How Long Should My Parrot Sleep?
Sleep is a very important thing for your bird. If your bird does not get enough sleep, it can become hormonal (thinking it is a breeding season) or tired just like humans. Your bird’s sleeping arrangements should be in a quiet dark place. Your bird should get 12 – 14 hours of undisturbed sleep.
Undisturbed sleep
Undisturbed sleep is the key to this topic. You can put your bird in its cage for 12-14 hours covered but be watching a movie beside the cage, that is not sleep. Ideally you want to have a space for your bird for night time. Some people have an extra room they use just for their birds but not everyone has access to this. If you have an extra closet that is not being used place a sleeping cage in the closet for your bird. Place your bird in the cage and leave them be for 12 hours do not constantly open and close the closet door and turn off and on the closet light.
Sleeping Cage
A sleeping cage is further explained in the section above, but is essentially a way to optimize the amount of sleep your bird is getting. A sleeping cage also signals to a bird that it is time to sleep. Ideally the cage is big enough for your bird to stretch its wings in any direction just so it can comfortably sleep. In the cage you will want to include;
- Sleeping perch – this is a perch places up high (ensure the bird can still comfortably stand up without hitting its head on the top of the cage)
- Fresh water – fill their water bowl in the evening before you put them to bed and empty it in the morning when they come out to their daytime cage
- Food – most birds do not eat when they sleep but with small parrots especially seeing as they have such a fast metabolism make sure you leave some food in their cage – just pellets is fine it shouldn’t be treats or something that will encourage them to stay awake.
- Toys – some people place one or two toys in their parrots sleeping cage but this is completely up to you. Toys can be a comfort item. I would offer them but monitor your bird initially to see if they would rather stay up playing or sleep.
Night frights are something that can happen to certain birds. If you find your bird tends to get startled at night and panic which causes them to thrash around their cage, giving them a nightlight and not completely covering their cage at night is a good idea. Birds can get seriously injured by having a night fright.
If your bird happens to have a night fright turn the lights on in the bird area and talk to them calmly to calm them down and bring them back to reality, it is also a good idea to inspect them for any visible injuries.