FINCHforum

Out of nowhere last night the birds had a very very bad night fright x3 last night. Nothing could of caused it, my cat was sleeping downstairs no breeze that would of caused it since the windows were closed.
I thought I would fine atleast one at the bottom of the cage dead or hurt

Luckily they were fine when I checked this morning... They have a light to guide them back but what else could help??

When they had a nest there was absolutely no night fright what so ever. Do nests keep them more calm?

chirpy this seems to be something that just happens. Maybe bad dreams? My birds have occasional night frights sometimes due to whether I had to move them around, or if I swept the floor that day because for some reason they HATE the broom even though I am but waving it at them or anything, sometimes if a train goes by they will get spooked for a moment and sometimes there is no reason. I just get up, turn on the hall light and check if they are ok talking to them softly. If it's bad I will leave the hall light on even though I have a night light for them. Hopefully it was just a one time thing and they will all settle down!!

This has been discussed before, but I'll add my 2 cents in again. After 3 bad night frights in a week. (and there is nothing more terrifying than waking up to what sounds like hail hitting the plexi of the aviaries), I bought and put on top of the cages these "rope lights". On a timer, and on all night.
Since then no more night frights. They sleep fine, dim enough to sleep, but enough light to orient themselves if they need too.

Sunbay that's a pretty neat idea... and after Christmas you can get those really cheap!!!

Well now I have an idea brewing...

I use a small LED desk lamp and an inverted under the counter light as night lights.

I use an electric holiday candle as a night light in my bird room...but I am going to rethink this. Especially since all of my finches will be new and a bit more stressed than usual. Thanks guys .

Thanks everyone!!!
I've actually moved them to the master bathroom it never gets used and its the furthest away from anything - we will be working on the house soon paint etc and I don't know anyone who can care for them... Though my BIL did get LOW VOC not voc free I hope hey will be okay. They really are far from anything that'd be painted and its the best I can do
Anyway, thanks for the ideas. Maybe my daughters old night light isn't strong enough. Wasn't sure if it were too bright they would not get any rest. There's lots and lots of feathers on the floor they really must of gotten spooked big time!! Poor little guys!!

For a 12x14 bird room, I have one 25w red CFW bulb in the ceiling fan fixture. This seems to be enough light to keep them all calm, and the red light is not as bright as a white light. Once in a while I have needed to enter the birdroom after lights out, and sometimes I can get away with it, but if just one bird panics, the whole bird room goes nuts.

chirpy be sure to close off the floor vent in the room to... that will help slow the fumes travel...

When I had this happen I waited up the next night. Sure enough about the same time the Gouldian weanling flight went crazy again. The flight next to it did not. Flashlight revealed a mouse family chowing down in the seed dish. Peanut butter in traps caught them all.

My budgies started the panic flights at 6:30am one day this week, while room was semi-lit by dawn, but they were still covered. Daughter and I dropped the cover on the cage, but they kept going and going for quite a while, slightest movement in that half of the house was setting them off, and the zebras in the cage above them as well. No idea why. Giving them more light by uncovering the cage didn't help. When they panic, they panic. Some birds are just more prone to it than others, this set of three white budgies we rescued from a tiny cage situation have just always had night frights, and then everyone else nearby follows. At least with light, they tend not to hurt themselves.

I have watched two birds napping during the day, one will move and startle the other who will take off across the cage scared.

If you weren't having issues when they had nests it might be worth adding them back and seeing how they do. maybe your birds for whatever reason do, do better with a nest.

If you would rather not provide nests you can try what I did in some of my cages... Provide roosting rings/spots. at lights out everyone goes to their spot for the night.