Cagey questions for a cockatiel

[Boki]

It is good to know that many use a sleeping cage and a play cage. So I need to follow up more on this idea.

Does the sleeping cage have to be big enough for a cockatiel to move around at night or is the idea that he/she will have a single perch and its nighty night until the next morning? I would prefer the sleeping cage be as small and mobile as possible.

Should the sleeping cage have food and water bowls? I guess having a water bowl at night could be useful. Lord knows how often at night I need a drink of water. But I thought the idea was that you set a routine in the morning where he/she leaves the sleeping cage and you have breakfast to start the day.

Finally, can the sleeping cage also be used as a transport cage or will that just confuse the bird? I am talking about taking the bird to the vet and etc.

I am still debating the use of a harness as a means of being mobile but I hear sometimes that can get messy when the bird takes off in fright and gets tangled.

 

[eliholtman]

Make sure you’re always on a schedule. All sleep ages I’ve seen don’t have any toys and are relatively small... I’ll see if I can find a pic of one later. I would put water in it maybe just a little food I’m not 100% sure on that one someone else will probably correct me if I’m wrong. Always cover the sleep cage so they know it’s bed time. And with the travel cage do not use the same cage or else they’ll get confused. If you want to get them used to a travel cage start by taking shirt car rides to allow them to adjust don’t go over like 10 mins the first ride bc they’ll most likely be nervous. I hope this helps!!


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[itzjbean]

I don't bother with sleeping cages because I don't have enough room. They sleep in their huge flight cage in the living room which I cover at night.

Most sleep cages will be large enough to have one or two perches, big enough for the bird to stretch their wings open is ideal. Yes, leave water but you don't need to put food. Maybe a bit of millet but they should already have eaten their dinner by then so no need to put in much food or any at all in the sleep cage. You can choose to cover or not cover. Most sleep cages are in a different room, like a spare bedroom, that is very quiet. You can put in a nightlight near the cage to prevent frights.

 

[Flboy]

My sleep cage is a bit larger that what petco sells as a main cage! Multiple perches so he can move around, and food/water.

 

[FlyBirdiesFly]

I don’t use sleep cages for my birds - they sleep in their huge cages in the bird room. This way, they can sleep undisturbed because I cover their cages, turn off the lights, and close the bird room door.

 

[LaManuka]

I don’t use a sleep cage either. But Fang, God love him, is the nervous type & is subject to the night terrors on a fairly regular basis which means I get to race out to the bird room at 1AM to try to calm him down! Oh well I’m an insomniac anyway.... I don’t cover him completely, he seems to freak out less that way.

 

[Boki]

Thank all of you. Very useful information. I guess I need to understand this night fright thing a little more. I have only heard about night frights for cockatiels and not other parrots. What harm can from a night fright? I am a sound sleeper and sleep in a different room than the bird. Isn't a night fright just like a nightmare and there really isn't much anyone can do? Or can a night fright last a long time where a bird self inflicts a lot of physical damage?

 

[eliholtman]

Thank all of you. Very useful information. I guess I need to understand this night fright thing a little more. I have only heard about night frights for cockatiels and not other parrots. What harm can from a night fright? I am a sound sleeper and sleep in a different room than the bird. Isn't a night fright just like a nightmare and there really isn't much anyone can do? Or can a night fright last a long time where a bird self inflicts a lot of physical damage?

With my budgies they’ll start going crazy flying all around the inside of the cage it normally doesn’t last too long but I’ll uncover the cage and turn a light on to let them calm down it doesn’t normally happen to often


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[LaManuka]

I only have experience with night frights in budgies & cockatiels. It may affect other species too but I think cockatiels are for some reason just more susceptible to it. They throw themselves off the perch in the middle of the night & thrash around in a panic until someone comes to put a stop to it or they exhaust themselves. They can injure themselves in the process if it goes on too long. If you’re a really sound sleeper (I’m jealous of you if you are!) then you may be best to keep your bird in a sleep cage close by you. Have fun!

 

[Karlys]

We tried a sleep cage because her main cage is in the same room as my land hermit crabs, who are nocturnal and make noise occasionally when they fall or hit their shells on the glass, and I wanted her to be in our room with us in case the crabs gave her night frights. However, it only lasted maybe five nights because she started hissing at us and doing her best to get away when it was time to put her in there. We gave it up when it seemed like she was getting more and more angry with it, instead of getting more used to it. She's much happier to sleep in her big cage with a cover. We've had her since the first week of May and no night frights yet! (Knock on wood.)

 

[condobirds]

I don't generally need sleep cages as my birds go to bed in their regular cage in the bird room. If a bird's cage is in an area of the home where people are active,TV, lights, past the bird's bedtime, a sleep cage is important and placed in an area that is dark and quiet. I use a sleep cage if a bird is ill and I want to keep the bird near me during the night. It is a smallish travelcage with 1 perch, a water dish and a pellet dish, covered.

 

[Flboy]

We tried a sleep cage because her main cage is in the same room as my land hermit crabs, who are nocturnal and make noise occasionally when they fall or hit their shells on the glass, and I wanted her to be in our room with us in case the crabs gave her night frights. However, it only lasted maybe five nights because she started hissing at us and doing her best to get away when it was time to put her in there. We gave it up when it seemed like she was getting more and more angry with it, instead of getting more used to it. She's much happier to sleep in her big cage with a cover. We've had her since the first week of May and no night frights yet! (Knock on wood.)

Perfect example of , yes, no, maybe, never! Our first, Tango, never accepted a cover, complete freak Out! Both JoJo and Bongo love a separate sleep cage, covered!

 

[MonicaMc]

Not many people use sleep cages for their birds. Those that do may use small cat or bird carriers or just small cages. It doesn't matter much.

As far as night frights go... yes, they can injure themselves. Some people may leave a night light on for their birds, some cover cages, some do partial covers.


My birds don't have sleep cages and I don't use a night light. I also don't cover their cages. If a night fright *does* occur, then I'll turn a light on. As long as they are not in immediate danger, I leave them be. Attempting to intervene could have the negative effect of the bird associating you with whatever startled or frightened them, which results in them losing trust in you.