Best Bird Cage Cover Take care of your bird’s sleep pattern and security

by
Yosmary Luna

Yosmary is an animal fanatic and an unconditional pet lover. She lives in Venezuela along with the friendly Benito, her half-breed dog. Read more

| Updated Feb. 18, 2020

"Mi casa es tu casa" is a Hispanic saying that literally translates to, “My home is your home”. We love to be a good hostess to our friends, but we pet lovers want to be especially accommodating towards our dear pets. Bird lovers may have it tougher than the rest, as birds have specific needs that must be met in order to favor a long, healthy and happy life.

To find an appropriate cage for your feathery friend, with the right size, material, and toys is just the start. Plenty of bird owners fail to see the importance of one accessory: The birdcage cover.

It may sound gratuitous, but bird cage covers are not unnecessary at all. If anything, it improves your pet bird’s wellbeing by quite a bit. Here at Pet Comments, we’ll share with you the reason why bird cages covers are necessary for your pet’s health and wellbeing, how it will increase their comfort, the best cage covers in the market and other important factors to consider.

Why cover your bird cage?

Speaking a bit about birds’ natural habitat: In the wild, where do they sleep?

Depending on the species, birds have different habits, yet we can find a common behavior when looking for shelter. Many bird species sleep in holes in trees, called a nest cavity. If a bird doesn’t find a nest cavity in a tree they will simply make one out of dead trees. The smarter ones are very opportunistic; if they discover an abandoned nest cavity they will make it their own and even personalize it.

The nest cavity protects the bird and eggs at night from predators and natural elements like rain and wind, as it is dark on the inside and perfect for putting eggs. In captivity, as accommodating as you want to be with your bird, you will scarcely have a tree with a nest cavity inside your home where you can see, play, take care of and basically interact with your bird (unless you are super wealthy, lucky you!). If you have a modest budget, don’t worry, we’ve got you covered.

jailbird in the covered cage

Bird pet owners can replicate the feeling of the nest cavity in captivity with the help of a cage cover. It will make your bird feel safe and truthfully protect it from elements like windy spaces, artificial decorative lights and so on. It is useful to remember that the cage is not just a cage; it is your bird’s home and you should accommodate it like that. The cage is the safe space where your bird can play and interact with you; the cage cover transforms it into a huge nest cavity for them to rest.

Benefits of covering your bird cage

To cover your bird cage with a cloth may appear cruel to some, but still, birds benefit from the cover in different ways. For example:

It helps them sleep longer.

People are supposed to sleep a good and solid 8 hours at night to properly function every day. Birds are similar; some bird species require a nice and long 12-hour sleep to stay happy and healthy. The cage cover helps them regulate their sleep. For example, while people may already be awake and making noise around the house early in the morning, the birdcage is still covered; so your bird will still be sleeping as the cage cover signals to them that it is still night time for them and they should still be sleeping. Of course you must remove the cover once those precious 12 hours are over.

It blocks air flows.

Too much breeze or air currents can harm your bird by bringing more dirt and dust into their cage. Air flows at night also interrupt your bird’s sleep. This can be easily fixed with a cage cover.

It keeps their “house” cozy.

Many houses today have an air conditioner and especially in winter, your bird will probably feel cold. Beside this, unless you have a huge macaw at home, birds are not big enough to create sufficient body heat for themselves. To cover their cages is practically giving them a blanket to stay warm at night; even in tropical areas, birds tend to feel cold at night.

It prevents night frights.

People that already have birds would have probably noticed how birds can get scared or startled over pretty much anything at night. Cockatiels are an example of this. In the wild, these birds are wary of predators, so whatever looks or even sounds like a predator will scare them. The cage cover, again, functions like a security blanket that blocks noises and covers any “suspicious” movement that could potentially scare your bird or give them a hard time trying to sleep. To protect your bird from night frights is kind for them and good for their mental health, a bird that constantly has night frights will forever be anxious.

It protects your bird from intense light

Just like people, birds need a proper environment to get a good rest (who can sleep with the lights on anyway?). If the space designated for the birdcage is too shiny, light from other bedrooms or the neighbor’s house lights can filtrate into the space where the birdcage is, so cover the cage to protect your bird from the unwanted light to favor uninterrupted sleep.

When should I cover my bird cage?

Be observant. If your bird is overly vocal at night, is anxious, or depressed even, it might not be resting well. Cover their cage at night to give your pet bird its precious 12 hours of sleep and watch the changes. If your bird looks happier and less anxious, you are doing it right.

Warning. NEVER use the cage cover as a punishment to your bird, like covering their cage whenever it’s being too noisy. This will confuse your bird, affecting its mental health which is potentially harmful to your pet. Pet birds are social animals that need to interact with you often; to seclude them in the cage cover out of their time of sleep won’t help them stay happy at all. The bird will become anxious, stressed and depressed, provoking self-destructive behavior. The cage cover must be your bird’s security blanket at night and nothing more than that.

On the other side, if the cage cover makes your bird anxious, scared or he starts picking at the cover, it probably means your bird has been covered for too long.

What should I look for in a bird cage cover?

Now that we have established that bird cage covers are good for your bird, what should you look for in a bird cage cover? Well, consider the following:

The cage cover's material or fabric.

This cover will literally be the “walls” of your bird’s cage; therefore, make sure is made of a “breathable” material. The cage cover is supposed to provide warmth and protection but not asphyxiate your bird. Besides, the cage cover must block all light from outside the cage to ensure a peaceful sleep.

Birdcage size

Bird cages come in different sizes and designs, depending on your bird’s size or number of birds in the cage, you can have a small, medium or a rather large cage. Independently of your bird cage’s size and design, the cover must be a reasonable fit. It can’t be smaller than the cage or it won’t completely block light, or much larger than the cage; making it troublesome to cover your birdcage every night.

Practicality

Bird cage covers are often designed with practicality in mind, simple and easy to put and retrieve. Choose the one you can machine wash for your own and your pet bird’s comfort. Keep a good cleaning regimen of your birdcage and birdcage cover. Good maintenance will make this item last longer and give your bird a healthy living environment.

Best bird cage covers for your pet!

Fortunately, taking into account all the specifics you may need for your bird buddy’s comfort, we have made a list of the most wanted bird cage covers for you to check out.

Final Words

We simply cannot stop worrying over our dear pet’s wellbeing. Securing a peaceful, warm and secure rest for our pets is part of it. When choosing one cage cover for your birdcage remember to have many factors in mind.

Make sure the cover you choose fits your bird cage just fine, if you are feeling doubtful, pick a slightly larger one. Is best to have a larger one and cut a bit from it later than a shorter one that won’t fully protect your bird. Always make sure the materials of the cage cover are non-toxic and breathable.

Do you live in tropical weather? Or is it cold most of the time? Just like people, birds feel cold at night. Make sure to pick a cage cover that fulfills the needs of your bird according to the weather.

We sincerely hope the previous list proves to be useful for you and your pet bird. Keep in mind the previous advice and you will be ready to go “cage cover hunting”.

References and further readings:

  1. Bird Cage,Why All Bird Owners Should Use Bird Cage Covers
  2. Philips Lighting, The Effect Of Artificial Light On Birds And Wildlife
  3. University of Oxford, Study measures light's radical impact on bird behaviour
  4. NCBI: Davide M Dominoni, Wolfgang Goymann, Barbara Helm, and Jesko Partecke,Urban-like night illumination reduces melatonin release in European blackbirds

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