I thought I had asked all my questions BEFORE Cricket came home but I’ve thought of another one : )

The first night I had him I covered his entire cage when it was time for bed and he was fine. Last night I went to cover his cage again and he flipped out! He literally fell of his perch, started jumping around and squawking until I lifted half the over off. When I went to bed I turned the cover down more so only the front was showing.

I’m concerned because there is an outside light that shines through my living room window and I’m not sure if it would bother him. It’s not too bright. It kind of reminds me of how it would look if the moon were shining through the window.

He was not covered at all from the bird store where I got him. Does he need to be covered other than he’ll wake me up early on the weekends? I don’t cover my parakeets and they’ve learned to sleep in.

I live alone and my cats usually sleep with me. I think he was flipping out because I had him covered to where he couldn’t see me but once he fell asleep I was able to cover him more. Is it worth it only covering him halfway? Do I have to cover him at all?

Hi, you don't have to cover him if you don't want to, but I look at it two ways... they might feel more secure and they won't wake you up too early.

We never covered our budgies either, but they started chirping when the sun came up and would wake up Casey so now we cover them all. It is really up to you, if you want to cover him to prevent him from waking you up too early, then he will probably get used to it after a while. Some people don't bother with covering, some only do it half way and some always cover, so it is basically what works for your lifestyle. For us, we cover, it keeps her in her own little personal world where she can get a good sleep. Maybe he just wasn't ready to go to sleep and that's why he flipped out... maybe just give him some time to establish a little bit of a routine, right now everything has changed on him.

There is another discussion about this under the Quaker Accomodation section titled "undercover"... sorry don't know how to post a link!

Okay that is enough rambling! Good Luck!

Its pretty much a personal preference thing...If his cage is in a quiet place even though there is a light shining through...its ok...They should have a very dim light anyway in case of night frights and that way they can see to get back on their perches. But if his cage is located in a busier part of the house where the lights stay on until late in the evening then its best to cover him so that the light and the movement doesn't disturb him. But there should still be a little light for him to see by. It helps avoid injuries.

i dont cover

I dont cover either.

When we first got Georgie, she flipped out everytime we went to cover her cage. In time, she got over it.

Since Dodger's cage is right in the living room and I sit up rather late and the kids and hubby get up early..I put a seperate cage..a sleep cage...in the macaw's room.He goes in there just to sleep and all I have to do is shut the door.
But before I did that I covered his age....

I personally used to cover my quaker and not my amazon because she would freak, until recently her behavioral problems have been REALLY bad (springtime and all ). So I started covering her and she DID freak out the first night - fell off her perch like 3 times - but since she has quickly gotten used to being covered and it has made a HUGE difference in her attitude, at least so far.

Anyway thought I would share my experience

well, since i've had Cricket a whole 3 nights now.... lol

i've been keeping half of his cage covered all day (for now). when i put him to bed i leave it like that because he likes to see me i guess but when i go to bed i pull the cover so only the front is open.

i'm hoping once he gets used to his surroundings he'll want his sleep instead of needing to see me!

~kris

well, since i've had Cricket a whole 3 nights now.... lol

i've been keeping half of his cage covered all day (for now). when i put him to bed i leave it like that because he likes to see me i guess but when i go to bed i pull the cover so only the front is open.

i'm hoping once he gets used to his surroundings he'll want his sleep instead of needing to see me!

~kris

The first night I had my quaker, we did not cover him and he stayed on the side of the cage all night. The next night we covered him, and he freaked. So, then I only covered 3/4ths of the cage--left the front open and then he went to his perch and was nice and relaxed. So, that is what we do--cover all but the front.

It can also be very important in spring and fall, especially if you have a girl bird.

Birds can get egg bound if you don't provide enough calcium in their diet. Girl birds need more calcium than boy birds if they're egg-laying.
By keeping their cages covered a measured amount of time, the change in seasons won't affect them as much.
Makes them less cranky, and keeps my sassy from laying eggs.

Victoria Fe

I cover because I want them to sleep longer!

Poppy is afraid of the dark. Sounds silly, I know, but it isn't only in his cage. When he is in the car with me and it is dark, he hides up under my hair. In the daytime, he is happy as can be.
When I shut that light off, he rushes in his happy hut and 'hides'.
So if I do choose to cover him in the future, I think I might leave one side partially open.

That is exactly what I do with Ling. She prefers all but the front of the cage covered. We also have a night light in the room for her.