A benefit of covering your bird's cage at night is that it provides a regular period of privacy not usually allowed during the day. Further, it tends to keep the bird quiet in the early morning when it would otherwise become active and vocal. lf you now cover your bird's cage at night, continue to do so.
As long as a dark, quiet and somewhat secluded area is provided for a bird to sleep in, most will be fine without being covered at night. Remember, however, that sleep is vital to a bird's well-being. If you are in doubt about your pet's reaction to being uncovered, play it safe and resume covering the cage at night.
NOT! Cage covers can make your bird's cage a NEST that it comes all things hormonal over. It starts hanging out in areas that feel cozy and dark, it starts becoming defensive and territorial of the space, all the lovely horror-monal things.
You can cover the cage for 10 to 12 hours. Even if the sun rises early a parrot in a dark, quiet, curtained room can still sleep.
Birds (especially larger parrots) can generally tolerate temperatures as low as the 50s, but once the thermometer drops below that, they may get fluffed up (expending all of their energy trying to trap warm air between their feathers and their bodies to keep warm) and stop eating.
People often ask if a bird really needs a blanket to sleep in. While a bird might love to cuddle up with a soft, cuddly blanket, it isn't required. Bird feathers actually act as an animal's natural insulation, keeping it warm. Blankets and "bird snugglies" can actually be a danger to your bird.
Get a Heated Perch
If you are still concerned that your parrot is growing cold at night, purchase and install a heated perch in their cage. There's perches heat up just enough to provide a superior level of comfort for your parrot during the cold winter nights.
Try to avoid touching your parrot on the back, wings or tail. Most parrots prefer to be touched on the head. This is similar to how many parrots interact with each other in the wild. Because parrots can't reach to preen the feathers on their own heads, they often appreciate the help of a friend for this job.
A good rule of thumb to follow, however, is to take small parrots out of their cage for 2 hours a day and large parrots for 3 hours. This should be more than enough time for them to get some exercise, experience the surrounding environment, taking in all the sights, sounds and smells.
Why you shouldn't cover your bird cage? Because of the tremendous insulating capacity of feathers, covering a birds cage at night may not be necessary to protect the occupant from the cool drafts during the night when the thermostat is usually turned down.
So, do parrots need a bed? Yes, some parrots need a bed to sleep well and better inside the cages. However, the needs and the personalities of each parrot being different from the other, a bed is not necessary for every parrot; but those who prefer the comfy feeling and suffer from night frights definitely need one.
Like dogs on chains, caged birds crave freedom and companionship, not the cruel reality of forced solitary confinement for the rest of their very long lives. Driven mad from boredom and loneliness, caged birds often become aggressive and self-destructive.
This study suggests not only that urban birds can get used to the lights of the city, but also that birds actually prefer to have – at least a little – light at night.
Many people will cover their bird's cage at night time to ensure they have shelter. Usually sheets or fleece blankets are used. It is important that your bird does not chew on any of these materials either (due to the same reasons described above!).
Birds only need a nest when they are breeding. They do not use or keep a nest the rest of the time. If you give a pet bird something to use as a “bed”, the bird only sees it as a nest and it can cause unwanted egg laying and hormonal behavior. Have a question?
Every bird has positive and high energy; birds can love or have feelings of love, hate, fear, etc. Even though birds are not able to express their feelings to us easily through verbal communication, their feelings of love, emotions can show their feelings to people. Trust is also a part of love.
Many parrots are very affectionate, even cuddly with trusted people, and require a lot of attention from their owners constantly. Some species have a tendency to bond to one or two people, and dislike strangers, unless they are regularly and consistently handled by different people.
A chilly bird will frequently put his head down and tuck his beak into his chest. A cold bird will also shiver. Parakeets and cockatiels usually sleep on one foot with the other one curled up underneath them. If your bird's feathers are puffed up and it looks like he's sleeping on both feet, chances are he's cold.
Your parrot might be cold if it is fluffing up its feathers and burying its beak into its chest, squatting to cover its legs in feathers and shivering. A bird that is cold might also get lethargic and lose its appetite.
Birds are sensitive to the cold, so it's important that steps are taken to keep them snug and warm during winter.
Forcing birds to live in cramped cages, often all alone, is like sentencing a human being to solitary confinement. They become depressed, fearful, aggressive, and profoundly unhappy.
Physical hugging or scratching around the head is acceptable, but scratching, stroking or petting your bird around the back, rump, and hind end may cause sexual stimulation. Redirect your bird's attention towards other toys and healthy interactive play with you, the owner.
A normally friendly, playful bird might suddenly want to stay in its cage or it might become grumpy, snapping or even biting its favorite person. Or conversely, a happy, independent bird might suddenly become overly cuddly or clingy. These behaviors can be your bird's way of telling you that something is wrong.