Sleeping huts/tents and female GCCs etc....

Tropical · Nov 12, 2015

I've read a lot of really scary things about these accessories: Dangerous parrot accessories

... but I wonder if it would be safe to ONLY allow them to sleep in it at night and then remove it completely from the cage in the morning? After reviewing the above link i don't think I would dare even use these at all, yikes. If you read the comments section in above link it's terrible how many birds consistently get seriously injured or killed from those sleeping huts/tents.

Second issue, I wouldn't dare use those hut/tents if I had a female GCC as I wouldn't want to encourage egg laying. Anyone here use these if you have a female GCC?

I'm super excited to get a GCC in a few months so I'm trying to plan ahead its sleeping quarters

riddick07 · Nov 12, 2015

I have them for all three of my conures... 2 are females and I have a bonded pair of gccs. No issues with egg laying but I would remove the tent if either female was going crazy with hormones. Also, my tents were bought from someone on etsy that makes them and are bird safe unlike the store bought mess.

TacoNTiki · Nov 12, 2015

We use a seagrass snuggle hut and although not soft, it is cozy. Tiki plays in it and hangs out in it but he prefers to sleep on his java wood perch with his favorite stuffy on top of him (yes he will snuggle his way under his stuffy at bedtime) and he also has fleece strips dangling above his sleeping perch for warmth.

Tropical · Nov 12, 2015

TacoNTiki said:
We use a seagrass snuggle hut and although not soft, it is cozy. Tiki plays in it and hangs out in it but he prefers to sleep on his java wood perch with his favorite stuffy on top of him (yes he will snuggle his way under his stuffy at bedtime) and he also has fleece strips dangling above his sleeping perch for warmth.

Wow, that's an interesting looking hut =)
It appears to not have any fabric in it... how do you guys clean the poop out of that? Seems like the poops would get stuck in the crevices. I guess I could always put a paper towel inside it and replace it in the morning when I remove the sleeping hut.

Weezerj · Nov 12, 2015

Tropical said:
TacoNTiki said:

We use a seagrass snuggle hut and although not soft, it is cozy. Tiki plays in it and hangs out in it but he prefers to sleep on his java wood perch with his favorite stuffy on top of him (yes he will snuggle his way under his stuffy at bedtime) and he also has fleece strips dangling above his sleeping perch for warmth.

Click to expand...

Wow, that's an interesting looking hut =)
It appears to not have any fabric in it... how do you guys clean the poop out of that? Seems like the poops would get stuck in the crevices. I guess I could always put a paper towel inside it and replace it in the morning when I remove the sleeping hut.

My guy never poops in his hut....

LaurieC · Nov 12, 2015

For my conure and Meyer's, I use tunnels made from sections of 4" PVC pipe. Because they are open on both ends they don't typically encourage nesting behavior. My Meyer's likes this one:

Rainbow Parrots! Parrot Play Tunnels

You could also make your own if you are so inclined. I wrap the outside of it with 1/4" cotton rope so he can climb around the exterior, and he loves it.

My Sun Conure prefers a PVC tunnel that has a removeable fleece sleeve covering it, since he likes to sleep in it. I purchased it from a woman in Seattle that makes them, and they are very inexpensive. You can order replacement covers from her, or make your own if you know how to sew. If you are interested I can provide you with her contact info.

TacoNTiki · Nov 12, 2015

Tropical said:
TacoNTiki said:

We use a seagrass snuggle hut and although not soft, it is cozy. Tiki plays in it and hangs out in it but he prefers to sleep on his java wood perch with his favorite stuffy on top of him (yes he will snuggle his way under his stuffy at bedtime) and he also has fleece strips dangling above his sleeping perch for warmth.

Click to expand...

Wow, that's an interesting looking hut =)
It appears to not have any fabric in it... how do you guys clean the poop out of that? Seems like the poops would get stuck in the crevices. I guess I could always put a paper towel inside it and replace it in the morning when I remove the sleeping hut.

Your conure will not poop in his hut

. Tiki doesn't even poop in his cage... Only in a blue moon, if he can't hold it, will he poop in his cage.

Tropical · Nov 12, 2015

You guys are lucky! My tiel poops all night long and leaves a huge pile on the paper towel I place underneath his perch. I wonder if most GCCs hold their poop the entire night?? That is so amazing because tiels do NOT hold their poop at night. I didn't realize GCCs do not poop at night... or is it that they simply hold it and do not want to poop in their huts? I don't think I ever wrote the word "poop" more in one paragragph lol.

Tropical · Nov 12, 2015

LaurieC said:
For my conure and Meyer's, I use tunnels made from sections of 4" PVC pipe. Because they are open on both ends they don't typically encourage nesting behavior. My Meyer's likes this one:

Rainbow Parrots! Parrot Play Tunnels

You could also make your own if you are so inclined. I wrap the outside of it with 1/4" cotton rope so he can climb around the exterior, and he loves it.

My Sun Conure prefers a PVC tunnel that has a removeable fleece sleeve covering it, since he likes to sleep in it. I purchased it from a woman in Seattle that makes them, and they are very inexpensive. You can order replacement covers from her, or make your own if you know how to sew. If you are interested I can provide you with her contact info.

Thanks for the info! I will check into that. That's creative

... but I should I be worried if I end up with a female GCC that these sleeping huts might trigger egg laying in them? I hope to get a male GCC but might end up getting a female instead... not sure yet. I just noticed that's the woman I'm trying to buy my future GCC from

... and do ALL of you here keep those huts in the cage the entire day or jut at night and remove the huts in the morning?

Skittys_Daddy · Nov 12, 2015

I had heard a lot about the dangers as well. Including saying 'swings' are dangerous. I think the danger lies mostly in HOW it is used and maintained more than anything else.

Conures LOVE cuddle huts and I am of the mindset that they should all have some type of area to 'hide' in at night.

The biggest issues with the cuddle huts is not the actual hut itself, but the material - if it gets worn or chewed on, the bird could get tangled or strangled in it. Skittles only sleeps in his and I inspect it every day.

SilverSage · Nov 12, 2015

My cockatiels hold poop till morning and then take a giant dump like the rest of my birds...

Some birds chew their huts, those birds need safer options like some that have been mentioned here

I don't give my birds huts, but I don't have a problem with it unless the birds get possessive or otherwise hormonal.

Skittys_Daddy · Nov 12, 2015

Peaches, my cockatiel, doesn't have a hut but even if she did I don't think she'd use it. I got one for Skittles cause he would 'hide' in the dark so I figured he could use one.

He doesn't chew on the one that is hanging from the top of his cage, however, he used to chew on the one that would be sitting on the floor and I kept having to replace it.

This Christmas, I may invest in getting him a safer option just like you said has been mentioned here.

I'm not sure who it was, but someone on this forum had a link or picture to the kind they use for their bird and it was just like a cuddle hut but instead of having a bottom, it had a perch.

SilverSage · Nov 12, 2015

Henpecked has mentioned roosting boxes like you are describing.

TacoNTiki · Nov 12, 2015

Skittys_Daddy said:
Peaches, my cockatiel, doesn't have a hut but even if she did I don't think she'd use it. I got one for Skittles cause he would 'hide' in the dark so I figured he could use one.

He doesn't chew on the one that is hanging from the top of his cage, however, he used to chew on the one that would be sitting on the floor and I kept having to replace it.

This Christmas, I may invest in getting him a safer option just like you said has been mentioned here.

I'm not sure who it was, but someone on this forum had a link or picture to the kind they use for their bird and it was just like a cuddle hut but instead of having a bottom, it had a perch.

It was Kyoto. I have seen those for sale at petsmart. I only noticed one size and I think it might be too small for a sun... But I am not sure if they come in larger sizes.

Flboy · Nov 12, 2015

My JoJo won't go near a hut, but Bongo loves his! He has one in his sleeping cage and day cage. Take a look at this idea. FYI, bongo is a shredder, so we àre trying to get him away from the traditional hut!
http://www.parrotforums.com/do-your...w-make-bird-safe-paper-mache-pinata-huts.html

Skittys_Daddy · Nov 12, 2015

Reason I like the bottoms of the huts so much is so Skittles doesn't have to 'grip' onto something when he is sleeping if he doesn't want too.

But I could always have both that way he at least has an option.

Mimsy01 · Nov 13, 2015

I love those pvc pipe ones. Thats just a great idea.

I use the regular junky store bought ones. Foo says it has to be only that one and it MUST be yellow or she will not use it and she will sulk and be in a very bad mood till it's put back. if you don't give it to her to sleep in, she will sleep at whatever corner is closest to us and hang from the side of the bars.

We've had 2 of them for 4 years now. she has never pooped in them. She doesn't leave even a single stray feather laying in them. They are pristine. She never has chewed on them. They look brand new. I only have two, so I can wash one and she has another one. They don't even look like the ever need to be washed..but it seems like they should be so I do anyways.

I think people that have had problems are ones with birds who find them more useful as chew toys than beds. They should be checking t hem regularly as well for loose threads and disposing of them if they show signs of chewing.

Flboy · Nov 13, 2015

Mimsy01 said:
I love those pvc pipe ones. Thats just a great idea.

I use the regular junky store bought ones. Foo says it has to be only that one and it MUST be yellow or she will not use it and she will sulk and be in a very bad mood till it's put back. if you don't give it to her to sleep in, she will sleep at whatever corner is closest to us and hang from the side of the bars.

We've had 2 of them for 4 years now. she has never pooped in them. She doesn't leave even a single stray feather laying in them. They are pristine. She never has chewed on them. They look brand new. I only have two, so I can wash one and she has another one. They don't even look like the ever need to be washed..but it seems like they should be so I do anyways.

I think people that have had problems are ones with birds who find them more useful as chew toys than beds. They should be checking t hem regularly as well for loose threads and disposing of them if they show signs of chewing.

Wow, 4 years!! That is the difference that is talked about! Bongo destroys his every 4 months!

Skittys_Daddy · Nov 13, 2015

Yeah, I actually have an old white tshirt clipped to the side of his cage so Skittles will chew on that instead of his cuddle hut. It seems to work, although since getting his new cage I've been able to hang his hut from the top and he seems to not want to chew on the cuddle hut as a result.

My biggest issue with Skittles and his cuddle huts has usually been more of him regurgitating in it rather than anything else.

riddick07 · Nov 13, 2015

My pair of green cheeks both sleep in it at night. They squeeze in their together and I think would plot my death if I ever took it away from them! My sun loves sleeping in hers too. When she has been out all day you often find her under the blanket on top of the cockatoo cage taking a nap. My cat also sleeps under blankets...maybe its just something around my house....

Sleeping huts/tents and female GCCs etc....

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