
Cockatiels are probably the most fashionable pet birds as a result of they’re light, affectionate, and like to be held. However adopting a cockatiel as a brand new potential chicken proprietor can really feel a bit of overwhelming. There’s a lot to be taught!
One of many largest questions individuals have about chicken protecting is about their sleeping habits. How do they sleep? Do they want a cage cowl? How lengthy ought to a wholesome chicken sleep?
In case you have discovered your self questioning about these questions your self, we’re right here to assist. Preserve studying to be taught the whole lot you’ve wished to find out about cockatiels and their sleeping habits.
How Do Cockatiels Sleep?
Most cockatiels will go to sleep at night time on a perch of their cage. They could tuck their head in behind a wind or sit on the perch with each (or only one) eyes closed. Your cockatiel may alternate which leg they stand on all through the night time.
There are different sleeping positions your cockatiel may take, nonetheless.
Child cockatiels may assume the “child place” the place each of their legs are down. They generally fluff themselves as much as keep heat all through the night time. Generally even barely older birds will sleep on this place.
Some cockatiels like sleeping near the partitions of their cage. It would grasp onto the cage bars with its ft and beak to perch itself onto the facet of the cage.
In case your cockatiel is sleeping or spending numerous time on the backside of the cage, it is probably not feeling effectively. They might be doing this as a result of they’re not capable of help their weight on their perches. In case your chicken is exhibiting this habits, you need to name its vet as quickly as doable for recommendation.
How Do Wild Cockatiels Sleep?

Cockatiels are very social birds and can sleep collectively in pairs or teams once they’re within the wild.
Wild cockatiels choose open timber which have loads of branches to select from for perching and sleeping.
If the climate takes a flip or there are predators about, these wild birds might retreat to a extra enclosed and leafy a part of the tree for cover.
How A lot Sleep Do Cockatiels Want?
There doesn’t appear to be a tough and quick rule concerning how a lot sleep a pet cockatiel wants. Most vets and chicken specialists advocate ten to 12 hours of sleep in addition to the naps that the chicken might take all through the day.
You need to be taught to acknowledge the indicators of sleepiness in your chicken so that you could begin winding it down for mattress once they begin getting drained. You may discover your chicken fluffing up, lifting a leg, or grinding its beak once they turn out to be sleepy.
Cockatiels which can be disadvantaged of sleep can turn out to be irritable and should even chunk.
Do Cockatiels Want a Cage Cowl at Night time?
The reply to this query will rely upon who you’re asking. It could be simpler for us to say that you will want to do a check run to see in case your chicken sleeps higher with its cage lined.
There are a number of advantages to overlaying the cage.
Maintaining the cage lined at night time can present a way of security to your cockatiel and should even cut back the probability of night time frights (extra about these quickly).
Masking the cage may decrease the noise ranges so your chicken can have a quieter area to sleep.
A cage cowl additionally tells your chicken that it’s time to go to mattress. After just a few weeks of utilizing a cage cowl, your cockatiel will start to equate sleep and bedtime with the duvet. That is basically sleep coaching and lots of chicken house owners discover it to be helpful in calming their birds down for bedtime.
That mentioned, you definitely can cowl your cage at night time however most specialists don’t consider it’s obligatory to take action.
When you do select to make use of a canopy, be certain the fabric is breathable for oxygen circulation. You may also contemplate leaving one facet open barely to permit for higher airflow.
Cockatiels and Night time Frights

Night time frights occur when a cockatiel is startled awake and responds by flapping its wings in terror.
Cockatiels don’t have excellent eyesight at midnight. Within the wild the place there are predators round on a regular basis, cockatiels in teams might flap their wings and make numerous noise to alert the others of their flock.
A cockatiel in captivity might also exhibit these identical behaviors regardless of there being no predators in sight. This could additionally occur in conditions the place you might have a number of birds in a single cage. One chicken will be frightened awake and their worry response could cause a set off response in the remainder of the birds.
Night time frights will be very harmful for any kind of chicken, however particularly cockatiels. You possibly can think about {that a} night time fright might result in harm in case your chicken flaps its wings wildly of their cage, in opposition to its perches, toys, and even the cage bars. Since cockatiels are so small, any quantity of bleeding will be very harmful.
There are numerous issues that may spook a sleeping cockatiel in captivity.
A number of the commonest culprits embody:
You possibly can reduce the probability that your cockatiel will get night time frights by addressing the above triggers.
Preserve sounds to a minimal as soon as your chicken is in mattress. Shut the door to their room and don’t enter it as soon as they’ve gone to mattress to allow them to’t hear you or see beams of sunshine from outdoors the cage. Shut the home windows and vents that might doubtlessly let in a breeze. Some cockatiels with night time frights do effectively with a small nightlight of their room for bedtime, too.
You may contemplate investing in a sleeping cage if the surroundings round their daytime cage is just too chaotic at bedtime. A cockatiel saved in the course of the lounge will doubtless not get a lot sleep for those who’re up all night time watching motion pictures or internet hosting events.
Closing Ideas
The sleeping habits of a cockatiel are a bit of extra complicated than these of cats or canine. Your chicken wants the proper surroundings to get an excellent night time’s relaxation which suggests you have to be keen to offer them with snug perches and a quiet and darkish (however not-too-dark) place to sleep.
Attempt to not fear an excessive amount of about getting issues good proper off the bat if you convey your chicken residence for the primary time. Upon getting had your cockatiel for a while, you’ll have the ability to decide what precisely your chicken must relaxation up for the following day.
Featured Picture Credit score: Rebecca Tregear, Pixabay