To cover or not to cover at night?

[Tishrei]

In Ducky's last home, when he would annoy the owners, they would cover his cage with a black thick cover to quiet him down. He spent a lot of time in the dark. Consequently, I don't like to cover his cage at all.

I've read on this community regarding covering. Sometimes I feel a bit guilty because I refuse to cover his cage, even at nighttime. My reasoning is that I don't want him to associate his cage with a punishment. He does not get as much nighttime sleep as I read here about how much sleep a bird needs. He goes to sleep when I do and wakes up when I do -- so he's getting about 8 hours nighttime sleep.

I've noticed during the day, he'll relax or nap. During the day when I happen to be home, he doesn't like to be handled as much as he does at night. It seems that at night, this bird comes alive -- I should rename him "Nightbird."

I guess what I'm getting at is am I harming his health by not forcing him to sleep more than he does? If I put him to bed earlier, that is going to totally cut into our interaction as I am not home during the day. Is 8 hours of nighttime sleep enough as long as he can relax and nap during the day or am I harming his health?

[Busguy]

Mine used to want to stay up as long as I did too but because of my work schedule I began making them go to bed at 530 or 6pm because I am always up by 530am (generally earlier) and Sage insists in getting up when I do and "helping" me shower etc. When I leave for work it's still dark so she goes back to sleep after I am gone. The others all prefer to sleep in until the sun is up.

This time of year when the sun sets so early, they are all ready to go to bed by 5pm. Since I am lucky to get home before 430pm, I am greedy and try to steal at least an hour with them on week nights.

Anyway, they all sleep in my bedroom even this time of year when the sun goes down about bedtime I cover their cages. Neither of the cages are fully covered though. The Conures have a "seam" in the front facing the bed so Sage can see me when I go to bed. She hates not being able to eyeball me at all times (possessive). None of them seem to mind the covers at all and, I think, appreciate having some security.

I am no expert where health is concerned so cant address those specific questions but I imagine that it wouldn't take Ducky that long to get used to going to bed earlier and the cover would help in that regard so long as he doesn't associate it with being punished.

[KDK241]

Have you thought about only covering part of the cage? I have a cockatiel that absolutely freaked out when I would cover his cage. We finally found something that works. He sleeps in my room and before I moved his cage, I would cover the cage so that the only wall open was the side next to me, since moving his cage I now have to have the entire front uncovered. He will go to the dark corner in the back and sleep when he is tired. So far it seems to be working. I think that covering the cage is important, especially if it is in an area where there is activity going on even after bedtime and maybe you'll both be happier if he has an option. Not only that but I think that if the entire cage isn't covered like it was before, he will realize that it's not a bad thing, and he's not being punished.

[PyscoFalcon]

I only cover my birds cages during Summer when stays light until late and starts getting light early morning.

In winter it's that dark most of time I don't have to as they fall into a natural sleep pattern.

I also cover cages up on birds that Merlin dosen't get along with when Merlins out to prevent toes etc been bitten. Same as when there out Merlins covered up. BUT there normal fleece blanket things and not heavy, thick black covers so not too imposing on them.

[saucie]

I think whether or not you cover the cage depends on your bird. I don't cover Conrad ever because he doesn't like the dark. I think he gets very insecure because he can't see anything. He sleeps when I go to sleep too, and I guess he's getting about the same amount of sleep as Ducky is. Conrad also naps during the day and is more cuddly at night. He lets me know when he hasn't gotten enough sleep, so I leave him alone to nap a little more.

I asked a couple vets about covers, and they both told me that they don't cover their birds. Their birds also go to sleep when they do, one of them said that was around midnight. That vet also brought up routines and told me there was a debate about whether or not to keep your birds on a routine but that he didn't. Anyway, his birds are healthy, one of them is over 20 years old, and he doesn't cover them, so I don't think you're endangering Ducky by not covering him if he doesn't want to be covered.

[LtlWngdAngl]

I don't cover any of my birds at night. Since they have their own room, I don't see a whole lot of point in it. I used to cover them when I only had two, but my flock has grown so much and most of them would pull down the sheets anyway.

I do cover my conure when he gets really loud, but I try to use it as a last resort.

My vet told me that as long as their not in a busy area of the house at night and they can have darkness and quiet, there's not medical reason why they should be covered.

[ROYJOY]

i would still cover him at night, unless you have a dark, quiet room to put his cage in during at least 10 hrs.

[Sally]

I don't know about all parrots, but Parrotlets need 12 hours or more of quiet sleep. Chipper likes 13 hours and I coever her at night. I am sure all birds are diff. about the covering.

[DarwinTheSun]

I cover Darwin every night. Part of the reason I do is because he is between the kitchen and living room, and it is a high traffic area. I feel like covering him allows him some quiet time from us. We walk about and watch movies and he is fast asleep.

Plus it is a thick fleece cover (that has a slit in the front so he could see if he wanted to) so I feel like it would protect if there are any drafts.

[Monica]

Just getting to this thread n wanted to give my input!

ATM, I only have 13 birds. 12 live in the bird room, and they go to sleep with the sun and wake with the sun. Being that the majority of them are cage-free, there's really no way I *COULD* cover them, and little point besides...

On the otherh and, Charlie's cage is in my bedroom. If I don't put him to bed in the bathroom he'll remain awake... as I don't normally get to sleep until 11-12 at night anyway... and even if he HAD total darkness he'd still be able to hear me... and thus would remain awake... babbling away or laughing... which would destroy the entire "go to sleep" thing anyways... and besides, he's gotten so used to sleeping in the bathroom (the only dark room in the entire house) that he actually gets NOISER when the room gets darker (which is about 4-ish... one window which faces east...) so even if it isn't dark until 5 or after, he'll be having a fit about 3:30 to 4pm, at which point I just put him to bed. Yes, my other birds MAY make some noise around dusk, but in comparison, Charlie's noise is OVER THE TOP loud and obnoxious.

And being that I usually go to sleep around 11-12 at night, I'm not looking at getting up in the morning around 5 or 6!!! So, putting him to sleep in the bathroom gives me a couple more hours of sleep!



Plenty of people will say that birds need 10-12 hours of sleep... some may need up to 16 (hormonal birds), but on the other hand there are plenty of people who have birds who sleep less than 10 hours without issues, because the birds nap during the day! Some birds will be grumpy if they don't get enough sleep, some could really care less!


And btw, Tomi Girl was practically covered 24/7 in her previous home... she became a chronic egg layer and nearly killed herself... although most the blame can be put on the so called "owners" as they did not feed her as she should have been fed... let alone, give her water (empty out the old, refill it, no cleaning, there ya go!). She was under 60 grams, and cockatiels should weigh 80-115 grams (average about 90+ grams).