Q's about sleeping

[Andrea_AUST]

I was just wondering whether I need to cover Ozzy's cage at night or whether it's okay just to turn the lights off. He sleeps in the study in his cage.

Also just wondering whether anyone uses those cute fluffy little huts in their cages? It's summer here in Australia right now so I'm thinking it may be a little warm but wondered whether in winter this would be a nice addition?

Ozzy is a 3 month old Rainbow Lorikeet - he falls asleep in my hair most evenings while I'm on the computer.

Is there any guide as to how many hours sleep RL's might need? I see him yawn a lot early evening and worry that he may not be getting enough proper sleep. I only sleep 6 or 7 hours - is this enough?

 

[Leroy_Paige]

To answer your last question...you clearly aren't getting enuff and u need to step up your sleeping game. As far as your bird is concerned I think most/all birds are suppose to get 10-12 hours of sleep a day. Covering your bird should be left up to the bird. If it's happy uncovered then no need for any change. But of course there is no harm in trying to cover and seeing what happens. I was told that my nanday was never covered, but when I tried it, he LOVED it! So now he gets covered every nite. There are some birds that freak out in the dark like cockatiels I think. I purchased the book "Parrots for Dummies" and it is very informative on all the most common questions regarding your fids.

 

[mishykinz]

Yeah, birds need a bit more sleep than that. Around 10pm I move my birds to their sleeping cages in my bedroom for the night and cover them. (They both have happy huts that they always sleep in.) I go to bed later, around 1am. Then they wake up around 10:30 am and I move them back into their day cages and feed them breakfast.

A cover and a hut could help your bird sleep better and more comfortably so that he gets the 10-12 hours that he needs. :]

 

[mellykyitus]

my birds get 12 hours of undisturbed sleep a night. my conure and hahns have a cozy hut that they sleep in all year round x

 

[Ladyeclectic]

Both my conures use cozy huts. When we got our Green-cheek we never even though about it, but when we got the Sun and she got a hut (and immediately took a loving to it), our GC got one too and both seem pretty content with them. It'll depend on the bird: our Sun loves being inside her and is a total neat-freak about it, while our GCC only goes there to sleep and otherwise ignores it.

As for time, I try to give my birds 12 hours of rest and cover them, although they don't always need it to go to sleep. When summer comes around up here (I'm in the States) they'll have to be covered up as it'll get dark too late. It really all depends on the birds though: my GCC sometimes needs to be covered to feel properly secure (adding the hut helped this a lot but didn't fix it completely) while the Sun is ready to sleep at 5pm promptly and is quietly in her hut (unless our GCC vocalizes, then she has to chime in).

 

[gopack041]

My GCC absolutely freaks out when I tried to cover his cage. So I just leave him uncovered and he goes right up to his sleeping perch when I turn the lights off. He loves his cozy corner. I also bought a happy hut but he prefers the cozy corner, so I took it out.

 

[birdiemomma]

Birds need anywhere between 10-12 hours of uninterrupted sleep per night (lights off, low noise levels, etc.). I would recommend covering the cage (possibly with an old bedsheet or something). Bella has a "tent" in her cage and she absolutely loves it. Every night she goes in there to sleep no matter what, it could be 65 degrees outside or it could be 80 degrees outside and she still sleeps in her tent. I think a big part of it is also that she feels secure sleeping in there (no one can sneak up on her). I would recommend getting one. Even if your bird seems weary of it at first (like Bella) they will grow to like it tons (again like Bella LOL!). Hope this helps you

 

[birdiemomma]

Both my conures use cozy huts. When we got our Green-cheek we never even though about it, but when we got the Sun and she got a hut (and immediately took a loving to it), our GC got one too and both seem pretty content with them. It'll depend on the bird: our Sun loves being inside her and is a total neat-freak about it, while our GCC only goes there to sleep and otherwise ignores it.

As for time, I try to give my birds 12 hours of rest and cover them, although they don't always need it to go to sleep. When summer comes around up here (I'm in the States) they'll have to be covered up as it'll get dark too late. It really all depends on the birds though: my GCC sometimes needs to be covered to feel properly secure (adding the hut helped this a lot but didn't fix it completely) while the Sun is ready to sleep at 5pm promptly and is quietly in her hut (unless our GCC vocalizes, then she has to chime in).

Bella, my Hahns Macaw, will get into her tent a few hours before bedtime and will sit there and tell me to cover up her cage because she wants to go night night. It's so cute. But when she is tired, she is tired I guess!

 

[Andrea_AUST]

Thank you all so much .. it helps a lot. Will go hunting for one of those little corner huts - they look so comfy.

 

[antoinette]

I prefer covering the cage at night, if an incident happens, that could scare Mishka, I know he will feel more secure.
Once his cage is covered, he know it's time to beddie byes.
All the members above are correct by stating that a bird requires 10 to 12 hours of uninterrupted sleep. Imagine a baby not getting the enough sleep, its exactly the same for a bird.

 

[Andrea_AUST]

FWIW - I did cover the cage last night and he seemed to appreciate that. I need to find one of those fluffy hut things because I saw him hunched up high on a perch with his back against the top of the cage. I assume that could be to help him feel secure?

Lots to learn but totally loving it!