first of all sorry if this is not the right place to post this. i have heard that for the first couple of day that you bring home a new bird you should cover the cage most of the time for about 2 days so that the bird can get use to the new sounds of your house and then on like the 3rd day start placing your hand in to get the bird use to you is this a good idea or should you just cover the cage at night or not at all? thanks so much just want to get all the information i can befor be buy a bird

I only cover at night, however if your new bird seems stressed by it's new home then covering 3 sides is a good idea to make it feel secure.

Covering three sides is a good suggestion. Another, is to put the cage in a corner so there is a wall on at least two sides of the cage. This is why round cages aren't good (among other reasons).

 

It's great that you're getting information first. Anything else you need to know?

Is it necessary to cover for the night? Should the cover be of a dark fabric? My budgies get scared whenever I cover them... :mellow:

My birds were very afraid of the cover too, so I just stopped covering them. They are happy and go to sleep when we do.

it is not necessary but when birds see shadows that can give them night frights and they can be injured. Merlin always does the angry dolphin noise at me when I cover his cage and Pretty actually settles in for the night it gives him a sign. A darker cover is best filters out the light and watch blankets or towels as their toe nails can get caught. I use a sheet and then cover with a blanket on my cage. It also keeps them quieter in the morning so they are not up at the break of dawn (which may be okay for some) but in our house (Laughing out loud) with the time change that means 6 am and we don't want them singing their songs quite that early.

Depends how long you want to sleep in;one of mine starts yelling when HE feels it is time to get up anyhow! Prior to that, most of them abided by the covered cage/keep quiet rule.