Parrot Sleep area

[Brittanyv326]

By the way, the travel cage Michael posted, the first one, is really nice. Sturdy and durable. I'd definitely recommend that one. I have it, and my bird chews the crap out of it and nothing chips. Only thing is, I'm pretty angry that it's for sale for $40. I bought it for $60. >.<

[applegirl]

Hi guys. This is kind of an update on my situation. Okay, so ... I got a smaller cage to use as my bird's sleep cage. It was labeled as a parakeet cage when I first saw it. I fit a sturdy perch in horizontally because if I put it in vertically my bird wouldn't even have enough room to stand let alone stretch. My bird was frightened of being in the cage at first. He kept trying to climb out from the top. I put him in by taking off the top part of the cage and settling him onto the perch cause the side doors are too small to fit him through.

Right now at this point I have been able to get him to sit in the sleeping cage but I worry he won't adjust well to it. When he get sleepy he usually starts grinding his beak. Sometimes it varies. Many times he's fallen asleep on my shoulder during the daytime (a nap) and he grinds his beak first for several minutes before tucking his head behind and sleeping. Other times he'll just doze off and close his eyes and then be sleepy enough to tuck his head. When he slept in the basement he'd definitely sit on his favorite perch at the back of that cage and grind his beak as well as tuck one leg up. I would kind of have a routine in the past with him around his bed time that I'd play some quiet music or dim the lights for him. Do you guys think he just needs more time adjusting to sleeping in a different cage? Cause it seems he still thinks he'll be sleeping in the basement. Last night i had a little trouble since he wouldn't go up on my hand so i could bring him upstairs to his sleep cage. And by the time i got that done he seemed awakened by the new surroundings of my dark room and didn't act sleepy any more. I got him into the cage, put his cover on (I left one side of the cage partially uncovered cause i didn't want to make him anxious being in a new place in total darkness). I played some music for him and it kinda worked for him. He was grinding his beak and everything. but then he stopped. I didn't hear the ruffle of his feathers that usually comes when he tucks his head behind. So I assumed he hadn't yet. Is it possible he's so uncomfortable he can't sleep through the night? I can't tell since I was awake during that short period and who knows he might've just taken longer to settle down? He didn't seem sleep deprived today. He did take a nap but also he was a little more active in playing and making noise.

I suspected he was having trouble sleeping in the basement at night in the first place as he began plucking very much -- more than usual. And when i'd uncover him in the morning in the basement sometimes there'd be a mountain pile of feathers he took out from his tail area or wherever. I mean before his plucking was like a little habit of his cause I know he is a somewhat nervous bird. He'll pluck in the presence of a stranger if the situation makes him nervous. He'll pluck if he gets bored with his toys and/or if I haven't switched them around enough, or if he is molting and he has new feathers coming in.

The basement wasn't always a bad place for him to sleep. It definitely was a lot quieter at night in the past where at least by 10 p.m. the entire household would settle down and there were no loud noises going on and not that much movement on the upper floor. I was really insistent telling everyone to be quiet and not make loud noises while my bird is trying to sleep but i can't control everything now. It's gotten to the point where noise was unavoidable. My dad started working until late at night and that was very problematic for me.

I'm trying to do the best I can for my bird, and I hope I am doing the right thing because I have not informed anyone in my household that my bird is now sleeping in my room. I'm afraid they will reject the idea. My dad thinks I baby my parrot around too much (that's what he said in the past when I asked him if I could try letting my bird sleep in my room) but that's simply not the case. My mom has a certain disdain for animals. We have a dog but she won't hold him or hug him because she hates getting his fur all over herself. I have the impression she thinks my parrot is a plaything of some sort. One time she was trying to convince me to leave my bird behind for a few days and go somewhere. She said she could look after him, and then she told me it'd be like me looking after her plants when she went on vacation. And I was like, "He's not a plant." she doesn't like the mess of an animal so she also was outright against having my bird share the same quarters as me. But at this point i really can't care. All I care about is that my bird gets his sleep and isn't plucking at night. Maybe I'll tell them what I've done later but we'll see ....

[applegirl]

I still feel I am making some mistakes. I can tell my parrot still dislikes his smaller sleep cage because once I put him in it he kind of bites the side cage bars and moves around on the perch. The cage is far too small to leave one of his toys in there but what I used to do when he slept in the basement cage was leave one of his chewing toys in there so he wouldn't be bored if he woke up early. Right now I don't know what to do. I'm in despair because my parrot is still plucking some time during the night when I leave him in his sleeping cage. Of course I only use the small cage as his sleeping area. I take him right out in the morning. I just don't understand what's the problem though. He starts grinding his teeth as early as 7 p.m. and I usually bring him to bed at 9 p.m. I don't know the exact time he wakes up but by 7 a.m. he's chirping and making noises telling me he wants to come out. Then there have been a couple of times I woke up in the middle of the night hearing him eating some of the food I left in his sleeping cage. Is this normal?

It really breaks my heart when I uncover him in the morning and all I see at the bottom of his sleeping cage are white feathers, and sometimes his colored feathers. But it's kind of not hard for me to rationalize the possible reasons why he may be plucking. Well first of all I do go to sleep earlier than my parents, and by the time they come up at around 11 p.m. that's when they sleep. There isn't a lot of movement. The stairs isn't even near my room. But I can tell you my parrot does not like noise. I don't really know how to explain it. He's just sensitive to it. And then maybe since i put him in a new environment of a cage he feels a bit nervous. Then I'm also worried about when he wakes up earlier than me. At first when I saw evidence in the morning he still plucked at night at some time I decided to spend a few nights not sleeping in the same room as him to see if I was disturbing him (I know I do move in my sleep). It didn't work. If anything I ended up oversleeping on those nights and waking up later than I had anticipated. And I know my bird. If he has nothing to do or no one to take him out at the appropriate time he goes straight to preening and pulling out his feathers. I found on those mornings there was a lot more feathers pulled out. I really don't know what to do now. What could be the problem???

[sidech]

Well, from reading your story, you seem to be very anxious about the whole situation yourself. And your parrot is probably sensing it.

Here are my thoughts : all animals, dogs, cats, parrots, fish even, like to have a routine. It is important to them, it makes them feel secure. Just like us, human.

If I were you, I would just put his main cage in his favorite spot, where he's comfortable, where he grinds his beak and goes to sleep, and leave him there. Forget about the smaller night cage, and let him be. Not worry about him so much. Just start a routine, like put him to bed around the same time every night, say 9 o'clock, cover 2/3 of his cage, leaving a spot where he can see who's coming in and out. And maybe get him a cozy bed where he can retreat if need be.

Give him time, he'll adjust. Just like any of us, he'll get used to his surroundings. The noise, the lights, the steps, nothing will bother him after a while.

Just have faith, and don't worry so much ! It's not good for you, nor your parrot.

Also, RELAX ! You both need it !

[applegirl]

That sounds like a good idea with the main cage but are you telling me to let him sleep in his old spot? I can certainly tell his favorite area is in the basement sitting on his favorite perch. The issue with that room is I make the room dark enough and cover him and he does his thing (grinding his beak and standing on one foot) but that room is right near the stairs. My dad comes down at night to talk on the phone and I can tell you he does not exactly take light, quiet steps down the stairs. Not only that but this sleep room in the basement is right above the kitchen. He can hear the water running down the sink and everything. What also bothers me more than anything is the constant footsteps back and forth from the living room to the kitchen as well as anyone walking upstairs on the staircase is very creaky. Like I explained in a previous post my parents and brother all do not go sleep at the same time. It's very problematic. It's like the minute I think everything is done and quiet my brother comes down for a midnight snack and rummages and there's a lot of noise in the kitchen. I just wonder if this bothers my parrot, or maybe I'm the only getting all high with anxiety that he is noticing it. During the day time I see he has no problem napping in the basement room but there are certain noises that trigger him awake. Like the living room closet. Once he hears that thing creak open it seems like he gets nervous and alert. Also the kitchen backyard door is noisy and creaky. He's heard it so many times he's taken to mimicking the creaky noise when he hears it.

[sidech]

Well, yes, if that is his favorite spot, then leave him there, even with the noise. He should get used to it with time, and sleep through it.

You know, even us, humans, get used to noise if we have to. Some babies are kept in really quiet houses, so as soon as they hear a noise, they wake up and cry. Some are raised into families where there is a lot of activites, teenagers... and sleep like a log through anything.

If that is what is life is, then he'll get used to it, and it will be fine. Just maybe make sure he can see on one side of his cage, so he doesn't worry about what is going on. If he sees it's your dad, it will be fine with him. About the other noise, it will become like background noise, and pretty soon it will fade away.

The most important thing, in my opinion, is to establish a sleep routine and stick to it. My parrot goes in his cage to sleep between 0830-0900 every night. I allow 30 minutes of variation. But, I'm not in bed before 11, sometimes 12 o'clock, and there is noise in the house until I go to bed. My baby is fine with it. Anyways, I know he can nap all he wants during the day, since I'm at work and there is no noise.

If you think there is a better sport in the house, put his main cage there, but then leave him there.

Good luck !

[CheekyandMalolo]

0830-0900 every night

Maybe try 2030-2100 if you're going to use 24 hour time, 0830 and 0900 is 8:30am and 9am.

[sidech]

0830-0900 every night

Maybe try 2030-2100 if you're going to use 24 hour time, 0830 and 0900 is 8:30am and 9am.

What difference does it make ? You understood, didn't you ?

[CheekyandMalolo]

I'm sorry, I wasn't trying to pick on you. I was just pointing it out. No need to take me so seriously.

[Mr.Darcy]

You mean you were just being "Cheeky"