Lulu had a rough 2nd night

[svolk]

I was amazed at how our new tiel slept through the night on her first night with us. Her second night, however, was different. I think the first night she was exhausted from the busy day of a new home and a new cage and everything that she completely zonked out.

She was feeling very comfortable yesterday and I think she finally began noticing all of the night time activity that goes on in my house - not that our house is loud at night at all, but there are some normal things like a cat running around. I shut her lights off when she started quieting down for the night, and I caught her dozing a little as I would walk by to check on her.

I left a nightlight on for her because I was wondering if she would get spooked by any night time cat activity or by the dog's early morning wanting outside. The house wasn't any more noisy than usual, but Lulu was getting spooked frequently. I would wake up to her frantically flapping her wings. She wasn't making any noise vocally, but I would get up to check on her and make sure she wasn't caught on anything. I think the cats were doing their usual late night stuff (we have one cat who moves socks and shoes and clothes during the night - every night). Then the dog wanting out early and being hyper in the morning spooked her. Neither the dog nor cats can get anywhere near her cage though.

She barely got any sleep (I know that because I barely got any from getting up to check on her when I heard her!), when I would check on her and talk softly to her, poor girl was clung to the side of her cage. After awhile I turned on some soft music, she had listened to country during the day (we also play country for Jerry when we are not home) and that seemed to calm her down a bit, she at least climbed onto a perch.

I do not cover Jerry's cage and I have not covered Lulu's cage - would she be more freaked out if she could hear things going on and NOT be able to see them? Would partially covering her cage help? I'm sure she needs some time to adjust to our routine of things and the usual noises that occur every so often. Jerry took a couple days to adjust, but he adjusted very quickly. But I remember that the sound of the dishwasher changing cycles used to spook him. Now he sleeps right through a dog wanting out at 4am and galloping past his cage for breakfast!

I felt bad that I couldn't do more to calm her down. I'm sure she just needs time to adjust to all of the new things around her, but I hope this passes soon.

[FeatherLover]

I had a cockatiel that had frequent night frights, which is what it sounds like is going on with Lulu. Something freaks them out when they're sleeping and they go a little nutty.

Here's a little information: http://www.cockatiels.org/articles/care/frights.html

If I find anything that can help prevent them, I'll let you know.

Good luck!

[CrazyBirdLady]

Our three teils occasionally get the night frights, but it's only happened three times that I can recall. They are in a quiet room at night, not covered, but there is a night light on on the far side of the room that allows me to walk through without turning lights on. When they do get the frights, I speak softly to them and get the lights on at once. It has stopped the flailing wings and bouncing around the cage immediately.
I think your new family member needs some time to settle in and it might mean some sleepless nights (for you both) during that time.
Not sure the partial cage covering will work; mine freaked out when I tried to offer that; however you might try a bird buddy that he can snuggle with. Might make him feel more secure.

[Lori L]

Yes tiels are very prone to night frights. I was once babysitting for a friend's tiel and I woke up when he was having a night fright. I tried to calm him down but his eyes looked void of any expression, almost like he was not awake and didn't know what was happening. When he stopped having the night fright his eyes were backto normal. Did you tiel looks sort of in a daze?

[svolk]

Thanks for the website Featherlover, I'll definitely check that out tonight.

Lori, she did kind of look devoid of expression. And after the last night fright, when I approached her cage she started breathing heavily, she was very freaked out.

My husband was home today and said she was pretty quiet during the day. He left her be since we figured she didn't get much sleep.

[Lori L]

Yea seh must be very tired if she didn't get much sleep poor thing

[CrazyBirdLady]

You may even get hissed at after a fright. They are a bit out of it, but generally a soft, comforting voice helps a lot.

[Tiki]

Every once in a while, my Tiels get night frights and if one of them gets it they all get it. Between the 9 of them, they make enough noise to wake me up so I will put the light on and talk soothingly to them until they calm down. They don't look expressionless, I would say more wide eyed and scared and their crests are alert. I have been leaving a night light on and this cuts down on the night frights a bit.