Bird sleeping at bottom of cage

[xxarmando]

Hello my Quaker Luna has a habit of sleeping at the bottom of the cage or on top of her water bowl. She does not make any noise at night and does not eat at night. I do cover her with a sheet yet I leave one side completely open and a good ventilation on the bottom of all sides. The apartment is pretty cold at night about 70 degrees since the house is usually at 75-80 during the day. There really is not much winter here in Miami so the house is always at a comfortable temp.

[Michael]

Could be sick. If you notice any signs of weight loss, abormal feces, change of behavior, weakness, etc got to vet immediately. If she's moving about confidently and performing strenuous activity with complete ease, then it may just be something behavioral.

[newatthistx]

If this is not a "new" behavior and the bird seems normal otherwise then it really may just choose to sleep down there.....One of my tiels sleep on her cage floor for ages (it's just what she perfered) no matter what type of perches or huts we put in her cage......

[xxarmando]

Thanks Michael and newatthistx for the advice. We have had Luna for a little more than a week now. She was hand fed and did live in a cage with other baby Quakers. She has slept on top of her water dish since we got her. We believe it might be because she is cold because at night we do put the air down to 70. As during the day the temp ranged from 75-80 even when we take her outside its the same humid heat. She seems really happy actually today she started dancing and squawking to lady gaga lol I'm gonna see if I get her a happy hut if I do see her look down I will take her to the vet immediately. My only question with a happy hut is how do you wash it? If she poops doesn't it get all over her feet and feathers?

[Michael]

Yeah that's why I don't like those things.

If you just got the bird and it hasn't been to a vet, it's a good idea to take it regardless. But unless it's a species specific thing or some special behavior, sleeping on bottom of cage usually is an indicator if weakness from illness. If the bird is falling asleep on top but waking up on the bottom, could be the result of falling off at night and not having enough light to climb back up (unless illness is the reason). Baby birds can be really clumsy. So there are alternative possibilities to illness but a vet check is in order regardless.

[xxarmando]

Thanks so much Michael I probably am gonna take her to the vet as soon as possible. She is incredibly clumsy lol But I wouldn't get a happy hut since they do make a mess. Imagine I have to bathe her feet every time she decides to step in her own poo imagine laying in it that would be a nightmare lol.

[issy]

My lorikeet has only slept on a perch the first couple of months I have had him because he didnt have access to something he could lay in. I've had him now for three years and he now sleeps in a halloween candy bucket tied to the side of his cage. I think it's a lorikeet thing. ^^

Video of bed:


I've known some quackers that also like to "lay down" instead of perching while sleeping.

-issy

[liz]

I love the idea of the pumpkin. You were really thinking outside the box.

[marie83]

I have a happy hut for Ollie and he doesn't mess in it at all, I expected a mess but he is very very clean in it. Some people say there are safety issues with the huts though and won't use them. Personally I've never had a problem but that may be because Ollie isn't a chewer. As long as you check it daily it shouldn't be an issue. I've heard quakers are quite 'nesty' though so you might need to remove the hut when her hormones start kicking in. Or I think you can get perches that have a sort of tent around them on 3 sides which might help with the nesting issue. For the price they are it might be worth a try if your not happy with your quaker sleeping on the floor. Also what type of perches do you have in the cage? If its the standard type that generally come with the cages then they may be causing her a bit of discomfort so shes reluctant to sleep on them.

Definitely think you should take your bird to the vet to be on the safe side which I think should be the priority before looking at other factors, but it may just be because you havent had her long and shes acclimatizing.

[xxarmando]

hello Thanks so much for the great replies! haven't been on much because of college midterms the lorikeet looks amazing! very cool idea. Luna no longer sleeps at bottom she sleeps on her ladder lol. We bought her a big cage and she now sleeps in the bedroom with my wife and I she seems much more secure and happy playing and sleeping close to us since all day she is pretty much hanging around us. I was thinking about a happy hut but she is a girl I don't want her nesting and I do know Quakers are hormonal she has already exhibited some random behavior. I think its a Quaker thing.