Cage covers

Dopey

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Hi All - I'm getting ready to make cage covers for my cages. Because all of the cages are in the room where I watch tv at night I want to black out as much of the light as I can. I have "black out" material and was wondering if I could line the cage cover with it?
 

Christinenc2000

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Oct 8, 2014
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Big Bird _ Blue & Gold Macaw
I sewed together two sheets ( my cage is Huge and also in the den ) He could still hear us and pulled it off. Seems like if he could peek now and then he would cat nap so to speak . He hates the covers. Also I work during the day so when home on weekends i notice he naps then so i assume he does that when I work. I have not bothered again with a cover. Are you asking because of the 12 hours required for sleeping ?
 
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Dopey

Dopey

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I ask because of the 12 hours and because it seems that when I put the covers on (right now they are just cotton material) the one Zon keeps on screaming for a while (about 10 minutes) and then every once in a while. I figured it was the tv bothering him. I don't have a problem lining the cage with the black out material as long as it won't hurt them but if they need the light weight fabric to be able to have air and breathe then I won't do it.
 
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Dopey

Dopey

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Cage covers are kind of useless with the big boys but the Severe and my Zon's (for right now) seem to tolerate the covers.
 

Birdman666

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Sep 18, 2013
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Presently have six Greenwing Macaw (17 yo), Red Fronted Macaw (12 yo), Red Lored Amazon (17 y.o.), Lilac Crowned Amazon (about 43 y.o.) and a Congo African Grey (11 y.o.)
Panama Amazon (1 Y.O.)
I don't cover.

I have A cover, that is set aside to be used for screaming protocols, if need be... but the need just doesn't arrive anymore. The most I've had to use it in years is to show it to them and set it down next to the cage, and they quiet down...

I have my birds on my schedule. They adapt by power napping while I an not home.
 
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Dopey

Dopey

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I started covering because I always have a light on in my house and it's in the room next to the bird cages. The curtains in my house don't close all the way so there is always some light getting in from outside.

Are you telling me that I don't need to cover? Seriously? What am I supposed to do with the cute material that I bought 11 yards of? :D
 
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Dopey

Dopey

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Oh goody! Hopefully there is enough of the same material so that they match. ;)
 
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Dopey

Dopey

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Well -the cotton material is safe. I'm really afraid of the other material because I think it has a rubber backing. (It's been a while since I've looked at it.) I think I just better stick to the cotton.
 

Birdman666

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Sep 18, 2013
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Presently have six Greenwing Macaw (17 yo), Red Fronted Macaw (12 yo), Red Lored Amazon (17 y.o.), Lilac Crowned Amazon (about 43 y.o.) and a Congo African Grey (11 y.o.)
Panama Amazon (1 Y.O.)
Some birds like getting covered. It's part of their daily routine.

Mine don't. But then, I never really covered anyone on a regular basis...

They associate covering with I was screaming to much, and I am being punished...
 
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Dopey

Dopey

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They all seem to understand what it means. Two of the three settle back into the back of the cage and wait for the cover to go on. I'm pretty sure the third one was kept in a basement and the lights only came on or off for him. :(
 

kimn818

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Loco- Male YellowSided GCC
Peepsie- Female Parakeet
Tweety- Male Parakeet
I have a cover for Loco. He won't sleep without it. LOL its his "blankey" :D
 

veimar

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gcc Parry; lovebird Coco; 3 budgies (Tesla, Franky and Cesar); cockatiel Murzik, red rump parakeet girl Onyx
I got very dark navy colored cotton sheets at Walmart for $8 a set! :D They are perfect covers - dark, breathable and very large so they really cover very well.
 

Betrisher

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Jun 3, 2013
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Dominic: Galah(RIP: 1981-2018); The Lovies: Four Blue Masked Lovebirds; Barney and Madge (The Beaks): Alexandrines; Miss Rosetta Stone: Little Corella
I used rubber-backed curtain fabric for my cage covers (got it at a really good price and it's almost complete blackout). I can't imagine that blackout fabric would be dangerous in any way - after all, they use it for babies' rooms and babies eat everything. :)
 

RavensGryf

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I didn't cover Robin for about the first 15 or so years of his life, so now that I cover, of course he hates it when I first put it on. The others have always been covered.

Twigs the budgie acts like something is wrong if on occasion I cover everyone else but forget him and turn out the light, he'll be sure to let me know.

Griffin is the only one who NEEDS a darker cover! He is the only "early bird" I have. He's not loud, but even his soft chattering is irritating to wake up to. Although now that I think he's learning to talk, in the morning before the cover comes off is when he practices, so I want to hear that.
 

starrynightxxi

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Leonard - White-Wing Parakeet
Leonard demands covering at bedtime, and if the sun shines into his cage in the morning before I am up and moving around.

Birdman, are you the person I picked up the count to three thing from? Thanks to that, I have a bird that screams his head off unreasonably at whatever "arbitrary" time he decides is bedtime. He just gets louder as I count higher! lol
 
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Dopey

Dopey

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I used rubber-backed curtain fabric for my cage covers (got it at a really good price and it's almost complete blackout). I can't imagine that blackout fabric would be dangerous in any way - after all, they use it for babies' rooms and babies eat everything. :)
Thank you. I don't think any of the birds I have right now are eating the covers I put on them...but you just never know when they will start.

My plan was to only use the black out material as lining for about 2/3 of the cage cover leaving more light and air to come in the lower 1/3. Am I spoiling my birdies too much? :D
 

4dugnlee

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Sassy - 13 y.o. Blue Front Amazon, Cisco - 6 y.o. Sun Conure, Peanut - 8 y.o. U2
Fred - 2(?) y.o. Cockatiel, Ginger - 3 or 4(?) y.o. Cockatiel
I just looked at my black out curtains and all the tag says is 100% polyester. I was looking to see if they had a fire-retardant on them but it doesn't say anything about that. I would think the material would be safe, but would watch for the fire-retardant. This is just my opinion, however. I know when buying fleece to make toys that is one thing to watch for so I would assume the same goes for this. My zon and too both chew "windows" in the sheets so they can make sure they aren't "missing" anything. I do cover my cages with sheets, although I probably wouldn't "need" to. I cover because my hubby gets up a couple hours before my fids (and me..lol) My fids don't make a peep until they hear the bedroom door open when I get up..lol.
 

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