bird sleep needs

How Much Sleep Does My Pet Bird Need: Parrot Sleeping Needs

Discover the in's and out's of bird sleeping requirements.  Offering your parrot a proper amount of sleep has numerous health and behavioral benefits, including reducing hormonal behavior.  Learn some important tips to insure that your parrot gets enough sleep.

When you think about bird care, one of the most important things you can do is to make sure that your bird gets enough sleep.  The pet store probably told you to consider your birds diet and its cage when caring for your pet. And, while these elements of bird care are important, a bird that doesn’t get enough sleep feels grumpy, anxious and exhausted. Does that describe how you feel when you don’t get enough sleep?

Insuring that your bird gets enough sleep is one of the most important things that you can do for it’s health and its disposition.  Imagine feeling anxious and exhausted.  When I feel this way, I’m not fun to be around.

Can birds be sleep deprived?

Most et birds need 10 to 12 hours of uninterrupted sleep a night.  A bird that has a quiet, safe and dark environment for this amount of time should be getting enough sleep if it is in a distraction free area.  A bird, unlike a small child, is a very light sleeper, though, so it is important to insure that the area is distraction free.   If you aren’t getting enough sleep, perhaps your bird isn’t either. Or perhaps you’re sleeping like a baby, while your bird, in another room, is disturbed by noise, light, and movement that you don’t even know about.

The 5 most common sleep disruptions for pet birds

  1. Family late at night & early morning
  2. TV on late
  3. Cage by a window where light comes in
  4. LED lights
  5. Startled awake by other pets

The late Liz Wilson, a Parrot Behavior Consultant and veterinary technician from Levittown, Pennsylvania stated “I’ve worked with many parrots who were displaying ‘problem’ behaviors, and when owners made an effort to provide the birds with 10 to 12 hours of uninterrupted, dark sleep time, many of those problem behaviors were resolved with no other changes.”

Most bird care specialists agree that somewhere between 10 and 12 hours of nighttime sleep is appropriate for most birds, and that “cat naps” during the day are generally normal. Also, a bird’s activity level may contribute to how much sleep it needs on any given night.

“Not unlike humans, birds need their rest to be healthy,” said Linda Brandt, lovebird breeder from Canal Fulton, Ohio. “In the wild, where they have to find their own food and are free to fly and exercise, I’m sure they sleep longer hours than might be necessary in captivity. Listen to how early the native birds get up, but also think of what time you saw the last bird of the day.”

Just Ten More Minutes . . .
Sleeping Macaw

Do birds sleep standing up?

Most bird's sleep standing up.  Their feet have unique muscles and ligaments that "lock" into place when they are asleep so that they don't fall off of the perch.  If your bird has access to a nest or sleepy hut, it may crouch inside of it. Sleeping standing up is perfectly natural for a bird.

It should be known that sleepy huts are not considered to be bird safe for a few reasons, though.  First, birds chew on them and the strings from the fabric can get stuck in their crop causing an infection.  Second, sleepy huts can simulate a nest and through a bird into an unnatural hormonal state.  This is not healthy for the bird.  Third, no one want's their bird sleeping in their own droppings. 

Avoid sleepy huts and nesting boxes as your bird's body and feet are geared toward sleeping while standing up.

Is it normal for birds to sleep all day?

As a typical rule, it is not normal for a bird to sleep all day.  But, a bird that is going through a molt will use up a lot of energy growing healthy, new feathers.  A bird that is undergoing a seasonal molt requires more sleep than usual and will sleep throughout the day. 

If your bird is not going through a molt but is sleeping a lot during the day, you would be wise to schedule a health and wellness check at your avian vet's office.

What time do birds sleep and wake up?

Sleep is restorative to both body and mind. Without adequate sleep at night, you can expect your bird to nap during the day. Most bird's go to sleep at dusk and wake up at dawn.

Wilson said that, in her experience, any sort of problem behavior can be evidence of sleep deprivation—biting, excessive vocalizations, and feather destruction, included.

Liz recommended increasing a parrot’s hours of uninterrupted sleep for a few weeks to see if that corrects the problem behavior.

The parrot living in the “modern world” contends with a lot of nighttime distractions that a wild parrot couldn’t even dream of, the primary offender being the evening news.

“Unlike the ambient noises of their native habitats, an active household often has a parrot either wishing to be included in the activities or trying to fall asleep in spite of the computer clicks, phone calls, socializing, and TV or radio noise,” said Noelle Fontaine, macaw expert from Tempe, Arizona. “It seems to that the parrots are ‘used to it,’ but I don’t know if there’s a way to pinpoint just how much effect this compromised sleeping has on their behavior.”

Though we know that birds do need their rest, it’s not necessary to tiptoe around your sleeping bird, said Robirda McDonald, proprietor of ‘Robirda Online’ (www.robirda.com) from Kelowna, BC, Canada. “Noise is associated with safety for many birds, and unless it’s extremely excessive, a noisy background will usually not bother them.

Sudden and startling loud noises should be avoided, though, as should extra-silent environments, which tend to make birds think that there’s a predator nearby. The only time the environment these birds evolved in comes close to silence is when there’s danger near, and that makes them understandably nervous and tense.

“If an Amazon is sleep-deprived it becomes irritable and snappish,” said Diana M. Holloway of Bryan, Ohio, president of The Amazona Society. “Think of how humans behave when we’re fatigued.

Many Amazons in the wild live in the second canopy of the rainforest which has heavily filtered light, the reason they are so difficult to observe in the wild. They take off to forage at dawn, and come home to roost in the early evening, getting settled by the time dusk falls. Keeping your parrot well rested with 12 hours of uninterrupted sleep every night will help keep his behavior on an even level without the emotional ups and downs lack of sleep brings.”

Sleep In the Wild

“Like most wild creatures, dusk means bedtime and dawn means time to get up,” said Cliff Patterson of The Baby Bird Farm, Rockford, IL, writer for the Quaker Parakeet Society’s news magazine. “There’s a very good reason for that. Our birds are prey animals, and a bird that makes noise or moves around after dark often becomes a midnight snack for another animal and won’t live long enough to reproduce.

This means that if your bird lives in your family room or living room, he loses sleep when you stay up late watching TV. Help him get enough sleep by covering his cage to simulate the darkness that he would have in the wild at that time.”

Fontaine said that each species has its own ‘sleeping habits.’ For example, Red-fronted macaws in the high mountain regions of Bolivia remain in their nests until the sun comes out, even though it’s after sunrise.

“Blue and Gold Macaws spread across completely different habitats will ‘sleep in’ on colder rainy days. Hyacinths fly at the first sign of light, then take siesta naps in the heat of the day. From the high mountains, to the swamplands to the rainforest, regardless of the region, the macaws—and other species—settle in for the night at dusk. Here in captivity I can only think it would be beneficial to set them up the same way,” said Fontaine.

 

 

Equatorial species will especially appreciate their light/dark time being as even as possible. “Most species of Parrotlets are found close to the Equator, which has in 12 hour days year-round. I recommend that Parrotlets be covered at night. Covering makes it easier to regulate their daylight exposure.

Uncovering a Parrotlet at 8 or 9 AM and then covering it at 8 or 9 PM is the easiest, most efficient way of ensuring a good night’s sleep. During the short winter days, artificial lighting can be used to regulate daylight exposure,” said Sandee L. Molenda, owner of The Parrotlet Ranch, Co-Founder and Secretary of the International Parrotlet Society.

Possibly the most “domestic” of our commonly kept birds is the canary. But even though it has been in captivity for hundreds of years, it’s still sensitive to the amount of light it receives per day.

“Few people understand that the canary, along with most other songbirds, is photosensitive, and that light, or lack of it, generally dictates its sleeping period,” said McDonald. “The seasons dictate the hours the canary will want to sleep, and in turn will dictate his overall physical condition and reactions.

For example, the lengthening days of spring tells canaries when to begin to come into breeding condition, and the lessening length of the days after the summer solstice that tells them to stop breeding and begin their summer molt. This means that pet canaries should not be exposed to artificial lighting outside unless it follows a routine similar to the expected daylight hours a canary would be exposed to in the Canary Islands.”

McDonald said that most canaries and finches have four or more color cones in their eyes, but no rods. What looks like dim light to us is actually quite dark to them, which is why they are active during the day and want to go to sleep at dusk.

“Artificial lighting can disturb this cycle, and stimulate them to wake. This can upset their other diurnal rhythms and make it difficult for them to sleep properly, which will affect their energy levels, and may even affect their eating and digestive habits,” said McDonald.

“Most finch species will do well on a sleeping schedule that mimics tropical days,” continued McDonald. “Generally, a routine of 10 or 12 hours of sleep, and 12 to 14 hours of waking, will be fine for most species. I prefer to see us adapting to the birds, rather than expecting them to adapt to us. You can learn a lot by researching your bird’s native environment. Check out seasons, annual day length and temperature variations, and note the extremes, both daily and seasonal.”

Birdie Bed Time

 

Peachy Sleeping in His Wingabago

 

Keeping to a set sleeping schedule is a great idea, as is any regular routine. Remember, birds have inherent expectations, and if those aren’t met, the bird may become “out of whack.”

Linda Rubin, past president and current genetic consultant of the National Cockatiel Society from Boston, Massachusetts suggested that Cockatiels be placed in a darkened room for at least 10 hours a night.

“You need to establish a routine. That not only includes the bird getting up at the same time, but it means keeping a timer on your lights and getting the bird used to going to sleep at a certain hour. A cage cover is wonderful to let the bird know that it’s time to prepare for bedtime. A cover can also keep out visual stimuli that may cause night frights,” said Rubin.

But what if your schedule doesn’t allow for a regular bedtime? It may seem that a bird will adapt to an erratic schedule, but it may show wear over time.

“Many people who want to spend as much time with their birds as possible often get their birds up when they do and keep them awake until they go to sleep,” said Molenda. “This is particularly true if the bird is kept in the main television viewing room. This can result in birds having a 14, 16, 18 hour or longer day and this can be very problematic, especially for pet parrotlets. Parrotlets exposed to more than 12 hours per day of daylight can start experiencing hormonal changes that can result in prolonged molting, feather destruction, increased territorial aggression particularly with certain toys or objects, and even egg laying in hens.”

Having just the right location for your bird’s housing can really help with allowing your bird to get the proper rest.

“The ideal situation is to a have a bird room where your birds live in a light-controlled atmosphere,” said Holloway. “Many people use an extra bedroom or a small porch. I converted a large walk-in pantry off the kitchen for my pets. There’s a glass door that looks into the kitchen but the timer lights go on at 8 a.m. and off at 8 p.m.

The birds are included in family gatherings or one-on-one cuddle time by having a parrot stand, an extra cage, or a swing installed in the activities area. Most people think their parrot is getting enough rest in the middle of the living room by covering the cage. Don’t think for a minute that your clever pet isn’t taking it all in. He probably knows all the late night television monologues by heart.”

Breeding birds are particularly sensitive to changes in photoperiods (quantity of light), which directly affects hormone levels. Their programming tells them that more light equals springtime, which means an abundance of food and water—a good time to have babies.

“Based on my experience as a breeder, budgerigars require their ‘8 hours’ just as we do,” said Terry A. Tuxford, Editor of Budgerigar World, Basingstoke, Hants, England. “We control the amount of sleep time the birds get through artificial lights and timers during the winter.

This ensures that lights go out at 10.00 p.m. and back on at 6.00 a.m. providing 8 hours of sleep and 16 hours with feeding and exercise opportunity each day. I also believe that it’s important for them to rest during the day and so our lights also go out between 11.00 a.m. and 3.00 p.m. The aviary is then lit by natural light which is subdued compared to the artificial lights. The birds rest during this period.”

 

Keeping your bird comfortable at night is also important to a good night’s sleep. Just as you need your favorite pillow, your bird needs its favorite sleeping perch or box, and some will appreciate cage covers as well. The bird may even need its own bedroom.

“Dr. Andrew Leuscher is the veterinary ethologist from Perdue University who originated the sleep cage idea. He advocates that owners place a small cage in an unoccupied room at night,” said Wilson. “Owners then put their birds to bed the same way parents put children to bed.

Black-out shades over the windows in the bird’s sleep room can also help keep the room dark during short summer nights. In the morning, the parrot is moved back into its large day cage.”

Essentially, when it comes to sleep, most of our companion birds are similar—they will respond best to the amount of light and darkness that mimics the photo patterns in the wild. Bird are lucky, aren’t they? When was the last time you got 12 hours of sleep?

To Sleep, Perchance, To Dream? A study done on Zebra finches in the late 1990s by Daniel Margoliash and Amish S. Dave of the University of Chicago showed that birds do indeed dream. The finches apparently dream of their song, said the researchers, whose study demonstrated that the same part of the brain activated for song is also active during sleep.
Some birds sing aloud in their sleep, for example, lovebirds, who chatter happily away during a daytime nap, sound asleep. They don’t do this at night, however. In the daytime, the sleeping chatter and the little movements that go with it may ward off predators. At night, singing would only draw attention to the bird, making it more vulnerable.

About Bird Night Frights  

Most creatures are programmed with a “flight or fight” response. Some birds have an ever better response—freeze and wait—the “maybe I’ll be invisible to this predator if I don’t move a muscle” tactic. This approach is fine for birds that live in dense rainforests, where it would be dangerous to go winging around in the dark and where camouflage works to their advantage.
Most Amazons, Macaws, and other “jungle” birds will most often grip the perch tightly when they are afraid in the dark. Not so for the Cockatiel, a bird that is programmed to live on the open grassy plain. It’s more likely to “take off” when frightened. Keets and some Ringnecks may also experience night frights.
Night frights can be dangerous for a caged bird, who can badly injure itself thrashing around the cage. Many people living with Cockatiels find that even slight nighttime disturbances can cause night frights—cars going by, a rodent in the house, a dog or cat moving about, or any other unexpected noise or movement.
To help avoid night frights, use a nightlight in the bird’s room, only cover the cage partially (if you cover it at all, and buy blackout curtains that cover any windows entirely.

Diane Burroughs, LCSW is a licensed psychotherapist trained in ABA therapy techniques. She specializes in avian anxiety disorders and is certified in Nutrition For Mental Health. Diane has written a number of bird behavior books and she offers behavior consultations. She's developed a range of UnRuffledRx Science-backed Parrot Wellness Supplies.

Diane's products have been featured in the Journal of Avian Medicine and Surgery and at Exoticscon, a conference for exotic pet veterinarians. Her bird collars & supplements are stocked in avian vet clinics and bird stores throughout the US. With over 30 years in the field of behavior, Diane has created thousands of successful individualized behavior plans that help pets thrive.

TAGS: #BirdSleep #BirdSleeping #DoesBirdSleep #DoBirdsSleepAtNight

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4 comments

Simba

Simba

OMG I have never read so much helpful information on the website of my own country! VERY HELPFU !

OMG I have never read so much helpful information on the website of my own country! VERY HELPFU !

MakoTako

MakoTako

Help! Everything is alright, searched on the net for answers, done most of the tips but…
It just doesn’t sleep…

Help! Everything is alright, searched on the net for answers, done most of the tips but…
It just doesn’t sleep…

Anonymous

Anonymous

Hi Dan, Parrot sleep gets disrupted with almost every type of light, even a small light to show that an appliance is on . The exception might be Red Sleep lights.

Hi Dan, Parrot sleep gets disrupted with almost every type of light, even a small light to show that an appliance is on . The exception might be Red Sleep lights.

Dan

Dan

Hi Diane,
Great article! Is there something specific about LED lights that are disruptive to parrots, or is it just any kind of light when a parrot is trying to sleep that is disruptive?

Hi Diane,
Great article! Is there something specific about LED lights that are disruptive to parrots, or is it just any kind of light when a parrot is trying to sleep that is disruptive?

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