Can't sleep crying ALL night...

Hey Folks, This is my first post ever. I'm happy to be here!
My new (but she is 10) Goffin Too is the sweetest parrot I"VE EVER HAD. I have a Conure and Parrolets and she is the sweetest for sure. However, every night I put her to bed and she cries and cries and CRIES! (not just 15 minutes for night fall). I put a night light on, I take it away, nothing works! I ignore her it just continues. THANK G-D my other parrots are NOT picking up this habit. I tried shuffling through the forum to find other posts, I've googled this issue with no real great technique. I want Sweetpea to get her sleep so she is happy and not crazy attached to me. My other birds I've all trained and they can all love me a lot and be away from me with no problem. holy moly her crying is so hard to bare.. it breaks my heart. I do not go in and check on her tho because I don't want her to learn I'll give her attention if she screams. Anyway, if this has already been answered and I'm sure it had PLEASE forward me the link!! Or let me know your techniques!

THANK YOU! and I look forward to getting to know everyone and their parrots thru here

-A very tired owner and parrot

I don't know what to suggest, but I feel for you! Alice used to throw tantrums over bedtime but they quickly burned out. How long have you had her? Are we talking weeks or months? Is it literally all night? Do you cover the cage?

my newly adopted 10 year old goffin too, does the same thing every night. Ive tried not covering him, covering him, leaving quiet music on for him, havent tried a night light yet. Ive heard they have night terrors and that they could also be afraid of the dark. I also have found out very fast that Liam is afraid of his cozy hut, so I promptly removed it. but sometimes he cries for 15 mins and other nights he will cry for hours endlessly, and waake up randomy in the middle of the night and cry. I feel like I have a new born child......I also give an anti anxiety med before bed to try and calm Liam down as he has some issues. Doesnt seem to be doing anything.

Awww shame, that is so sad! I didn't know parrots cry (new parront). What does it sound like?
Hope you can get some tips here - it must be awfully sad to listen to her cry like that :'(

That's a good question Jayyi, I was going to ask the same do you cover your too at night?
We have a Goffin he started to scream when we covered him up at night,so we gave him a couple almonds, which worked. Silas (Goffin) needs to have all the lights out,and us in bed before he will get quiet. Yep nothing like being told when to go to bed by your Parrot!!!!

Best of luck with your Baby!

I'd suggest feeding just before bedtime. Some warm-ish baby food, for example, fed from a spoon (or, just fed from a cup). It may very well be that the comfort of a full belly will help them settle and sleep. Even if they don't NEED the food, it'll still be a comfort. Try it every night for at least a week, and see if it help. No guarantees, but it's simple enough to do so worth a try!

Thank everyone!

Yes, I cover her I tried 3 different covers dark, light, small, large. I've had her for a couple of weeks now. For some reason though, I feel she did this with her 1st owners.
It's literally from 9pm - 1am and then I finally fall asleep, so I'm not sure after that.

I just want her to sleep because I want her to feel good, ya know?

I love her SO much. It is like having a new born!

I just don't want to start that habit of her knowing she can get me in there if she cries, but that will create bad habit and a mess if I need to leave for the store, bathroom, etc, etc.
I'll try the food… I was thinking of maybe taking her out to a tree before bed, so she can clime and explore and get tired right before bed..? my neighbors pretty much hate me, but I told them its this or me having a new born! haha

She also does this weird thing… she takes a nut or seed and lifts her wing rubs it under her wing and flicks it across her cage… and then shows excited signs.. I'm think she is playing… or she is angry? anyone else too also do that?

Two weeks doesn't seem like long enough to be panicking just yet - she may just be stressed about being in a new environment, has identified you as her new point of familiarity and doesn't like you being out of sight, particularly when the room has become dark and frightening. I think feeding before bedtime is a good idea to try. Alice has learned that any time she gets shut inside the cage she'll get a couple of pine nuts, and consequently it's pretty easy to get her inside. If she's hanging off the door sweaking at me I just sit down patiently with the bag of nuts and wait, and she quickly figured out she needs to sit nicely on a perch to get the treat. The trick is getting out the door while she's still on the perch!

I think it's a good idea to have a ritual for bed time. 9.45 I change the papers at the cage bottom and clean any waste off the bars, then turn the cage lamp off. Then she gets 10 minutes to fluff and preen, then the sheets come out and over the back and sides of the cage, then it's time for her to go in and get her pine nut. After that it's lights out (I leave the computer on so there is a small amount of light for a few minutes until it hibernates) and door closed. If she makes a fuss I'll go to the door once and say "night night Alice, bed time now" so she knows I'm there but I'm not changing my mind. Nowadays nine times out of ten these days she's fast asleep within ten minutes.

Are you wearing her out before bedtime???? That's a big contributor of them carrying on during bedtime. Get them dancing, flying, playing, etc for at least 30 min prior to bed time. You should see a noticeable difference within days or even that very night.

Yes, I play with her a tun. I'm going to try the stuff you all said and I'll update in a week. Thanks all

Welcome to the forum!

Do you cover her up at night? I put a blanket or a sheet over my bird's cage. That works a lot and he sleeps silently through the night.

And I agree with Mikey. Try to wear her out before bed. My bird like to play intense extreme tug-of-war with my shirt and this makes him tired. Try that!

Good luck!

Edit: nevermind I just read that you do cover her up and play with her. I dunno. Sorry, I feel bad for ya... Maybee she would like a bed like one of those cozy huts or whatever they're called. My bird actually sleeps on top of it instead of inside it. Also you could put her cage right next to your bed so she knows that you're close and she will feel more secure and safe. Good luck again :09:

Play nature sounds, like this before bedtime. It's very calming (even puts me to sleep).

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eKFTSSKCzWA]Relax 8 Hours-Relaxing Nature Sounds-Study-Sleep-Meditation-Water Sounds-Bird Song - YouTube[/ame]

What's it her environment like when she takes a nap during day? Maybe you can compare the differences and come up with something.

Sweetpeatoo said:

Yes, I play with her a tun. I'm going to try the stuff you all said and I'll update in a week. Thanks all

Click to expand...

Define play?

You have to get her really moving to tire her out, not just have her sit there and do a little this and that. Have her jump, run, fly, run, carrying on, etc.

This might work for your cockatoo as well, not just a Moluccan.

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cpeUR1dt3lQ]How to stop a moluccan from screaming - YouTube[/ame]

Maria love the video, I do need to get her better toys... those are some good ones.

Mikey, she walks around my garden I put her in trees with food at the opposite end or and the bottom of the tree so she has to get down... I also tie ropes across the room during the day so if she wants to get to me she has to clime (she LOVES that one) she dances and we play peekaboo constantly. she is such a love! Her crying at night is just so sad. todaY i really tired her out... just fed her some treats and put her to bed like 20 minutes ago and she is crying. I hope she is ok. I know she is... this is just a nasty habit we need to break.

I have had a lot of different parrots, but sweetpea is the most tame parrot I've ever come across. Its weird she has this thing at night considering she is SO tame, hand fed, rolls on her back for you, never would bite in a millon years, amazing. My heart just breaks hearing her every night. **tear** but I cannot go in there because I dont want her knowing I'll come, ya know? Her day resting is in her cage with is in a private room she gets her own room!! lucky bird. She doesn't fuss all day. Not a peep just playing and talking. Night comes and she is just bouncing crazy. The night light isn't working. I don't want her sleeping in my room with me. So when I'm gone it's not tramatic for her. She is perfect ALL day. happy as a clam!

If her night light isn't working, perhaps she's scared. Get a small cheap lamp in there. Parrots have very poor vision at night, worse than humans.

It sounds like she has a very caring and loving owner though. Good luck. She sounds like a very very sweet bird.

If one of my birds was carrying on like that I think I'd have to bring it to my bedroom with me - maybe have a 'sleep cage' in there close by the bed so the bird can see me, and then play it by ear as to whether to cover the cage or not. One thing I have noticed over time is it is generally the most intelligent and clever animals that cause the most trouble, that goes for dogs, cats, and even birds. The less intelligent ones are just much more maleable. Good luck with her.

Mine used to carry on a bit at bedtime (though not as long) and I let him sleep with mr for a few nights. Of course he was an absolute angel. Trying to get him to sleep in his cage after that was a nightmare for well over a month and things got much worse. He expected it after that and was furious not to be able to do it again. If you're not prepared to keep the bird in your room permanently it could be a potential problem. Things have smoothed out, and I will never let him sleep in my room again. Lol I can't be going to bed at sundown. I hope this smoothes out for you. Maybe it's just her way if going to bed. Or it may be hormonal? All the cuddling could be getting her excited...I'm just throwing out possible scenarios. Is she being stroked much on her lower half...her back, under her wings,etc?