I currently have my U2s cage in the eatin/family room area of my house. This cage is 40 x 40 x 60. Since it is where I usually watch tv in the evenings I am wondering if I need to consider buying another cage for my U2 to sleep in. If so, what size cage does a sleep cage need to be?
Sleep cage
- Thread starter Dopey
- Start date
MonicaMc
Well-known member
- Sep 12, 2012
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- Mitred Conure - Charlie 1994;
Cockatiel - Casey 2001;
Wild Caught ARN - Sylphie 2013
A small, sturdy cage may do! Or maybe even a modified dog kennel?
Would suggest a carrier, but then you might end up with something like this!
http://cdn2.bigcommerce.com/server2...es/uploaded_images/chewed-up-bird-carrier.jpg
Would suggest a carrier, but then you might end up with something like this!
http://cdn2.bigcommerce.com/server2...es/uploaded_images/chewed-up-bird-carrier.jpg
- Thread starter
- #3
Oh My - you made me laugh. That bird sure wanted out of the carrier.
I will check into a small dog kennel. Would something the size that I would need in case of an emergency and I would need to leave my house in a hurry be something that I am looking for? I must admit that I don't think I've even seen a picture of "sleep cage."
I will check into a small dog kennel. Would something the size that I would need in case of an emergency and I would need to leave my house in a hurry be something that I am looking for? I must admit that I don't think I've even seen a picture of "sleep cage."
punkindave
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- Apr 9, 2013
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- Budgie Niles, Rascal RBC-2001, Jake "footloose" CAG-2015, Butchie Triton-1988, Neyteri "Chatterbox" CAG, and the "Squeak Squad" (4 Caiques) ScooterPie 8/12, Skittles 4/13, Chica 2006, Ringo 2009
We have a smaller cage in another room for Butchie (he's the only one that gets crabby if he doesn't get his beauty rest!)
punkindave
New member
- Apr 9, 2013
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- Budgie Niles, Rascal RBC-2001, Jake "footloose" CAG-2015, Butchie Triton-1988, Neyteri "Chatterbox" CAG, and the "Squeak Squad" (4 Caiques) ScooterPie 8/12, Skittles 4/13, Chica 2006, Ringo 2009
It's still a cage designed for a Too, just not as large as a daytime cage..
That's the issue you get into getting a cage designed for a smaller bird, the wire size and such is not going to withstand that big beak!
I think it's like 32x32x40 with large gage bars.
That's the issue you get into getting a cage designed for a smaller bird, the wire size and such is not going to withstand that big beak!
I think it's like 32x32x40 with large gage bars.
MonicaMc
Well-known member
- Sep 12, 2012
- 7,960
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- Mitred Conure - Charlie 1994;
Cockatiel - Casey 2001;
Wild Caught ARN - Sylphie 2013
A sleep cage is whatever you make of it, honestly! I've used small cages as well as carriers for my mitred conure! It certainly wouldn't hurt to have a travel cage/emergency cage!
Currently though I'm not using sleep cages.
Currently though I'm not using sleep cages.
- Thread starter
- #9
Are your cages in the room where you watch tv at night? I'm assuming you watch tv. Once I cover his cage he settles down but will the lights in the room bother him? Or am I being too much of a mom here and trying to over do things? 
Kiwibird
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- Jul 12, 2012
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- 1 BFA- Kiwi. Hatch circa 98', forever home with us Dec. 08'
The way I figure, the jungle isn't quiet or pitch black at night so they don't *need* 100% dead silence/0 light to sleep. Kiwi gets covered at 9pm, and is fast asleep within 10/15 minutes. The noise from watching something or chatting is not enough to keep him up. I guess if you plan to throw loud parties and shine a spotlight into the birds cage area, you might need a sleep cage in another room, but so long as it's normal-low noise/light levels most people have during the later hours, parrots are fine with just a dark cover. My boy actually sometimes falls asleep in my lap when we have a movie on and its close to his bedtime.
Another important thing is to have a reasonable bedtime. They need about 8-10 hours of sleep, so considering most people wake them up at 7/8am, they don't really need to go to bed until 9/10pm. A bird who isn't sleepy will have a lot of problems falling asleep if it's put to bed very early, and a tv or light could make that even worse. A sufficiently sleepy bird will fall asleep regardless of whats going on around them (within reason). Just another thing to keep in mind too.
Another important thing is to have a reasonable bedtime. They need about 8-10 hours of sleep, so considering most people wake them up at 7/8am, they don't really need to go to bed until 9/10pm. A bird who isn't sleepy will have a lot of problems falling asleep if it's put to bed very early, and a tv or light could make that even worse. A sufficiently sleepy bird will fall asleep regardless of whats going on around them (within reason). Just another thing to keep in mind too.
- Thread starter
- #11
Thank you! I'm not going to invest in a sleep cage right now (unless I find one for free). Most nights my bird seems perfectly happy going to bed around 7:30 - 8. I'm usually feeding my critters around 6:30 or 7 in the morning. Cats first, dog second, and then the birds.
MonicaMc
Well-known member
- Sep 12, 2012
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- Mitred Conure - Charlie 1994;
Cockatiel - Casey 2001;
Wild Caught ARN - Sylphie 2013
My birds currently have their own room, which helps allow them to get sleep when needed.
I don't try to keep quiet once they've gone to sleep (as mentioned, the jungle isn't quiet at night!) but I don't try to make a lot of noise, either. My two conures will not go to sleep if they can see me or hear me close by. Instead, they'll pace the cage and try to figure out how to get out.
Since they have their own room, I also don't cover cages or cover the window. This is what works for me.
I don't try to keep quiet once they've gone to sleep (as mentioned, the jungle isn't quiet at night!) but I don't try to make a lot of noise, either. My two conures will not go to sleep if they can see me or hear me close by. Instead, they'll pace the cage and try to figure out how to get out.
Since they have their own room, I also don't cover cages or cover the window. This is what works for me.
MonicaMc
Well-known member
- Sep 12, 2012
- 7,960
- 44
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- Mitred Conure - Charlie 1994;
Cockatiel - Casey 2001;
Wild Caught ARN - Sylphie 2013
With 7 birds, and only 3 tame, I kind of vary what I do depending on whom I'm interacting with.
I enjoy sitting in the room and allowing the birds out of their cages to fly about the room or just move from cage to cage. The conures don't get along with each other, let alone the other birds, so some caution does have to be taken here.
As for the conures, I'll take them out of the room to interact with them, too. I'll watch TV with them, do something on the computer, have them flying around the house after me getting exercise, etc. Currently don't have a stand or gym for them to hang out on outside of their room (tried to win one this weekend! But I wasn't the lucky winner), so they tend to spend a lot of time *on* me or inches away from me.
I enjoy sitting in the room and allowing the birds out of their cages to fly about the room or just move from cage to cage. The conures don't get along with each other, let alone the other birds, so some caution does have to be taken here.
As for the conures, I'll take them out of the room to interact with them, too. I'll watch TV with them, do something on the computer, have them flying around the house after me getting exercise, etc. Currently don't have a stand or gym for them to hang out on outside of their room (tried to win one this weekend! But I wasn't the lucky winner), so they tend to spend a lot of time *on* me or inches away from me.
MonicaMc
Well-known member
- Sep 12, 2012
- 7,960
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- Mitred Conure - Charlie 1994;
Cockatiel - Casey 2001;
Wild Caught ARN - Sylphie 2013
Exactly!
I would love to have them out in the living room area, but then they wouldn't get any sleep, constantly being interrupted by someone... doesn't help that people are often awake for hours on end during the night, if not all night... so it's really what works best for my situation. I envy those who can have their birds out in the living areas, since it's currently not ideal for me to do that, plus no room to put cages! On the plus side of things, the birds aren't bothered by the cats and dog in the house, since they don't have access to the birds' room!
I would love to have them out in the living room area, but then they wouldn't get any sleep, constantly being interrupted by someone... doesn't help that people are often awake for hours on end during the night, if not all night... so it's really what works best for my situation. I envy those who can have their birds out in the living areas, since it's currently not ideal for me to do that, plus no room to put cages! On the plus side of things, the birds aren't bothered by the cats and dog in the house, since they don't have access to the birds' room!
- Thread starter
- #17
My U2 could care less about the cats in my house. He just walks across the floor to me right in front of them. I put him on his stand and he just climbs down to get to me. We get a kick out of watching him climb down. He doesn't use the ladders...he slides down the sides. The cats don't pay much attention to him either.
MonicaMc
Well-known member
- Sep 12, 2012
- 7,960
- 44
- Parrots
- Mitred Conure - Charlie 1994;
Cockatiel - Casey 2001;
Wild Caught ARN - Sylphie 2013
I've got smaller, flighty birds, so my cats tend to take notice of my birds! The smaller the bird, the higher their prey instinct is! Dog could care less, though!
I love watching birds slide down! Actually watched a video of a cockatoo sliding down a banister! Looked like fun!
I love watching birds slide down! Actually watched a video of a cockatoo sliding down a banister! Looked like fun!
- Thread starter
- #19
I haven't introduced Dopey to my banister yet. I will have to do that sometime. That should be a lot of fun. My dog has sniffed the cage but they have yet to meet. My dog goes out in the am before the birds are uncovered and comes back in at night after they are covered. I know it will eventually happen but when it does...oh there will be a fight for who get my lap - dog, cat, or bird.
MonicaMc
Well-known member
- Sep 12, 2012
- 7,960
- 44
- Parrots
- Mitred Conure - Charlie 1994;
Cockatiel - Casey 2001;
Wild Caught ARN - Sylphie 2013
LOL! No doubt! My cats n dog don't get along, so if I have my cat with me and my dog comes over, my cat will leave. The other cat has a tendency to go after the dog and steal his bed. Poor dog puts up with so much crap from that cat!
And one of my conures will go after the cats if they get too close... so it can be a balancing act at times making sure everyone gets some attention!
And one of my conures will go after the cats if they get too close... so it can be a balancing act at times making sure everyone gets some attention!
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