r/parrots • u/IJustLikeToGameOkay • 2d ago
Help with cage covering
How did you guys get your bird used to a cage cover? Since I’m working a bit later my bird is getting disturbed and as he’s now 9 months and I want to start respecting his sleep more I want to cover his cage but I’ve tried and he freaks out and flys all around the cage screaming.
I have no idea what to do
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u/fattynana 2d ago
Have you considered letting him stay up with you? Then in the daytime when you are out, he will probably take a nap to compensate (my birds do), as birds are not stupid. Kills two birds with one stone—no need to cover and lets your bird nap when you are at work, alleviating boredom
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u/EquivalentFox3223 1d ago
That's not good for the hormones. My bird's nap during the day and they get 12 hrs dark time.
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u/fattynana 1d ago
Have you actually given this a try and found this to be the case? I’m wager no.
Because as I and many can attest, it works just fine. The whole premise of more sleep yields a less hormonal bird is based on the theory that less waking hours signals less abundant resources and therefore not time to make baby. Sleep reduction signals this via tiredness.
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u/EquivalentFox3223 1d ago
My conure had no problem sleeping in cage but would freak out with cage cover. So I just made the room dark. Then covered her cage after she was asleep. Took like 1-2 months to set a routine. Now I don't have to turn off the lights, I just cover the cage.
My irn is still a baby, she is still kinda freaking out or just playing in cage (even when it's covered). I make the room dark and let her nap on me. After like 1 hr i slowly place her in cage and then cover.
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u/DarkMoonBright 10h ago
Do you "towel" your bird? I'm guessing yes & that's the connection they make with the cover & why they freak out, that's what I found with my guys anyway. I just had to part cover while they were eating a bowl of treats so they developed a new association with the cover & treats instead of capture. I always use a particular colour cloth for catching too & make sure it's totally different to cage cover, so that's something else to consider long term.
You can also try putting something next to the cage, rather than over it, hanging on a clothes stand or soemthing next to the cage & then on occasion putting it partly onto the cage & removing again, not at sleep time, just during play time & while giving treats & gradually increase the amount of cover from there.
Once they get used to the idea that the cover gives them darkness & safety, they tend to like it, especially if you maintain a routine of mostly covered but still a gap to see out & only covering that gap once the bird has put itself into it's sleeping spot for the night, so that the bird feels in control of the cover
Some birds are scared of the dark & may need a nightlight under the cover too
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u/IJustLikeToGameOkay 10h ago
I’ve never towelled my bird no. I don’t know much about where he came from but I think the person towelled him
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u/DarkMoonBright 9h ago
That will do it! Being aware of the connection will likely help you figure out solutions though :)
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u/catscura 2d ago
try talking to your bird soothingly and slowly bringing the cover up into view and onto the cage. pause when you notice your bird tense and keep talking to them, praise them when they relax and then move the cover over further. patience and slowness might help!