To cover or not to cover?

[wanesso]

I have been covering my two new conures and one lovebird for the night but is it necessary? I turn the lights out, try to end their day at sundown so I'm not sure it makes any difference to them if they are covered or not. Or maybe they prefer to see/hear each other without a cover?

 

[Skittys_Daddy]

Not sure about whether they can see each other in the dark as I don't know how birds 'night vision' is.

I will say this, I'm not sure if it's "necessary" but I find it is usually best to cover them up. I think it provides them with a more secure habitat and a better nights sleep. Especially if they are in your bedroom.

Covering is especially important if your birds lifestyle cycle is not in line with the day/night cycle. I just have always covered my birds but I do think I've heard of people who don't.

 

[LeaKP]

I've always covered my birds. Esp my greys bc they are, like tiels, prone to night frights. I cover the cage and then have it set near a wall. Has helped a great deal. No night frights.

 

[BeatriceC]

I don't cover my birds, however, they have their own room that I can stay far enough away from at night that my noise doesn't bother them and that's dark enough for them to be comfortable. If that weren't the case, I'd cover them.

 

[plumsmum2005]

I cover mine too, in fact he mimics the action of being covered so in his way is asking for it. I hold his cover up and say do you want this and he does a head movement and lifts his wings slightly and goes "foof, foof" it works I know what he wants LOL. Oh and the standard "go bubbyes" is a big clue too.

I have found that the birds I look after seem to prefer it, even the Conure that wasn't always covered at home. Guess they feel safe under there?

 

[wanesso]

I have been covering them but I'm a bit worried when summer comes, house is not air conditioned, that they will be too warm. Since we are currently in a snow storm, guess I'll worry about that later!

 

[plumsmum2005]

@ Wannesso - If the cage is against a wall leave that side open?

 

[itzjbean]

I cover my tiels every night and their cage is in the living room. Night frights essentially eliminated, and as we have two cats that like to play at night, the covering helps the birds from getting spooked by them. (They leave the birds alone anyways). I don't necessarily cover their cage at sundown though, more like whenever I go to bed (between 9-10pm) and they don't make a peep until I uncover them usually 6:30am the next morning.

 

[Skittys_Daddy]

@wanesso You could always get a fan too. If the room is hot enough that it concerns you then the breeze from the fan will be fine.

You could also just use a thin covering.

 

[LeaKP]

PS - the side of the cage that is next to the wall, I leave uncovered, pulled out from the wall for air circulation.

 

[wrench13]

Salty always gets covered. His cage is in our living/dining/kitchen area ( open floor plan). We have a strict schedule, training at 9pm, over by 9:20, he gets to eat or play or roost and in bed by 10, up at 10AM.
Times are +/- 15 minutes. I sew ( no comments, now) so he has a winter and a summer cover, one heavy matl, the other light almost see thru. I;ve always covered my parrots, so can control their sleeping patterns.

FOr other posters: Parrots have really poor night vision, part of the price paid for really acute and fuller spectrum day vision. And my last parrot Max (RIP) had nite frights despite being covered.

 

[wanesso]

@wanesso You could always get a fan too. If the room is hot enough that it concerns you then the breeze from the fan will be fine.

You could also just use a thin covering.

Yep, I use a bed sheet for each cage now as the room is quite warm. I anticipate using a fan when it gets hot and also anticipate worrying that it's too much wind for the birds! (it must be the nature of bird owners to worry?) I have multiple sizes to try and will set it up so they can avoid the breeze in the cage if they want---then maybe I can get some sleep too!

 

[Skittys_Daddy]

I have a blanket I cover the top, back and sides with- but the front is just a high-thread count cotton sheet. I have plastic cutting board sheets tied to the outside of the cage to separate the sheet from the cage bars in areas where he is likely to climb. He likes to chew on fabric, so this way he can't chew on it nor get his foot caught in it.