Covering your parrot’s roost cage at night is not a mandate. It’s an option. There are variations to doing it. We cover all our parrots at night in different ways. Cockatiels. Macaws. Felix, influencer and African grey. Kirby, our Indian ringneck was not a fan of the full cover. I learned he only wanted 3/4 of his cage blanketed. We use sheets, towels, blankets, and DIY sewn cage fitting covers made of sheets.
That last point is moot with some parrots. Felix listens for any sound of humanity. He gurgles like a faucet when he hears dad at a sink. That’s my alarm clock. He will apply an end microwave beep sequence if I don’t get up fast enough. He will dig deep into his repertoire for the eye watering digital electric alarm clock of 1996 beep until he is freed from his dungeon. Darkness is meaningless to this bird. He likes the cubby feel of his covered cage, though. He prefers an afternoon nap in his covered bedroom roost cage.
There are those who don’t use cages at all. Covering their crew isn’t an option, by choice. Cage-free parrots have specific perching areas, rooms, or unlocked and uncovered cages. Another option that works when the parrot was given choices in the matter.
#3 BUT ARE THEY REALLY ASLEEP? You don’t know unless you can hear your bird talking or moving around if he/she is REALLY asleep under there. Most likely, they aren’t. And they simply think that since the cage cover is on, they can watch their preferred TV program in the same room while the bird simply slumbers through it. Trust me, they’re not, and even if they were, your sleep would be of very poor quality.
“It appears that my bird is not getting enough sleep because it takes extended naps during the day.” ”.
To sum up, cage coverings create more issues than they fix. We don’t use them on our birds and think that the following methods will give your bird a restful night’s sleep (a restful night’s sleep is defined as a high-quality, uninterrupted 12-hour sleep):
We are frequently asked during consultations whether or not we should cover the cage when our bird is outside. THE. TIME.
“My bird is very protective of its cage and will bite us if we approach. It even tries to take the food or water bowls from us!”
How do you cover a bird at night?
The variables are endless. This is where the complex opinions of your parrot come into play, as does your willingness to have a flock call when the sun rises. Some parrots prefer half their cage covered. Some prefer that half to be the top half. Some the back half. Some people prefer to cover the side of their cage that faces a door or window. Covering a cage cuts off their line of sight. This can be a good thing, or a bad thing. Depending on your parrot’s preferences.
What color bird cage cover is best?
Any color they are comfortable with. This could take a few sessions of experiments. To test their limits and concerns, cover a section of their cage with towels. Our cockatiels prefer blues or greens. The macaws like darker browns and greys. Felix’s cage is a fitted cage cover that I made out of a pea green sheet. The entire front is a flap. which permits a curtain to be rolled back, fully exposed, or half mast. He’s particular about the front of his covering.
FAQ
Should you cover bird cages at night?
What can I use to cover my bird at night?
Is it okay to cover birds at night?
Why do birds go to sleep when you cover their cage?