Bedtime: To Cover or Not To Cover... That is the Question!

So.

I am still relatively new to owning.
And I have gotten SUCH great guidance from this group so far.
So I am hoping to get a few more opinions on this matter as well...

To Cover or Not to Cover...


My little 6yr old Hahn's Macaw is scared.
He is a surrender and I am fostering him.
His background is little interaction.
He loves to be out with me but noises make him quiver and he doesn't like to play with toys or chew on anything. period.
Other than that, he is a pretty well behaved little bird in consideration of where he came from.

I have two Australian Shepherds in the house.
We live in the middle of nowhere, as I train and gentle wild horses for the government.
Sometimes they bark at something in the middle of the night if they see something move.
I have read articles that say that a bird must be able to see where a noise is coming from to not freak out.
So should I leave him uncovered at night?
But I've read so many other articles that encourage covering the cage at night because it created a dark area.

So. Other "Parronts" , To Cover or Not To Cover?

I have two cats that roam around and play at night, so I cover up my birds (their cage is in living room) with a sheet as they spook easily and they seem to like it and sleep soundly at night, no night frights. You could cover if you want with a thick blanket to block out any drafts/noises, or install a night-light nearby to allow him to see around but also be able to sleep soundly. You could do an experiment and try covering for a few nights at bedtime and then uncover and see if he does okay overnight.

It really is an individual thing. Personally, unless I've been up way later than usual and I the same room as my birds, I've never covered them. I think that them being able to see what little they can in case something wakes them in the middle of the night is a good thing. However, some birds do feel more secure when their cage is covered because they are more enclosed and "protected" from the outside environment. In your case, I think it may be best to possibly try both and see what your little guy is most comfortable with.

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Hello,

I have an African Grey and they’re pretty much afraid of their own shadow. At night I cover him, close all the windows in his room and push his cage into the corner. I am providing a safe, warm, secure environment for him at night. I also live in a rural area and we hear, owls, foxes, coyotes, raccoons and black bears a lot during the night. It was his CAV that recommended I cover him. I find that he appreciates his bedtime routine. He actually waits in the same position until I throw the cover over him, it’s pretty funny. We also have a lot of crows and Levi is scared to death of them.
I vote Cover :smile049:

I have to add- I usually freshen up his water before he retires to bed. In the event I forget, I’ll put him in his cage close the door & than grab his water bowl & walk away. He’ll immediately start yelling & chirping for me. Letting me know I didn’t cover him. Than I reassure him of course. Letting him know I’ll be right back. Haha

I have Cozy Covers for Levi’s cages.
Dome Top Cage Cozzy Covers parrot bird cages https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00EABQI9C/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_djL1zbMFBKYVZ

I don't cover. I have an enormous house and I can turn off the lights in the bird room and go busy myself elsewhere in the house and not bother them after bedtime. If I had to be in and out of their room at night, I'd probably cover them. So I suppose the answer isn't universal, but more what your specific needs are for your house, your life, and your birds.

I have given him three nights of being covered and three nights of being uncovered. I feel as though I can't tell a difference what he prefers

The bird cage is in the living room; we are normally up until 10-11pm and wake between 7-8am.
If we cover, can we cover at night around 8 to ensure the "12hr recommended bird sleep"
or is it best we leave uncovered while we watch tv until we go to bed?

I started with not covering but then bought two cozzzy covers once I brought home my second Rose Breasted Cockatoo because she had a hard time settling at night. I can’t believe the difference. They sleep so soundly now. Not a peep once the cover goes on even when my husband gets ready for work. They don’t wake until I remove the cover. So for us, covering is now a must and I am thrilled I decided to do it.

AppaloosaNiffler2297 said:

I have given him three nights of being covered and three nights of being uncovered. I feel as though I can't tell a difference what he prefers

The bird cage is in the living room; we are normally up until 10-11pm and wake between 7-8am.
If we cover, can we cover at night around 8 to ensure the "12hr recommended bird sleep"
or is it best we leave uncovered while we watch tv until we go to bed?

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Yes! Keeping them healthy requires proper sleep.
I always give Levi 12 hrs.

Your lifestyle and location of the cage defines 'in this case' that covering makes more sense.

There is no hard or fast rule, it depends on the defining factors of your home and the specific needs of your Parrot.

He bites and attacks the cover as I am pulling it over the cage.
is this his way of saying "leave me uncovered!" Or should I ignore and continue to cover?

I have sleep cages.

Porter actually spends his nights in a well ventilated closet in his travel cage.

AppaloosaNiffler2297 said:

He bites and attacks the cover as I am pulling it over the cage.
is this his way of saying "leave me uncovered!" Or should I ignore and continue to cover?

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The combination of the cage being located in the center of activity (which is good during the day) and the time in which you are in fact going to bed determines the need to be covered. It is understandable that the Parrot may want to be uncovered, to be with the family. But at some point in the near future the lack of sleep would have resulted in bring on an early onset of Hormonal season.

Look at a darker color and thicker material.

My answer is that well, it depends.

I have different routines for all of my birds. Some are uncovered, one of my greys, though that might change, and three of my amazons. Some are half covered, my other grey (though he does prefer to be completely covered, it's been too hot and I haven't felt comfortable covering him at night.) My cockatiels and parakeets, and my conure. Two of my three cockatiels are prone to night frights, so they get a nightlight nearby and are only half covered, meaning they're covered around the back and one side and half the top. This mostly stays how it is during the day so they have a darkish corner to take a nap.

Sydney is uncovered, mostly because I don't have a way of covering him efficiently, but I would consider covering him if I could manage, the same goes for my other grey Tallulah, because she startles very easily and is a very nervous bird, but I'm afraid she might get spooked being covered as well. Two of my amazons are in my bedroom, so I use blackout curtains during the night and early morning, so it's plenty dark in here! Though in the future I really need to stick to the "no birds in the bedroom" rule I had started out with.

Gonzo, my other grey is the only one who loves being covered. He gets so excited and keeps repeating "Night night Gonzo" over and over. I don't know why he loves bedtime so much, but he does have to chew himself a few holes to look out of!

Salty is covered at night, 10PM is his bed time. He roosts around 9:30 after he has finish training and the last few bites of dinner. We have a black light weight sheet for summer and a heavier weave black for winter. He is up at 10AM. His cage is in our open plan living/dining/kitchen area. But with either cover, we make sure one corner is up and he can get light and see out of it if he goes to the cage floor.

I cover at night just because of light and noise still going when it's bed-time as my place is sort of open plan. Do whichever gives them a longer deeper sleep, or if both yield the same results whichever you prefer. The biting behaviour is him feeling threatened rather than not wanting to be covered but that is to be expected. If possible maybe a sleep cage in a different room could be an idea? Doesn't need to be massive or filled with toys and it's a good way of stopping territorial behaviour down the line

We have to cover because of cage location and house setup, too. At first, Duke would strike at the cover. So when it's bedtime, I would go over and start saying good night and hold up the corner of the sheet and let him bite it a few times before I put it over the cage. After maybe three weeks of doing that, he seemed to get used to the routine. Sometimes he'll still want a little chew on it but mostly he stays on one foot and is okay with it.

I do not cover, they have a "lights out" time and are free to rise at their discretion in the morning.

One word of caution.... years ago I nearly lost a Goffins cockatoo due to a flimsy cover. He drew fabric into the cage and chewed a hole, then placed his head inside the opening! I was nearby and heard a struggle, rushed over with scissors to set him free. He was OK but shaken. So, if you use a cover, ensure it is of proper construction and drawn tight to reduce flexibility and attraction as a "toy."

I don't even cage at bedtime, much less cover. Mine all sleep out on their playstands.

My little guy sleeps with one foot on the cage and one foot on a swing toy. Basically doing the splits. Is this normal? lol

AppaloosaNiffler2297 said:

My little guy sleeps with one foot on the cage and one foot on a swing toy. Basically doing the splits. Is this normal? lol

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For him, its normal for another Parrot, not so much! If your guy is getting a good nights sleep, so be it! There are somethings you just set back and accept it! Its part of the joys of life!