Clara and what to do at night.

[texsize62]

I still have no solution about what to do about or with Clara in the evening/night time.

It’s just my hunch/opinion but I think she is suffering from birdy PTSD.
She probably had her toes bitten off at night and no one was there to help her. So now at night she hates being shut up in a cage.

When I put her in her cage at night she does the “foot in the air, pick me up” display. If I do that, take her back out she does the “I want” wing flapping motion. Mostly she just wants to be with me getting scratches till my fingers wear out. Given a choice I think she wants to sleep with me.
But that would be a death sentence and I know it.
Next best thing would be to move the cage into my bedroom at night and leave the door open.
For the short term this might work.
Until her flight feathers grow back but even clipped she might be able to get to the bed and have a very bad ending.

She doesn’t like being covered any more than shut in her cage, it just doesn’t help.

Closing her up in a spare bedroom.
I could do that, there is a spare bedroom but……
This house is not built on a slab, it’s a wooden floor above a crawl space and it’s not possible to walk and not make noise. She would be fully aware anytime someone was walking around.

A lot of these problems are going to change soon.
My stepmother is coming back and I will be returning home within the week. But that really won’t make them better.

She still won’t want to “go to bed”.
There won’t be the option of a spare bedroom.
She still won’t want to be covered.
And.
And.

What if she’s scared of Bella?
What if she’s afraid Bella is going to bite of more toes?
I guess I’m borrowing trouble with that issue and will get to it if/when it comes up.

 

[AMD58]

My 18 yr old Tiel Baby, used to have night frights, and we had NO idea as to why, since we got him as a wee baby. The breeder told us to just talk softly to him till he calmed down, and then put him back to bed. In your case, maybe for Clara leave a night light on for her, and soft calming music and let her know it is bed time. I tell mine "nite,nite" everynite, and Nibbles (Senegal) tells all the other birds "nite,nite" go to bed. lol Each bird with it's own personality will respond to different things. Wishing you the best.

 

[texsize62]

My 18 yr old Tiel Baby, used to have night frights, and we had NO idea as to why, since we got him as a wee baby. The breeder told us to just talk softly to him till he calmed down, and then put him back to bed. In your case, maybe for Clara leave a night light on for her, and soft calming music and let her know it is bed time. I tell mine "nite,nite" everynite, and Nibbles (Senegal) tells all the other birds "nite,nite" go to bed. lol Each bird with it's own personality will respond to different things. Wishing you the best.

I do leave a light on at a distance and a night light close by.
I always tell my birds what’s going on.
Going to the shower.
Going to the kitchen.
Going to the window
And good night/ time for bed.

Never had this trouble with any other bird but I never had a bird with toes bitten off.
Cause and effect???
No idea.

My Cockatiels get night fright any time of the day/night with no warning.
Not all of them.
But Cheeky the father and Popeye (the son) and Angel (the daughter).
Mango (also daughter of Cheeky) and Baby (unrelated) don’t have the problem.
I have read that white face cockatiels are more prone to this and Cheeky is a white face. Perhaps the other two inherited the trait.

With the Tiels it’s like switching on the get away from danger switch. No thought process, just go, go, go.

With Clara it’s more…….scaired/uncomfortable .
What’s the saying, a cat in a room full or rocking chairs.

 

[osklvste61]

You're over thinking. You know how intelligent, sensitive, emotional, temperamental, adept at owner training a CAG is. Clara is in a new environment. She maybe picking up emotions from you. Her intelligent sensitive nature is saying self protection engagement necessary. New human flock member mustn't be allowed from sight. His emotions suggest potential danger. Settle down. Clara hasn't had nearly enough time to adjust. It may be fear of loosing a new flock member she's starting to trust that's keeping her awake. Calm down.

 

[Inger2]

I'm sure you have a bedtime routine, but could you try adding to it? Put her in the cage, close the door, sit with her for a few minutes? Read her a book, sing her a song, talk about the weather, whatever...all in soothing tones maybe with lights dim? Then after 5-10 minutes it's lights out and night night sweetheart I'll see you in the morning.

And like osklvtse said above - don't project your feelings onto her. She may very well be training you and she seems to be a master at it.