Afternoon naps?

[KiwiAndBubblesBudgies1]

I’m not sure why, but every afternoon when we start to dim the lights and turn on the AC, my budgies immediately fluff up, groom, and start napping. I’ve read in some places that this is a sign of sickness, and in other places that this is okay. Here’s a picture, Bubbles noticed the iPad and wanted to bite it, so she wasn’t napping.

 

[Rozalka]

naps are ok, not ok would be sleeping all day

 

[KiwiAndBubblesBudgies1]

naps are ok, not ok would be sleeping all day

Okay, thanks! The problem is that they do this for a while, like from 1 to 5… I’m not sure if they aren’t sleeping well or if they’re just tired…

 

[Terry57]

Some of my birds take long afternoon naps as well. As long as they are active the rest of the time and not fluffed up it may just be that they are exhausting themselves while they are awake playing..

 

[KiwiAndBubblesBudgies1]

Some of my birds take long afternoon naps as well. As long as they are active the rest of the time and not fluffed up it may just be that they are exhausting themselves while they are awake playing..

Yeah, my birds usually play a lot in the morning and rest later…

 

[Terry57]

How much sleep do they get at night? BTW, they are beautiful!

 

[KiwiAndBubblesBudgies1]

Thanks again! And… more than us. They go to bed around 7 or 8 and wake themselves up around 6… But my family stays awake and does mostly quiet things until 10 or 11. I’m not sure if this affects their sleep or not as we always cover their cage.

 

[Terry57]

I think that it wouldn't affect them that much with you being quiet and them covered.

 

[KiwiAndBubblesBudgies1]

Alright, thanks!

 

[fiddlejen]

You mentioned dimming the lights. This will have a direct effect. In nature, dimming light either means increasing clouds, thus possible poor weather approaching, or else sun getting low. So, any well-fed healthy bird will settle itself into safety, fluff up, & relax. Naps are always in order.

Combine dimming the lights with cooling the room (you said you dim lights and turn on AC), and this will just enhance that effect.

I have room darkening curtains in my living room (bird room), and will close them on bright sunny days if I need my budgies to return to their cage. They take their time about it, but they will do so, and then will sit and relax and half-nap.

So IF you want your birds to be more active at certain time, brightening the lights will help.

 

[KiwiAndBubblesBudgies1]

Oh! Alright, thanks. I think I’ll try keeping the lights on and see what happens.