Do You Have to Put a Cover Over the Cage of a New Parakeet Bird?

Owning a parakeet -- or any other pet bird, for that matter -- is a big deal. From dietary arrangements to living environment, a lot goes into ensuring that your birdie stays healthy, active and happy. Covering a parakeet's cage overnight is a good way to encourage his restful sleep.

  1. Noises

    • A new parakeet has to adjust to all of the unfamiliar aspects of being in your residence, from the voices of your household members to televisions and incoming text messages. Because of all of the newness, it may be smart to give the birdie as much comfort as possible, especially at night when it's time to wind down and go to sleep. By covering your parakeet's cage at night, you can muffle out any sounds that may be troubling and disruptive to him, whether pouring rain or persistently honking vehicles. A quiet sleeping environment allows your pet to relax and get some much-needed shut-eye.

    Warmth

    • By covering up a new parakeet overnight, you also can help maintain a warm sleeping environment for him. If your parakeet feels cold, it may keep him awake -- and unhappy -- all night. Apart from using a cage cover, consult with your veterinarian on appropriate temperatures for parakeet living spaces. The majority of birds do well in temperatures that are in the ballpark of 65 to 80 degrees.

    Darkness

    • By employing a handy cage cover for your new parakeet, you can also block out undesirable light -- and keep your bird's sleeping setting dark and soothing. If you want to go the extra mile and make your parakeet's room as dark as possible at night, you can even combine a cage cover with heavy blinds on your windows.

    Cover Options

    • You can easily purchase a cage cover for your parakeet at a pet supplies store in your area, but you can also use a standard bed sheet, as well. Just make sure that whatever cover you use is free of any tears. The last thing you want is your poor bird's nails getting caught in the material of the cover -- a major hazard. Also opt for a muted and calming color such as blue or gray. Birds have a tendency to get hyper around "loud" colors -- think orange or red. You definitely don't want that when the whole point of covering is to give your parakeet some relaxation. Make sure the color of the cover isn't too light, either -- such as white or cream.

    Nighttime Only

    • Covering a parakeet's cage overnight is definitely a smart idea, whether your bird is a new addition to your home or has been living with you for years. Refrain from ever using a cover as a means of "penalizing" a bird for unwanted behavior such as screaming. Penalty covering only confuses birds, as they don't have the ability to understand the correlation between the cover and their "bad" behavior.