Every once in awhile my birds will get spooked at night and there is a flurry of flying birds in the cage. What causes this and is there any way it can be prevented? Tonight they had a spell and I noticed a bit of blood on Sylvester's feather near the quill. He is okay. But I worry about more broken feathers or even worse a broken wing.

Sorry I can't help. I think Terri or someone once stated what the believed cuase is but I can't remember. Mine do this also and now I worry about broken necks . Giving the birds a soft night light has helped others.

I find with my aviary birds that I will sometimes have a death from night frights, but only if they are new to the avairy. After a week or so, they seem okay. Night frights can be caused by anything that scares them - common in the aviary is mice. Inside, it can be a noise, a car's headlights, something like that. Put on a nightlight, and they should be fine

Mine are indoor birds but I do leave a small lamp on for them so they can seen if they do have a fright. Since doing this I think they have only had one fright in the last 6 months.

Budgerigars are food for hawks and eagles. THey are also food for snakes. This "Fright" is a way that nature has to try and save the birds. At the smallest movement or sound they will fly. At night it is more so because they can't see what the danger maybe.

 

I have a night light in the aviary to help this sort of fright. As nerwen and Lin said. Birds can died from broken necks by flying into the wire.

I use rechargeable solar lights in the aviary in the darker spots and there are low voltage lights out in the flight areas. But have had a couple of deaths from frights ( cats ) and panic flying prior to the addition of more lights.

I use a solar light too...

 

 

Well mine are indoor birds. I have no problem leaving a light on for them. I have been turning it off because I thought they needed complete darkness to get a good rest.

 

It was in fact almost the second the light went out and tv went off last night that they started freaking out. I immediately pulled their cover off and turned on lights to reassure them but it took awhile for them to settle down. I decided to leave their cover off for the night.

When we moved to our new house with the very large aviaries, we discovered there was a lighting system in the garden and aviaries whereby the lights came on at dusk and stayed on all night. These lights were within a metre or two of the budgies aviary and also within. As I had heard many opinions of lighting and the amount of sleep budgies needed I was concerned about the effect the lights would have on the budgies. Total surprise when I found that they preferred to sleep very near the lights (within a metre). Maybe they are comforted in knowing they can see whats coming or to be able to move around if need be, I don't know. But the lights in this case help. They aren't excessively bright but very like the strength of a porch light. Don't know if this helps at all or means anything, but it is my observation in this case.

Edited May 3, 200619 yr by budgiebird

It does help. I will be using light from now on. And this may serve two purposes as there have been some break-ins around here lately.

Give it a shot. Maybe just a lamp or a light with a dimmer on it to drop back the brightness a bit ?

I have also heard that shadows freak them out that is why we have always heard keep it completely dark. I would cover them 1/2 way with the night light, keep us updated.

I have also heard that shadows freak them out that is why we have always heard keep it completely dark. I would cover them 1/2 way with the night light, keep us updated.

 

I am going to use a new cover too- a lighter sheet. Right now I'm using a blue one. I'll try that and see how things go. I'll keep everyone posted.

 

I'm glad their fluttering didn't scare Max. He was out on the kitchen table. He is now upstairs in my sons playroom far away from their activty and chirps. I left the radio on for him when I went to work today so he wouldn't get too lonely. I can't wait to get home and check on him.

I also keep on a small night light as well. Unless one of the budgies falls off a perch, I found out the cockatiel has a fright (not uncommon apparently) and gets the others going. Since putting a night light in (diffused light), only have a problem every couple of months or so.

I have solar lanterns in the avairy too