Nighty Frighties

Cressy

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My cockatiel had his very first night fright last night, after just 3 days of living here. It was terrifying - not just for him, but for me. It was like 1am and I'm not sure what happened, maybe cause the noise i made when I moved, or a fruit fly or whatever.

I turned on the light, checked to see if he was okay, & then tried to soothe him, but lets not lie here, at 1am, especially with a retainer in, our voice may or may not sound like a rake on a chalkboard.

He still seemee a tiny bit stressed out this morning. How can i remedy these night frights? I've only had him for a few days.
 

Kalidasa

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Is he covered? It might help to cover his cage with a very light sheet, giving him a feeling of security. Maybe just leave a small gap open in the corner facing a wall for ventilation. :) it takes a while for a bird to settle in, it could take months.
 

JerseyWendy

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How badly was your little buddy thrashing around? Is he located near a window, where the lights of a passing car may have frightened him?

I would suggest using a dimply lit nightlight near his cage, in addition to a light cover.
 

Sammy01

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One of my birds use to get night frights. It really helped when I switched them to a smaller sleeping cage. I'd cover it at night and then got a dim night light.

ETA: I used a thick opaque blanket, the night light was just beside the cage and covered by the blanket. This was they wouldn't see anything outside.
 

Featheredsamurai

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When Rosie used to fall off her pet he's often at night in her small old cage I placed a small battery night light near cage, it helped a lot to keep her from panicking at night when she fell.
 
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Cressy

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He is nearby a window. However, the way my condo is set up is strange. It includes two buildings facing each other, and a road inbetween where cars can pull in. As a result, there is little activity going on outside other than the seldom car pulling in, which is even more infrequent at night. He was not startled at all when my brother pulled his LOUD car into the garage. My best guess is there was a bug flying by his cage or something!
He is covered with a medium thick, opaque towel, but only about halfway or so. This towel also blocks the view of the window.

What I did was I kept my laptop on, playing some soft music and using the illumination from the screen as a temporary night light. I'll be investing in a birdy night light soon!:)
 
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Cressy

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:mad::mad::mad::mad::mad:
My cockatiel is new & still scared, so I'm trying not to stress him out. But today, for the second time, my grandmother moved his cage, right after his night fright. I am so turnt up right now. He is so visibly scared and terrified and his crest has been straight up since I got home. I have no idea what to do. She doesn't really understand how to handle animals, but she insists on doing things her way anyway. Ugh I'm so mad. :mad::mad::mad:
 

henpecked

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Use a night light like you'd use for a small child. The first time i carried albino (lutino white face) cockatiels to a bird show i showed up with a bloody mess after driving at night. I had to turn on the dome light to get them back home, but it worked great.Even my aviary cockatiels have a nite light. It's just one of those things, tiels have night frights.
 

Sammy01

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He is nearby a window. However, the way my condo is set up is strange. It includes two buildings facing each other, and a road inbetween where cars can pull in. As a result, there is little activity going on outside other than the seldom car pulling in, which is even more infrequent at night. He was not startled at all when my brother pulled his LOUD car into the garage. My best guess is there was a bug flying by his cage or something!
He is covered with a medium thick, opaque towel, but only about halfway or so. This towel also blocks the view of the window.

What I did was I kept my laptop on, playing some soft music and using the illumination from the screen as a temporary night light. I'll be investing in a birdy night light soon!:)

I don't want to sound too pushy, but you should cover it all the way down. Music may bother your companion at night, so unless you know he loves it - I don't recommend it.

A dim enough light that maybe ok to be next to its cage within the cover is a Christmas light bulb. If not get a regular night light and cover its cover with paper.
 

Sammy01

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:mad::mad::mad::mad::mad:
My cockatiel is new & still scared, so I'm trying not to stress him out. But today, for the second time, my grandmother moved his cage, right after his night fright. I am so turnt up right now. He is so visibly scared and terrified and his crest has been straight up since I got home. I have no idea what to do. She doesn't really understand how to handle animals, but she insists on doing things her way anyway. Ugh I'm so mad. :mad::mad::mad:

Have you tried asking her where she thinks the best spot is for him? If you haven't then try asking her and telling her that it's best to just leave him there after she's decided. Or you could just always mention something you read about and how you think it'd be best to try it.

Don't bring up the new info when she's doing something wrong. Get her when she's just talking to you. :)
 
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Cressy

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I don't want to sound too pushy, but you should cover it all the way down. Music may bother your companion at night, so unless you know he loves it - I don't recommend it.

A dim enough light that maybe ok to be next to its cage within the cover is a Christmas light bulb. If not get a regular night light and cover its cover with paper.

Okay, but cover it all the way as in just cover the entire thing? All sides and stuff? I'll try that tonight!

Have you tried asking her where she thinks the best spot is for him? If you haven't then try asking her and telling her that it's best to just leave him there after she's decided. Or you could just always mention something you read about and how you think it'd be best to try it.

Don't bring up the new info when she's doing something wrong. Get her when she's just talking to you. :)

Well, she moved him because she didn't want him to make a mess in my room, which I told her was inevitable, and I fully intend to deal with, which I would sweep it up nightly. So, she tossed him outside on the balcony, which she thinks is the best spot for him.

Ive tried to explain to her that she probably scared him to high heavens, but she just sort of pushed it aside and told me that she'd never seen birds that weren't scared all the time, and was more scared of me than anything. I don't really think that she understands that birds aren't just pretty things you keep in cages. Everything that I try to explain to her why I'm doing something - why I'm keeping him nearby, why I'm trying to keep him in the same spot - she excuses as just conjecture, something I made up, or something I read that was totally wrong and imbecilic.

You see, she's very, very stubborn, and I think the only way to prove to her that I at least sort of know what I'm doing is to get Birdy to like me enough to handle him and show that he is a living organism with quirks, likes and dislikes and emotions. Not just a pretty ornament that I wanted in my room. \:
 

Sammy01

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Yup, try covering all sides with an opaque blanket. My boyfriend's conure is such a nervous little thing he got her a sleeping tent. He first started by giving her a box to take naps in during the day, but then realized she liked to sleep in it at night too. Maybe your little guy is use to sleeping in a nesting box. Have you tried offering something similar to your buddy?

As for her not listening... I have no clue how to handle that.

The mess I have found a way to keep it to a minimum though. If your feeding them seeds this does not work, but it helps with pellets. Try giving them smaller size pellets (my boyfriend gave his cockatiel budgie size pellets, I gave my budgies finch size). When you put the newspaper at the bottom of the cage try and get it to cover everything at the bottom. I've also seen people use these plastic "covers" that are about four or five inches high that they put at the bottom of the cage that is around where the metal begins. I imagine they help with keeping things in.

Also, I clean my amazons' cages twice daily. When I had budgies (they were actually messier) I found myself needing to vacuum the room they were twice a day. I also had to clean their cage twice daily. It's really handy if you have a hand vacuum as you can just vacuum their cage twice daily easier. :)

Oh and cockatiels can be dusty, my boyfriend kept his under control by spraying him daily. He wouldn't soak him, but he'd give him a couple of sprays and then every few days a good bath.
 
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Cressy

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Yup, try covering all sides with an opaque blanket. My boyfriend's conure is such a nervous little thing he got her a sleeping tent. He first started by giving her a box to take naps in during the day, but then realized she liked to sleep in it at night too. Maybe your little guy is use to sleeping in a nesting box. Have you tried offering something similar to your buddy?

As for her not listening... I have no clue how to handle that.

The mess I have found a way to keep it to a minimum though. If your feeding them seeds this does not work, but it helps with pellets. Try giving them smaller size pellets (my boyfriend gave his cockatiel budgie size pellets, I gave my budgies finch size). When you put the newspaper at the bottom of the cage try and get it to cover everything at the bottom. I've also seen people use these plastic "covers" that are about four or five inches high that they put at the bottom of the cage that is around where the metal begins. I imagine they help with keeping things in.

Also, I clean my amazons' cages twice daily. When I had budgies (they were actually messier) I found myself needing to vacuum the room they were twice a day. I also had to clean their cage twice daily. It's really handy if you have a hand vacuum as you can just vacuum their cage twice daily easier. :)

Oh and cockatiels can be dusty, my boyfriend kept his under control by spraying him daily. He wouldn't soak him, but he'd give him a couple of sprays and then every few days a good bath.

Okay, thank you very much!! I think a couple of towels will work. I saw a little cozy tent at PetSmart too, I think I'll get it and see if he likes it. It looks comfortable. I'd sleep in it if I could.

For now I'm using a little ghetto piece of cardboard to block off some of the mess; I'm actually feeding him seeds right now, but I'll go and see on getting him some pellets later, to keep his food different and stuff.

Hm, & I think I'll hold off on giving my tiel a bath just yet, unless I absolutely should. Shouldn't I be better at handling him before I try to bathe him?
 

Sammy01

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Just be sure to give him time to get use to it.

If you decide to go with pellets beware that it'll take some time and at first you're pellets will go to waste (they don't know it's food yet!). :) I personally see nothing wrong with ghetto as long as it's kept clean. My budgies went through a phase where they loved cardboard boxes to play in. If you're using cardboard, can you try using it all around? I imagine it might work the same as the plastic covers I've seen (kind of like the crib bumpers).

Seeds are messy so just keep vacuuming as much as you can. I've lived with non-bird people and I find it helps to keep everything as clean as possible (it might help with your grandma).

If they're old enough to have a bath, I recommend it. Cockatiels can get dusty and it might bug your grandma. Just try making it as enjoyable as possible and find a method that works for you and your little guy. My love birds wouldn't let me handle them but they loved their bath time. I'd offer them a big bowl (diameter not depth) and they'd shower themselves. I also believe in bribery so if I got parrots that didn't care for their bath time I'd give them treats before, during, and after their bath time. If that didn't work, I unfortunately had to follow a "I'm in charge" method. I once had a budgie that went two weeks without showering because I was trying to let them decide when they were ready. I eventually stepped in when her white feathers were getting yellow-ish.
 
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Cressy

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Just be sure to give him time to get use to it.

If you decide to go with pellets beware that it'll take some time and at first you're pellets will go to waste (they don't know it's food yet!). :) I personally see nothing wrong with ghetto as long as it's kept clean. My budgies went through a phase where they loved cardboard boxes to play in. If you're using cardboard, can you try using it all around? I imagine it might work the same as the plastic covers I've seen (kind of like the crib bumpers).

Seeds are messy so just keep vacuuming as much as you can. I've lived with non-bird people and I find it helps to keep everything as clean as possible (it might help with your grandma).

If they're old enough to have a bath, I recommend it. Cockatiels can get dusty and it might bug your grandma. Just try making it as enjoyable as possible and find a method that works for you and your little guy. My love birds wouldn't let me handle them but they loved their bath time. I'd offer them a big bowl (diameter not depth) and they'd shower themselves. I also believe in bribery so if I got parrots that didn't care for their bath time I'd give them treats before, during, and after their bath time. If that didn't work, I unfortunately had to follow a "I'm in charge" method. I once had a budgie that went two weeks without showering because I was trying to let them decide when they were ready. I eventually stepped in when her white feathers were getting yellow-ish.

Really? Should I maybe mix in some pellets with some seeds, and try to get him accustomed to them?

& Yes! Once I can salvage enough cardboard I'll try to get it all around. I'm not sure how much i should put - I've noticed that Birdy likes to scoop up some seeds from his bowl, sit upright, and while he's eating them, a few seeds fly out of his mouth! But it's not that big of a mess, and definitely more manageable than when he flies around and scatters the seeds everywhere.

Hm, well I've never handled him before, and he's also not clipped. Should I maybe just try spraying him? Get a little spray bottle, spritz a little above him and let the mist soak him? Right now, he doesn't seem like he would cooperate too well with a full on bath :p
 

Sammy01

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You first start off with a small ratio. If I remember correctly zupreem suggests about 1/4 to start and you keep increasing it by each week. The instructions are on the bag I believe. You want to do this gradually so that they understand it's food. I remember reading somewhere that someone thought they had managed to switch their parrot to pellets in 10 days. Their parrot died a few days later - it literally starved to death.

Just try to keep vacuuming. I know it's a hassle but it's the best way to keep people that hate the mess away.

Well I'd start by offering him a bird bath (in and out of his cage). If it's not used then just a couple of sprays from a spray bottle anywhere that you feel your companion feels comfortable. In the beginning I find they don't want to fluff up when sprayed but after a couple of times they give in. Just see what works as it depends on the individual bird. My amazons get hosed down, one budgie liked being sprayed in the bathroom in front of the mirror, another budgie liked a bird bath better, my love birds loved their bowl too, and I can go on listing different ways. Also, some like warm water, some like it cool. You'll just have to find out on your own which is what makes them awesome. :)

I know many disagree, and I hope not to upset anyone, I'd clip his wings if he's not use to flying. I know it seems cruel (and I'm not saying you have to) but in the beginning it can help when you're taming them. This depends on their personality though and you're going to have to look into it and see if it's right for the two of you.
 
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Cressy

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Muchas gracias para las respuestas! Thank you all for all the answers!
That pellet story is really scary... I'll make sure that I put Birdy on it slowly. Literally all he's been doing since I got home was eat and preen, gotta make sure he's a happy Birdy.

I decided not to clip his wings cause I thought - man, if I were a bird, all I'd do all day is fly. But looking at it now, maybe I should clip them, just for now. Of course, not clip them myself lol, get someone to clip them for me!
 

Sammy01

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Muchas gracias para las respuestas! Thank you all for all the answers!
That pellet story is really scary... I'll make sure that I put Birdy on it slowly. Literally all he's been doing since I got home was eat and preen, gotta make sure he's a happy Birdy.

I decided not to clip his wings cause I thought - man, if I were a bird, all I'd do all day is fly. But looking at it now, maybe I should clip them, just for now. Of course, not clip them myself lol, get someone to clip them for me!

"Muchas gracias POR las respuestas" LOL :) Spanish test coming up?

Try and get him interested in toys. Sorry if I'm being over cautious but I had a love bird that started like that and then had a bold spot. :( Long story with a happy ending. :)

As I said, no worries. I personally like my birds flighted. I was just usually given clipped parrots so I thought it might be why they seemed to warm up to me (mind you they were typically young). I think it was more of a " I need you for now so you're ok... for now" situation and then they'd later learn "this servant is kind of handy, I'll keep you around human". :) Yeah, I'm weird.
 

MikeyTN

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I've been leaving on night light for ALL my birds for many years now. Some birds, especially Cockatiels have the tendency to get night fright. Even with a cover they can be spooked!!!! All it take is a headlight through the window to set them off which you had the cage place near by the window. With covers on, IF you made any noise while they are covered, they can freak out from that. But by having a night light on they can see what's going on and less likely to freak out. I've been raising tiels for years, trust me to go with a night light.
 

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