Night Frights

[CheekyandMalolo]

I've recently been made aware(rather rudely), that my Tiel Mali suffers from night frights. And not mildly either! I was sleeping in the loungeroom at my BF's house, (where she is currently staying to keep his Tiel Ella company after the death of our GCC, who was Ella's GF. The poor little guy didn't quite cope with it all, so for now Mali can be his GF), and was woken just about every 2 hours by Mali having a night fright!! I knew she had them, there's been the odd night at my house where she'll set off the other 3 birds in their cage and they'll all go off. It's loud enough to bring my dad running from the other end of the house!
But I didn't realise she could have it so badly. She had another 1 last night. She's knows the cage, it's the cage I had her in for 6 months last year till we moved home. She also knows Ella, she lived with him(in that cage) for a few months, again until we moved home.
At my BF's house she's getting covered at night, which is different from here(we've never had a need or something big enough to cover their cage!), but for 6 months last year she was covered every night(too cold in a Gippsland winter not to!).
After my long winded spiel, what are your remedies for night frights? She won't settle until you hold her, actually cuddle her against you and hold her still.
I've heard that it is due to Tiel's not being able to see at night, they get a startle in the night and can't see what's around them, knock into a toy or bowl and go nuts.
Has anyone else heard this?
I've also heard that only covering part of the cage, and having a night light can help? Yes? No?
Their cage is not packed with toys, but they sleep right at the top of the cage, on top of their Happy Hut, that's a long way to fall!!
I just hate to hear her panic so much at night. Any takers??

[pchela]

Yes, night light and maybe only cover the cage halfway or just enough so she can see out if she needs to. Those are the only remedies I know. Also, you might keep a towel handy to fold up and put on the bottom of the cage as a cushion if she does fall. You should be able to remove it in the mornings before the monster poo and they don't go at night so it shouldn't get too messy. Good luck. My Red Belly has night frights occasionally and it's quite frightening for us as well. Last time he thrashed around so much he lost every tail feather and others as well. I counted close to 17 feathers in the morning (and big ones, not the tiny body feathers!)

[Azure Hanyo]

I have stopped covering Archimedes completely, he has a night light, and at night I *used* to move his cage next to Gal's because it seemed to help. Well, since his cage is giganimous now I don't wanna move it, so I plan on putting Cloud's cage nearby once his quarantine is up...I think it's up now?...I need to look it up. Bahahahaha!