Cage

Shannon563

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I know there's some people that cover their birds cages at night. Is there a certain reason to do this? Do I have to do this?

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JBassset

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13 year old B&G Macaw
Where is the cage now? If it's in a public room you may want to cover them to give them a sense of peace and privacy. Most birds, when they can't see you, calm down quite a bit.

I do it to give my birds a visual queue that it's bed time but their cages aren't in the main living areas so I do it out of habit really. But neither requires it although they will let me sleep in a bit if I do cover them?
 
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Shannon563

Shannon563

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My bird cage is in my room with me.

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Flboy

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Dec 28, 2014
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Really depends on the bird! Some love it, and some are terrified by it! Our first baby Tango, screamed if you covered her cage! But both Bongo and JoJo really want their cage covered and they quiet wright down when it is.
You really have to read and try to understand your baby. For my JoJo, I can see that it immediately quiet him down and he seems to feel secure with it!
 
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Shannon563

Shannon563

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Thank you so much. I've had 2 other lovebirds in the past. An I don't keep them in pairs, I have a lot of time on my hands to bond with just one. An my boy, Axel passed away not too long ago. An I'm going to get another tomorrow! So I'll try the covering up the cage because lovebirds can usually be very noisy.

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Shannon563

Shannon563

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So everyone, I need help! I'm getting a lovebird today, an I'm not sure of its gender, so I need help with names that can be for a boy or a girl!

Please help getting my lovebird today!

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JBassset

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13 year old B&G Macaw
So everyone, I need help! I'm getting a lovebird today, an I'm not sure of its gender, so I need help with names that can be for a boy or a girl!

Please help getting my lovebird today!

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A buddy of mine has a female B&G named Hank. There was a story about a male named Diana not all that long ago. I have a Stephen Alexander that I'm pretty sure is female.

Your bird doesn't care about gender specific names. I think it's kind of funny when you have a gender specific name that goes the wrong way.

But, if it matters to you how about Loren/Lauren? Same pronunciation, just change the spelling when you get a confirmation.

Or Pat. You could always go with Pat. :18:
 

itchyfeet

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Nov 1, 2014
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Ethyl the cockatiel, Henry & Clarke the IRN's, and Skittles the lovebird (my daughters)
I had a budgie once, christened Peter. She became Peta :)
My daughter in on the waiting list for a handreared lovie, she's gone with 'Skittles'.
 
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Shannon563

Shannon563

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So I just got my lovebird today. An I was wanting to know from you guys, what outside cage activities does your birds like to do?

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Scott

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Goffins: Gabby, Abby, Squeaky, Peanut, Popcorn / Citron: Alice / Eclectus: Angel /Timneh Grey: ET / Blue Fronted Amazon: Gonzo /

RIP Gandalf and Big Bird, you are missed.
I used to cover some birds, but don't currently. They have learned to rise and sleep according to natural light conditions.

Must relate a scary story! I once used a heavy sheet to cover a pair of young Goffins. By chance, I walked into the room to discover one of them practically "hanged" and losing strength. He had drawn a section of material into the cage, chewed holes, and slipped his head inside a hole! I was able to quickly find scissors and rescue him. The moral is, birds get bored and chew. If you must, ensure a robust and tightly fitting cover!
 

thekarens

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I'm with Scott. My birds are in the living room and I don't cover. I've never had a problem doing it this way.


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Shannon563

Shannon563

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Just curious..
What do you guys put in your birds cage waste tray? Like newspaper, regular paper? Please let me know!
Thanks in advance!

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happy410

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I used newspaper for a long time. I finally tried the cage liners from Drs.Foster & Smith. I love them, they make cleaning cages every day so much easier. I was getting newspapers for free so hard to justify buying the liners, but now I have I hope to never have to go back. For there sleep cages we still use newspapers but I place the sales fliers in their pooping spot and just replace it daily, works great.
 

itchyfeet

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Ethyl the cockatiel, Henry & Clarke the IRN's, and Skittles the lovebird (my daughters)
Just newspaper here. I've toyed with a washable fleece or something, but newspaper does the trick and is easily accessible.
As for out of cage activities, we binge watch telly together :O! He loves helping with the housework (read: lots of bending up and down with him on my shoulder) and chucking the ball around on the floor. Sometimes we'll set up a few plastic cups with a treat under one, and he'll toss the cups 'till he gets what he wants. He was harness trained which opened up a whole new world and he became a geocaching parrot, but that's currently a no go :(
 
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Shannon563

Shannon563

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99c59959eec3a35368b91a037194822f.jpg


I know sexing lovebirds can be very tricky, and doing a blood sample is a lot better. But I found online that I can do a physical exam of the pelvic bone. In the picture above, is this correct?

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RavensGryf

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That's an old school method, and has a lot of room for human error. I assume the red dots are the width of the pelvic bones? I've heard before that the wider one would be female.. as in wider for eggs to potentially pass through. Not that I'm an expert on this!

Or just as simple and more accurate, go to avianbiotech.com and for a very reasonable price, you can get results online. Look at the website or call them for a test kit (for either blood from a toenail or feathers).
 

bill_e

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Nike a Hawk Head Parrot (Deroptyus accipitrinus)
I cover my bird every night with a black Cozy Cover. My intent is to protect against drafts and assure a minimum of 12 hours of darkness, and more in the winter.

I use wax paper as a cage liner and a sheet of plastic on the floor in front of her cage to catch her projectile poops.

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Raixalotto

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Apple & Cinnamon - Black Capped Conures |

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Sexing with pelvic bones can be wrong. Someone did try to sex Jasper that way, and told me he's 100% female (he is DNA sexed male) :D
Though he does have the 'female' pelvic bones spacing.
I also use newspaper on the cage floor or his cage (we get 2 a week), and I cover his cage, otherwise he screams at every passing person. :)
 
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Raixalotto

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Nov 21, 2015
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Melbourne, Australia
Parrots
Jasper - Indian Ringneck Parrot |

Apple & Cinnamon - Black Capped Conures |

Crimson & Ruby - Crimson Bellied Conures |

Silver & Brown - King Quails
99c59959eec3a35368b91a037194822f.jpg


I know sexing lovebirds can be very tricky, and doing a blood sample is a lot better. But I found online that I can do a physical exam of the pelvic bone. In the picture above, is this correct?

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Usually it goes the other way around (females have the space, males don't). But do be aware this isn't 100%, and can often be wrong... :)
 

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