Happy Huts

Since I first got Sprite, I've had a happy hut in his cage and literally from the first day he's been with us he has loved it. When he's in his cage, I've never seen him sleeping anywhere else. As he's approaching maturity, I'm worried the happy hut will make him territorial but I have read that only females will get territorial (not sure of Sprite's gender but pretty sure he is a male, I call him a "he" lol) I can't imagine what Sprite would do if I took his out. So, what's your opinion on them/experiences?

It is possible for a parrot to live with a happy hut with no problems. Just make sure that he doesn't chew on it: There have been many horror stories of parrots getting tangled and killed in the loose threads of their happy hut. That being said, Birdy has slept in his happy hut every night for over 2 years now, and it's still in very good condition.

As for Sprite becoming territorial, I think you can try to remove it if he starts to get naughty, but until then I would leave it.

Mudkips said:

It is possible for a parrot to live with a happy hut with no problems. Just make sure that he doesn't chew on it: There have been many horror stories of parrots getting tangled and killed in the loose threads of their happy hut. That being said, Birdy has slept in his happy hut every night for over 2 years now, and it's still in very good condition.

As for Sprite becoming territorial, I think you can try to remove it if he starts to get naughty, but until then I would leave it.

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Totally agree. I love the picture!! How cute!!! Thanks for sharing!

Thank you! Sprite has also had his for about 2 years now and it's in fine condition. I never see him chewing on it anyway so should be fine!

Mudkips said:

There have been many horror stories of parrots getting tangled and killed in the loose threads of their happy hut.

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I lost my first gcc because of loose threads about 15 years ago.

I get all my huts from this person who belong to a bird forum and owns birds. She is very aware of the dangers of poorly made huts and decided to make her own. She was nice enough to consider sharing them with all bird people! She makes them by hands so they are not mass produced by clueless big companies. She sows them with a hidden stitch that reduce the risk of thread loops that can be so dangerous for toes or heads to get stuck in. I replace them if I see some material tears, I have never seen loose threads on them yet...

She is very talented! Just Bird Tents.com

Megapixel said:

I lost my first gcc because of loose threads about 15 years ago.

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Thank you for sharing a sad story.
I know that these horror stories are easily looked over, but the more we share this kind of information the better informed everyone will be to make their own decisions.

My first parrot died when we slept together and I crushed him in my sleep. I had read the warnings 'you shouldn't do X' but didn't do anything about it. Only afterwards I found out that it has been the cause of death of hundreds of pet birds. Now I mention it often in the hope that some day it might save a well loved parrot's life. I feel it's the right thing to do and I'm glad you are doing the same too.

I will continue to let Birdy sleep in his happy hut, but if ever I see any frayed or loose threads, I will replace it straight away as a matter of urgency.

Out of curiousity, do you still use happy huts, even after the incident? If not, how do your fids sleep?

Megapixel said:

Mudkips said:

There have been many horror stories of parrots getting tangled and killed in the loose threads of their happy hut.

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I lost my first gcc because of loose threads about 15 years ago.

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That's very sad.....I'm sorry
Poorly made huts are very dangerous. Even "safe" huts can be dangerous if not regularly checked or if you have a particularly aggressive chewer. Diligence is key.

This particular hut is VERY DANGEROUS and should not be used. The stitching is such that it is a death trap every which way you look at it! http://www.multipet.com/products/bird/happy-hut™

Echo said:

This particular hut is VERY DANGEROUS and should not be used. The stitching is such that it is a death trap every which way you look at it! http://www.multipet.com/products/bird/happy-hut™

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Really? I think this is the same kind that Birdy uses and I can't easily get to the stitching at all. I haven't used another so I can't compare it to it anything else.

But I know I'm lucky that Birdy isn't a chewer or a biter, I can't believe it when I see how much stuff some other fids destroy!

Mudkips said:

Echo said:

This particular hut is VERY DANGEROUS and should not be used. The stitching is such that it is a death trap every which way you look at it! http://www.multipet.com/products/bird/happy-hut™

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Really? I think this is the same kind that Birdy uses and I can't easily get to the stitching at all. I haven't used another so I can't compare it to it anything else.

But I know I'm lucky that Birdy isn't a chewer or a biter, I can't believe it when I see how much stuff some other fids destroy!

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See the diamond shape stitching all around? I had one baby get his head through one and get caught. I am so lucky I was home so I was able to free him. 1 near missed accident is all I need to never use a product again. Please change huts, they are rather cheap....get the same color hues and he'll never know

Don't under estimate a little beak.....he had chewed at the stitching ever so little on the inside of the hut.....just enough for the head to go through and I didn't see a thing until i opened the cage and he wasn't coming out.....then i saw he was struggling....

Lol the pic is really cute.

Think I'll get Sprite one of those happy huts for Xmas

Mudkips said:

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I've seen this a while back and it still remains one of the cutest things I have ever seen! You captured a perfect moment.

@ Atwee, I ahve the exact same happy hut as Mudkips. I don't notice my sun conure getting territorial or hormonal over his hut. His barely 2 years old though so who knows. I like the idea of him having something cozy to snuggle up in after the lights are out so I keep it there. It also keeps him warm. Just watch out for lose threads.

In the past I've used those larger pop up tents and even had problems with the flooring threads. I was home when George my Jenday got his foot caught in loose threading. Keeping a close eye on the inside of any of those is our job.

A Pollyannish "everything will work out fine" attitude is dangerous for our birds, whether it's keeping an eye out for food recalls, dangerous toys/huts, or Teflon.

Thanks Echo for posting that site for the cuddle huts. I have used both Cuddle Huts and Happy Huts, and I find I'm always checking them over to see if there is any chewing or fraying. I find that happy huts (they are round) are more snug than the cuddle huts which are V shapped with the tip of the V at the top. For me they are almost a necessity because of the cold winters. Nico, the Peach Faced lovebird I had for 11 years LOVED his so much, and was so cute with it, so many times half hanging out of it I thought he was going to fall. When he died I put him into it and buried it with him. Right now my Fischers, who are huge chewers, have a larger sized cuddle hut, and they use it all the time as they are rather shy. I have another in with my parrotlets but the only time they ever use it is as a shortcut from one perch to another, as a tunnel and never sleep inside it. Please just check your cuddle huts and happy huts frequently for lose threads - good advice for anything you have in their cages that is made from a frayable material.

My Nandays Conure had a happy hut. One day I thought it started to look a bit ratty after two years of washing and so forth. So off I go to our local pet store and buy a new one .OMG It was the worst thin I could of possibly done.
There was no way my bird was going to sleep in it. I had to go through the rubbish bin and find this bloody hut for the piece of the house hold.

LOL Caesar - that is so funny