This doesn't stop until the last person goes to bed at around 10 - 11pm and begins again in the morning when the first person gets up 6am.

I do notice they have been having naps in the day but it still concerns me when I hear birds should be having 12 hours sleep.

I do know this is quite soon, as they haven't been with us long but as I am constantly paranoid and want them to have the best home I can. Does anyone have any suggestions? Should I be worried? And is it likely that with time the bird will adapt to the sleeping schedule? They are still very young (11 weeks) and I would hate this to cause any adverse health effects. They very much is like a toddler, who doesn't want to go to sleep when they know grown ups are awake.

(We have also tried wheeling into a different room and turning down the tv or talking more quietly when it is time for them to go to bed, but they know we are still awake and it doesn't work)

You pretty much answered your own question. "They are very much like a toddler..."

At 11 weeks, very much a baby. Did you get him from a breeder? Most likely he was housed with other birds and now is "alone". He hears others and just wants to be with you/them.

As far as the amount of sleep time, don't be too concerned right now. In my house, my Conure goes to bed at around 9:00pm and gets up WHEN HE WANTS. I can keep things quiet till almost 10:00am, but he gets up on his own around 7:00am as daylight gets brighter.

But one thing I purchased that I would recommend is that most people, when they put their bird(s) to bed, they just turn out the room lights (and not saying there is anything wrong with that). But I purchased a special light bulb that simulates nightfall. It automatically dims to being out, in 30'. This simulates the setting sun to darkness just like in nature. They advertise it for PEOPLE that have difficulty falling asleep; but I think it is great for our birds.
When I first put the light on, it's a regular room light and my guy keeps playing. But as it slowly dims, he gets the message and puts himself to bed.

Here is a link. It is expensive but supposed to last years. I bought it direct from the mfg as they had the best price.
You being in New Zealand, not sure about your cost.

https://sewelldirect.com/drift-light

Oh yes this brings back memories of Syd. He would do anything to avoid going to sleep and even now a year later he chats away for ages seemingly practising words and phrases until he is ready to let me properly hear them.

I used to keep him in the living room 24/7 but in the end found that a separate sleep cage in the spare room worked better and the quiet I think helps him get a good night. I notice though that around 1.30 - 2.30 each afternoon he has a little quiet time and a nap.

Oh, I'm so envious! I only WISH the Rb's vocalizations were sweet and endearing!

I, too, use a natural light schedule. It seems to moderate hormones and promote healthy moulting.


Ever since the Rickeybird hit sexual maturity at about 3-4 years of age, I've had to manage his hormones! If kept on too steady a long day, and too much light, he stayed "in the mood" (aggressive, even louder than usual, pleasuring himself) year round. If I keep him on a natural light schedule... up with dawn, down with dusk, year around... THEN he's only a little monster rooster from about July to September). He has his own room, so I can do that easily. A sleep cage in a separate room would work, *IF* you can get the birds into it. The Rb only flies into his cage if there's a fresh green chile tossed in!

Your bird sounds so adorable!

My bird is always loudest right before she goes to bed and about 30 minutes after she wakes up. If you are having trouble getting them to settle down, before putting them in their cage, try dimming the lights significantly and see if they don't start going on on their own...or if it perhaps makes then more willing.



MANY birds do not sleep when they can hear things going on outside of their cage. That is why so many people buy a sleeping cage that they place in a different/quieter room at night (keeping the main/daytime cage in the family hub). I don't have the space, so at night when the bird is asleep, I wear headphones when watching movies, turn my phone to silent or vibrate and take phone calls outside or in another room with the door shut. They do need sleep, and if you are hearing them moving around and chirping a lot, you are right, they aren't sleeping.