What do you use to cover your birds cage?

[Aquila]

I've always used various blankets, old towels, and usually lined with one of those cotton "universal" cage covers that doesn't fit any cage I've ever had. The temperature is starting to drop, so I figured now would be a good time to make something nice for the winter. I like keeping my apartment around 68~ degrees in the fall and winter, so it's a little on the cooler side, but I do make sure the birds aren't cold and get used to the cooler temperature, as well as making sure there are no drafts.

I'm planning on getting some fabric to sew some custom ones, using some blackout curtain fabric at some point. Looking for some suggestions on fabrics and interested in seeing what some of you do!

Sydney I've never really covered, though I made a little "nook" for him to snuggle into around his favorite perch to sleep on. Gonzo gets covered, though one of the blankets that was given is pretty ratty, seems he's chewed holes in so he could see out! But the other one is a nice heavy fabric that feels like old jeans, some kind of old comforter or something without any batting. It's great for the winter. I cover Willow's cage and leave it partially covered during the day, as well as have given her a similar "nook" to hide in.

 

[RavensGryf]

Robin and Raven have bed sheets.

Griffin has a piece of fabric (like you see at the fabric store just a length cut off a bolt). It is the perfect length and width to wrap around and clip on his playtop cage. It was just a coincidence that it was perfect. I found it at my father's home. It was from when my mom lived there in the 1970's and used to sew haha. It's a cute black and white small gingham print. Griffin is the one who really needs a darker one. He's my only "early bird" and will start talking and making his cute little chattering noises while still covered. It's adorable and he is pretty quiet, but still I don't want to hear ANYTHING on days I want to sleep in!

The budgies have a double flight cage that I use an old twin bed comforter on. It doesn't go all the way to the bottom, but that's okay. They don't usually start screaming until I uncover them.

 

[Aquila]

It's adorable and he is pretty quiet, but still I don't want to hear ANYTHING on days I want to sleep in!

This is Gonzo! He'll make little beeps and keep saying "Night night Gonzo" in the dark, with the occasional "Make a poop!" But he keeps his voice low. Sydney would gladly sleep all day if Gonzo didn't wake him up, as soon as he hears Gonzo, he's awake. He stays quiet though, which for an Amazon is hard to do! Once he sees me though, all bets are off and it's yelling until I let him out. I have to sneak through the hallway if I need to use the bathroom! Sometimes though if I'm up super early though he'll stay quiet as long as I don't go over to him, if I have to walk past to go to the kitchen.

 

[RavensGryf]

Gonzo sounds funny too. Here, Griffin always starts it, maybe about 70% of the time before the cover is off, then of course he wakes Robin, who is louder. Not screaming, but the chirps have the high pitch. Raven the Pionus is silent. No matter what, he's silent even after I take the cover off. Then he looks like he needs his morning coffee like mom here LOL! Raven isn't a morning guy at all.

 

[Aquila]

Gonzo sounds funny too. Here, Griffin always starts it, maybe about 70% of the time before the cover is off, then of course he wakes Robin, who is louder. Not screaming, but the chirps have the high pitch. Raven the Pionus is silent. No matter what, he's silent even after I take the cover off. Then he looks like he needs his morning coffee like mom here LOL! Raven isn't a morning guy at all.

Gonzo is a riot, he also called Sydney "Murphy" which was the name of the BFA he was raised with. So Sydney will yell, Gonzo will say "Be quiet!" "Bad bird!" "Cover you up Murph!" Anytime Sydney yells, he'll yell back at him, and of course Sydney looks at him like's crazy. He also yells at himself, will slam his toy and bell against the side of the cage and exclaim "Gonzo!!" "Bad bird!"

 

[RavensGryf]

That's hilarious! My birds don't talk to each other in context. "Cover you up Murph!" LOL!

 

[Aquila]

That's hilarious! My birds don't talk to each other in context. "Cover you up Murph!" LOL!

I'm going to try to record it, my boyfriend and I have nearly peed ourselves from laughing so hard while listening to him.

 

[Scott]

Just a note of caution and awareness: I used to cover some of my birds with bedsheets. On one occasion Abby, a young Goffin pulled some of the slack into the cage and chewed a hole into the fabric. He then proceeded to place his head inside the hole and became tangled. Fortunately I was nearby and heard him scuffling. A pair of scissors was used to gingerly widen the hole and successfully extricate him!

Perhaps a freak accident, but if it happened once it will happen somewhere, again.

 

[RavensGryf]

Good advice Scott! My particular birds aren't inclined, and the 2 who use sheets are well supervised because I sleep in that room. But that doesn't mean it can't happen with a bird who uses one as a toy. Or if one sleeps in and forgets to uncover them they'll start to take matters into their own hands.. uh beaks lol. Good to point out, and I'm glad your birds were okay .

 

[Tony21]

I have mango in the "pets room", with timed light switch that installed a few months ago. The room.is timed to go on and off. I live in a basement so light is limited and their is no light in that room other then what I provide, so their is no need for covering. Maybe just making the room dark is an option? Unless you need the cage to.be covered at night for heating purposes.

 

[ZephyrFly]

Pazu has tucked in some cover before but so far isn't a destroyed of worlds, or fabric. He just likes chewing on it, not tearing it to pieces.
As for fabric, I personally find black out fabric doesn't breath well, you don't need perfect darkness. But I don't know what I use.

 

[Aquila]

I have mango in the "pets room", with timed light switch that installed a few months ago. The room.is timed to go on and off. I live in a basement so light is limited and their is no light in that room other then what I provide, so their is no need for covering. Maybe just making the room dark is an option? Unless you need the cage to.be covered at night for heating purposes.

My birds are kept in the living room, and I prefer to keep them covered during the night and early morning, but like I said, I prefer to keep the temperature around 68 degrees during the winter, so I make sure that they're warm enough especially at night.

 

[Kyoto]

We used a black table runner and fitted it around the cage with magnets and Velcro. It covers 3/4 of the height of the cage to allow some airflow. The top gets a separate cover the simply lays over it. We also have blackout curtains and a UVA/UVB light on a timer.

 

[Kyoto]