I have 2 budgies that have been acting quite strange lately. The incident occurred on 2 separate occasions both between the hours of about 1-4am. Both budgies are generally quite scared and haven’t had much human interaction. They are happy to just sit in their cage and chat to each other. When I approach the cage that’s when they get scared. The thing is last night at about 4am I was woken up by them to what sounded like crashing in the sides of the cage, flying crazily within the cage like they were being attacked or approached. They are kept indoors and the cage is pretty big. Seems like they were quietly sleeping and all of a sudden had a bad dream and started going crazy like they had a nightmare.

 

When I went to see what all the fuss was about, they were each clinging onto a side of the cage with their tail feathers poking out. I was able to firmly touch their tail feathers and stroke them whereas normally they freak out when I am 1 metre away from them. I don't think they registered that I was even there touching them. Kind of like sleepwalking (sleep flying?). Turn the lights out to go back to bed and about 10 mins later same thing happens. I had to leave the lights on for them to behave normally and go back to sleep. This has only happened twice since I got them about a year ago.

 

 

 

Sounds a bit strange I know, but if anyone has any feedback it would be greatly appreciated.

 

 

 

 

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Edited May 29, 200817 yr by birdluv

Hello and welcome :hap:

 

The behavior you describe happens to all budgies, tame or otherwise. It is simply called a "night fright" and it's normally caused by a mouse or a cockroach entering the cage and spooking the birds.

Agree with Liv on this one too, .....

Do you cover your birds of a night and are they hanging??? or on a table??

The cage is sitting on a table in the corner of a room and is not covered.

It's good to cover their cage at night :sad: they will sleep better and be happier during the day.

 

You will probably find a cockroach snuck into their cage and scared the birds. covering them won't stop them getting in. Little buggers are attracted to the seed

I will cover them at night from now on.

 

Thank you very much for your help!

your welcome, we are all here to help one another

Like others have said it’s known as night fright, Cockatiels are even more prone to it than Budgies. I used to keep some in the house when I first got them & it happened all the time, I think all it needs is one bird to panic & that frightens the other or others & it’s a chain reaction.

Hi, welcome to the forums

l agree with the other's.