How quiet is your parrot at night?

[Kiwibird]

Not wanting to hijack another thread, I started my own. I'm curious how many people have actually slept in the same room with their parrot under "normal circumstances" (i.e. not some random one-off situation where the bird may have been behaving unusually) and what was your experience?

Copied and pasted my response from the other thread here:

Due to the only A/C unit being in our living room, I have been sleeping on the couch all summer long. As a result, Kiwi has been my roommate I think he wakes me up more than the other way around. Even in the complete dark, no talking, no lights, dead of night he occasionally ruffles his feathers if a loud car goes by, shifts on his perch, grinds his beak, makes a giant poop that goes "splat"... Once or twice I've even awoken to him crunching and cracking seed for a 2am snack. He's awful to sleep around! He's always perky and energetic during the day too. Takes an afternoon nap but he's rarely grumpy or seems overly tired.

A lot of people seem to think birds need things to be perfectly silent at night, but the truth is, much like any animal, they make their own noises while sleeping (in my experience) and get a couple of them together would keep each other up with the noises they make if that were the case. And it's not just Kiwi, I grew up with 3 parrots, they made similar noises while sleeping/under their covers too and slept in a far less frequented at night part of the house than Kiwi does. As described above, not like squawking or anything, just noises emanating from under the covers all night long:52:

Maybe smaller birds are quieter at night due to smaller size? Does anyone have a bigger bird who's actually silent at night?

 

[Scott]

I have a sleep cage near my bed and always have one Goffins inside at night. They are all nice and quiet, occasionally a peeping sound at o' dark thirty. I always rise early regardless of need and often awake to the crunch of pellets. Need "white noise" in the background so sleep with an old air cleaner, the perfect volume and tone.

 

[SailBoat]

With the number of Amazons that had come to us sick, we have always sleep in the same room with them, our bedroom! At first, it was for us to keep taps on their breathing and those that became healthier, we have been likewise amazed at just how much activity they are involved in all night long!

Julio is our first Amazon who is fully on a natural Sun schedule and for the most part, he gets a near natural night's sleep. As you know, the goal of the locked sleep schedule 12 /12 hours (sleep /wake) is to reset the Parrots hormonal schedule that commonly is blurred in homes that never have a true sleep period.

We have come to accept a noisy Amazon is a healthy, happy Amazon and that reality is 24 hours a day.

 

[Tami2]

When we go to visit my parents, Levi sleeps in the room next to my side of the bed. I am an extremely light sleeper and hear everything. He is so quiet, that if you didn't see the cage you wouldn't even know he was in the room. Levi, also never eats at night once I cover him.

 

[CallumConure]

I'm a bit of a recluse that keeps to my room all day, so Callum lives in my bedroom with me. He has his cage at the foot of my bed and he sleeps really well through the night. He's super quiet. If I make a noise, he'll make a small peep back at me, as if he's saying "Shh!" Callum, however, wakes up when I leave the room and promptly contact calls for me. It's sure nice to have a GCC yell for you at 3AM LOL!

I don't blame him. I'm sure some old instincts are telling him he needs me there so we can both look out for danger. Or, alternatively, he thinks something's wrong and is making sure I'm okay.

As mentioned by another user in the other thread, Callum is true to their guess and he sleeps A LOT better with me around and sleeping in the same room.

My budgies have (and still do) sleep in the living room. I can get up and go to the bathroom or get water at night with very little issue. Maybe some squeaks or peeps here and there, but nothing beyond that.



(And yes, Callum is allowed out of my room when he pleases. He spends most of his day looking out the window and absorbing some sunlight)

 

[buurd]

My bourkes are known as dawn & dusk birds, so the mornings and dusk are their most active times. They like to sleep through the hottest part of the day, although even then, it varies. They don't make a lot of noise while sleeping, although I have heard what sounds like an odd chirp here and there from them that sounds like sleep-talking. They will sometimes get up and jump around, or eat something or sit in their doorway, or even take a flight around the room, or fly out to perch in the bedroom window.

I do sleep in the same room as them, usually. They had night terrors during the first few months with them, so I wanted to be close to calm them down quickly before they could hurt themselves. Now I think they just consider me their flock. I can sleep during the day, also, and they just frolic around like I'm not there. I woke up to one perched on my hip, once. As soon as I woke, they flew off.

 

[Rozalka]

All my fids are so quiet at night. I sleep with my GCC and don't have any problems. Only when somebody wakes up early and I still sleep, this person has to close my door 'cause if they are open, Zenek (GCC) seing other person will start screaming.


In the past I was with two budgies, they were covered for night 'cause in the morning used to start singing in the morning. But at night also were quiet.


Recently for about 2 weeks in my room also were 3 Bourke chicks (handraising). Also, they were at night quiet but I was suprised they didn't wake up me in the morning when were hungry

 

[Squeekmouse]

Trigger is completely still and quiet all night long. Yoda is mostly quiet but he does wake occasionally and snacks or plays a bit with his toys or just mutters softly.

 

[buurd]

I have a sleep cage near my bed and always have one Goffins inside at night. They are all nice and quiet, occasionally a peeping sound at o' dark thirty. I always rise early regardless of need and often awake to the crunch of pellets. Need "white noise" in the background so sleep with an old air cleaner, the perfect volume and tone.

It seems like the birds don't mind a constant loud mechanical noise. Like they are completely comfortable and will even sleep through construction noise, lawn mowers, trucks, etc. The only thing they perk up at a little is when they hear freighter horns

Nothing was better in summer than sleeping to the sound of a window air conditioner unit. My did used to hate dealing with the things, but I love and miss that noise.

 

[charmedbyekkie]

I think Cairo would get eaten alive in the wild. He sleep talks. Yes, he does the standard beak grind and mumble as he sends himself to sleep. But then, as he sleeps, he'll sometimes sleep talk.

Occasionally he'll wake up in the middle of the night to do his "thunder wings" (rousing). He might add a quick preen before settling down again.

Then in the mornings when it's still dark and I haven't opened any blackout curtains yet, he might shift from his sleep perch to his nap perch (practically next to each other).

 

[Kiwibird]

It seems like the birds don't mind a constant loud mechanical noise. Like they are completely comfortable and will even sleep through construction noise, lawn mowers, trucks, etc. The only thing they perk up at a little is when they hear freighter horns

Nothing was better in summer than sleeping to the sound of a window air conditioner unit. My did used to hate dealing with the things, but I love and miss that noise.

Kiwi also doesn’t mind loud noises as long as they’re consistent (like the landscapers being outside using lawn mowers and leaf blowers, TV shows, conversation, sirens etc....). Sudden loud noises, like a car backfiring or you drop something heavy on the floor, inspire a momentary alert status as he gets slicked back, heads for a high perch and makes the universal amazon “alert noise” (anyone with an amazon knows this noise).

I actually find “white noise” mechanical whirring type noises annoying at night. We have a noise machine that makes more natural sounds like rain or the ocean and I prefer those kind of background noises better for sleep.

 

[Kiwibird]

I think Cairo would get eaten alive in the wild. He sleep talks. Yes, he does the standard beak grind and mumble as he sends himself to sleep. But then, as he sleeps, he'll sometimes sleep talk.

Occasionally he'll wake up in the middle of the night to do his "thunder wings" (rousing). He might add a quick preen before settling down again.

Then in the mornings when it's still dark and I haven't opened any blackout curtains yet, he might shift from his sleep perch to his nap perch (practically next to each other).

What are “thunder wings”? Curious minds must know! Kiwi too will sometimes do a little preening if disturbed at night, I think it’s like a comfort thing to them.

We cal Kiwi our big “deck of cards”? At night, he ruffles his feathers so ferociously it very much sounds like someone is shuffling a deck of cards under the covers. It’s not that long or loud during the day when he ruffles. He does it if something disturbs him, the heater kicking on in the winter is the worst offender. Hubby getting home at 5am from work also inspires some ferocious ruffling and often noises indicating his displeasure because the door opening/closing is pretty loud. But sometimes he seems to do it without any offending noise, maybe waking from a birdie dream?

 

[Kiwibird]

I have a sleep cage near my bed and always have one Goffins inside at night. They are all nice and quiet, occasionally a peeping sound at o' dark thirty. I always rise early regardless of need and often awake to the crunch of pellets. Need "white noise" in the background so sleep with an old air cleaner, the perfect volume and tone.

True to form, my dads goffin is not even silent while sleeping. He “snores” lol. It’s more of like a rhythmic peeping noise that is actually pretty cute, but ya, some nights if you go in my parents kitchen late (the birds are between the kitchen and laundry area, hard to describe) you can hear him making cockatoo snores under his covers:24:

 

[noodles123]

I lived with mine in a small apartment for a bit (I KNOW...LOL) and she slept very close to my room (which always had an open door so that I could listen to make sure she was okay).
She did shift around etc and usually would do beak grinding off and on within 20 minutes of being covered (for up to an hour after). If I moved around (moving papers, getting up to go to the bathroom etc), she would ruffle her feathers or flap occasionally (depending on how quiet it had been prior to that). Generally if she flapped it was because I had been silent for a long time (which allowed her to fall into a deeper sleep) and then I moved (which startled her). She also sometimes ate in the night---usually at about 3AM and I am almost certain that she habitually slept with a pellet in her mouth because when I moved around, you could often her "flap flap flap clunk"...She always dropped something when awoken. She usually preened when awake in the cage too---I could hear her post-flap session arranging her feathers.

That having been said, when I was totally still and slept well, she slept better, so I definitely impacted her sleep quality by moving around nearby and making noise (that was why I used headphones when watching TV etc). She was used to white noise etc, but I know that when I was awake and slamming stuff around in the kitchen etc, that she was also awake in her cage (even though she wasn't saying anything).

I totally agree with the importance of predictable noises---Noodles was generally fine with consistent or rhythmic sounds...and even some talking at conversational levels, BUT, a loud laugh or other sudden sound (such as a crinkling bag, closing blinds, a dropped piece of silverware etc) would cause an audible reaction (not squawking, but movement in her cage).

I know for a fact that when I was up working on paperwork/grading etc late into the night, that she didn't sleep well (because she moved a lot even if she wasn't flapping---in contrast to nights when I went to bed at a normal time (I can hear a pin drop from a deep sleep, so her movements also woke me up, which is why I can say this lol). She also always had a bad attitude the next day---anxious and irritated with me....with higher levels of compulsive/hyperactive behavior. When she doesn't get quality sleep, her energy levels appear to INCREASE--- almost like when a child is overly tired and having a tantrum about going to bed!

 

[SailBoat]

I think Cairo would get eaten alive in the wild. He sleep talks. Yes, he does the standard beak grind and mumble as he sends himself to sleep. But then, as he sleeps, he'll sometimes sleep talk.

Occasionally he'll wake up in the middle of the night to do his "thunder wings" (rousing). He might add a quick preen before settling down again.

Then in the mornings when it's still dark and I haven't opened any blackout curtains yet, he might shift from his sleep perch to his nap perch (practically next to each other).

What are “thunder wings”? Curious minds must know! Kiwi too will sometimes do a little preening if disturbed at night, I think it’s like a comfort thing to them.

We cal Kiwi our big “deck of cards”? At night, he ruffles his feathers so ferociously it very much sounds like someone is shuffling a deck of cards under the covers. It’s not that long or loud during the day when he ruffles. He does it if something disturbs him, the heater kicking on in the winter is the worst offender. Hubby getting home at 5am from work also inspires some ferocious ruffling and often noises indicating his displeasure because the door opening/closing is pretty loud. But sometimes he seems to do it without any offending noise, maybe waking from a birdie dream?

What are “thunder wings”: An extensive close body wing flapping that if the wings are fully extended would result in flight. The goal is to reposition wing feathers and shake off any loose feathers and feather dust. Fully flighted Parrots can really develop a bit of noise.

 

[Kiwibird]

What are “thunder wings”: An extensive close body wing flapping that if the wings are fully extended would result in flight. The goal is to reposition wing feathers and shake off any loose feathers and feather dust. Fully flighted Parrots can really develop a bit of noise.

I wonder if this could be what Kiwi is doing when he makes that “cards shuffling” noise? He ruffles his feathers during the day sometimes and vibrates his wings while doing so. It doesn’t make as big of a noise as when he does it at night. Obviously, when he’s under the covers, I can’t actually see what he’s doing. We just assume it is ruffling the feathers, but could be vibrating the wings. And since Kiwi does do a fair amount of his flapping exercises, he has more developed muscles than most non flighted birds. Not as much as a strong flier, but he can flap his wings pretty hard for a pretty good distance while on my hand.

 

[SailBoat]

What are “thunder wings”: An extensive close body wing flapping that if the wings are fully extended would result in flight. The goal is to reposition wing feathers and shake off any loose feathers and feather dust. Fully flighted Parrots can really develop a bit of noise.

I wonder if this could be what Kiwi is doing when he makes that “cards shuffling” noise? He ruffles his feathers during the day sometimes and vibrates his wings while doing so. It doesn’t make as big of a noise as when he does it at night. Obviously, when he’s under the covers, I can’t actually see what he’s doing. We just assume it is ruffling the feathers, but could be vibrating the wings. And since Kiwi does do a fair amount of his flapping exercises, he has more developed muscles than most non flighted birds. Not as much as a strong flier, but he can flap his wings pretty hard for a pretty good distance while on my hand.

So happy that you continue to work on the development of Kiwi's flight muscles. Likely he can develop a fairly loud flapping sound (Kind of like shuffling cards, but likely getting louder).

When Julio goes for a full body fluff-out that ends with a wing shake-out, it will wake us up at night. If he gets carried away we can end-up with unintended company with us. Rare, but it does happen.

 

[texsize]

My Cockatiels are very quiet at night.
The 2 exceptions are if I walk over to them and talk to them they will respond, and night fright. Trying to fly away from something that scares them. The room they are located in is kept well lighted but it happens anyway.

My big birds are a different story.
We keep odd hours and usually stay up late. Because they stay in the Livingroom with us they tend to stay awake also.
The twins (Luna & Merlin) are the best at sleeping through watching TV and talking.
Bingo and Bella stay awake even if we cover them up. They just move to a location that allows them to see what's going on.
Bingo talks when my wife uses Skype to talk to her folks around 10 PM but he is quiet.
Bella only talks if one of us stop by her cage to say something to her.
Generally speaking my birds are quiet at night.

On a side note sometimes I will take a nap on the couch during the day. My big birds seem to realize I am sleeping and stay quit until I start moving around/get up.