Night Frights

I know they're more common for some species than others, but are there any triggers?

I'm up tonight with Keupi. He seems to get really antsy when heavy rain is coming (and it is forcasted). When he won't settle in for the evening - it's a long night.

I think I have him settled but about 30-45 minutes later he starts going beserk. It doesn't happen that often, but when it does, it's scary.

Does this happen to anyone else? If not to you, any ideas - handle when, stop it from?

It's a rare with him (and not everytime heavy rain is predicted or coming... but that's the clue I have), but... anything?

I have been so lucky in this area with Mac and Hamlet, they have yet to suffer from one of those ... do you cover Keupi at night? I hear that it helps if you cover half the cage, that way they can perch up high and feel really secure ... but, this sounds like he might be scared of the SOUNDS of the rain (kinda like a dog with thunder) and I wonder if there is anything that can be done about that? Maybe a question for the vet ...

With Eli it was opposite. I don't cover him anymore due to night frights. When I first got him, I was told hat he was used to being covered. Well that must have been a lie, because when I got him home and covered him at night, he freaked out. So I took the cover off of him and to this day he doesn't have night frights. He only had them the few nights that I covered him and now hat I don't they are zilch.

Tyler must be covered by a certain time each night or he goes ballistic. He stands on his sleeping perch and yells "G'NITE! I LOVE YOU! NITE-NITE NOW! NITE NITE! TYLER! GOOD NIGHT... HELLO???" He keeps adding his name in more and more until his name is like every other word. He really wants me to know that it's time for Tyler to go to bed.
The other birds aren't covered as they aren't confined to their cages. Rocky usually sleeps in his cage on a perch and Madison is either sleeping on the perch about a foot away from him or outside the cage up on a branch, if they are disagreeing.
Rain doesn't bother them, I think because as soon as it starts to rain (if I'm home) I always go up and tell them everythings ok.. Tyler usually has some smart alek remark for that (as if he'd be afraid of the rain..pfft) I also usually put the tv on if it starts to rain, easy distraction.
I always have a radio on in the room with them. I lower the volume at night. If they seem restless I put the tv on very low instead of the radio at night and they are usually fine. I think the radio helps a lot.. if it's not on for some reason, they get very irritated.
The only time we have trouble is if someone had a bad dream. At least thats what I think it is. Every now and then in the middle of the night someone will make a startled noise and then start yelling either 'ma' or 'sarah' depending on how scared they are. (when they call me by name I get up there FAST! lol) They usually calm down and go back to sleep after a few minutes of coddling.
Maybe try a radio with Keupi? I hope it doesn't rain a lot by you guys! Good luck!!

Popsicle has gotten night frights twice since I had her. It scared the crap out of me the first time. I have no idea what triggered it she was covered up. Luckily she hasn't had one in a long time. When she does have night frights I just scoop her out of the cage, mostly because I'm afraid she will hurt herself. I hold her really tight to me and that seems to help her calm down. Mommy to the rescue. Don't know honestly how I'm supposed to handle it but that seems to work for me.

No idea what ever triggered it for her. Maybe a birdie nightmare.

It happens so infrequently now (it was more prevalent a year ago). But when it does, whoa.

He's covered nightly and he also has a night light (last year). The only association now I can make is heavy rainfall - and not even when it's happening but when it's going to happen.

Though they were more regular during his illness (or perhaps I was more in tune). I don't know.

Heck, he's a 'lazy bird' in the sense that Mom (before she retired as a teacher), would take care of him when I was travelling...during the school year she and Dad would be up, go about the morning (breakfast, showers, etc) and not a peep. Since I change his dishes in the morning, so did she - cover up - Keup's is looking at her like soooo too early, and then goes back to sleep. Dad would uncover him later after the first peeps were heard. (They're grands though... he so gets away with murder LOL there).

I keep him on a pretty consistant nights out/lights out schedule.

But when he gets the frights it's really scary. He bangs into the bars and squawks (as opposed to screams). It's not often enough but it's enough.

How should they be handled? (Flyte - I'd like to hear more.) Keupi just seems to end up in a corner of his house after each one, and after calming him to a point where I can approach him (hand in house) move him from the spot he's clung to back to his sleeping perch. Is that good/bad?

Yeah, Kai is terrible before storms, but she doesn't keep me up at night. She's just mean and moody that day and glares at everyone. I've had birds with nightfrights and when I hear from the previous owner that the bird has them often and they need a night light (never heard of that actually helping, so I wouldn't try), being the kind, patient, loving person I am, I ignore it. I always cover cages. If you let a bird be a spoiled baby, it's going to keep up with those behaviors. A bird will wake me up maybe once, I'll uncover a corner of the cage to make sure it's not bleeding or anything, then I ignore it and go back to bed. Never happens again. Before a storm, I've just started trying something new and it seems to be working- a full spectrum light is turned on for the whole day the moment the forecast says there's a storm on the way. I think it's the change in lighting and air pressure that causes the odd behaviors. I fix the lighting change, and they seem to be ok with the air pressure change. It's not just Kai that this works on, either, so I would give it a try if I were you.

TexDot33 said:

I have been so lucky in this area with Mac and Hamlet, they have yet to suffer from one of those ... do you cover Keupi at night? I hear that it helps if you cover half the cage, that way they can perch up high and feel really secure ... but, this sounds like he might be scared of the SOUNDS of the rain (kinda like a dog with thunder) and I wonder if there is anything that can be done about that? Maybe a question for the vet ...

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Or you were asleep while it occurred.

Kais2ndmomma said:

Yeah, Kai is terrible before storms, but she doesn't keep me up at night. She's just mean and moody that day and glares at everyone. I've had birds with nightfrights and when I hear from the previous owner that the bird has them often and they need a night light (never heard of that actually helping, so I wouldn't try), being the kind, patient, loving person I am, I ignore it. I always cover cages. If you let a bird be a spoiled baby, it's going to keep up with those behaviors. A bird will wake me up maybe once, I'll uncover a corner of the cage to make sure it's not bleeding or anything, then I ignore it and go back to bed. Never happens again. Before a storm, I've just started trying something new and it seems to be working- a full spectrum light is turned on for the whole day the moment the forecast says there's a storm on the way. I think it's the change in lighting and air pressure that causes the odd behaviors. I fix the lighting change, and they seem to be ok with the air pressure change. It's not just Kai that this works on, either, so I would give it a try if I were you.

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I have a night light for Keupi. It's used mostly during travel (new/different place).

I need to look into the full spectrum light. That's a great idea! Thanks!!

ETA: I just ordered one and it should be here next week. I can't wait to try and see if it helps. I have found a lot of new information (as well as what I read about a year ago) about light and parrots and will post those for others shortly.

Thanks again Kai!