To Cover or not cover..that is the question

[Sheather]

I cover my birds at night but this is because they are kept on an artificially-late schedule from about noon to midnight and they can't start chirping and waking my family at sunrise.

[30 Seconds to Bob]

It has always (well, since it was first explained to me, anyway) been my opinion that birds kept in "artificial" indoor environments should be kept on a daylight schedule similar to what is going on outside in nature at that particular point in time. This would involve covering cages at night, if the room they are kept in has any kind of artificial lighting left on well into the night. Birds have 10 times as many light receptors in their eyes as humans, so even a dim light in the vicinity of the cage would look like substantially bright light to them.
This is important for them to maintain natural biorhythms and a natural, annual breeding/moulting/recovery cycle. It can only help to prolong their lives by reducing stress and preventing their vital organs from overtaxing themselves at inappropriate times. Think about it (and research it). Yes, birds may "freak" at first if they're not used to being covered - but they get used to it fairly quick. Bob

[Sheather]

^ the whole "same as outside" thing seems rather fishy to me, for I live in a northern climate where winter days are like 9 hours long. My finches come from the tropics and would never experience such a long night.

Also yeah, my birds don't mind the covers at all anymore, they don't even flinch - even the spices.

[30 Seconds to Bob]

Unless your birds are wild caught, they've probably come from many generations of captive bred birds where their bodies (biorhythms) have adjusted to the daylight schedule in your area, (or at least to that of a temperate climate). I do agree that equatorial species would probably be fine with a 12 hour light/dark schedule, but they still need to be covered sometimes to achieve that. Using the daylight schedule just makes things easier for semi and subtropical species, and is probably healthier for them overall. JMO Bob

[nelloyello11]

Welcome to the forum Jefreys!
I also received my first pair a few years ago, as a Christmas gift, from my (now) husband. I had had larger birds before, but never finches. It started what will be a lifelong hobby for me, I hope!

As for covering, I personally don't find it necessary. Our finches have always been in high-traffic areas. Prior to our current house, they were housed right in our living room, in the corner farthest from our tv, etc. We were often in the room, for hours after lights out, and they did okay. In our current place, they are in the dining room, and we walk directly by the flights several times a night after lights out. They are still fine.
I do suggest night lights either way, especially if they are in an area they might be disturbed by traffic after their lights go out. I use a couple strings of red LED Christmas lights - they don't get hot, and the red does not seem to disturb their sleep at all, but gives enough light to let them find perches in the dark.

Also, I noticed you said you have a nest in there for them. If you're not prepared for/don't want babies, take it out ASAP. They will be fine just using a perch to roost at night, but if they have a nest, they WILL breed!! Zebras are notorious breeders, and often will manage to do so even without a convention nest. If you do take it out, I recommend doing so first thing in the morning, so they have some time to adjust to being gone, to figure out where they'll sleep, etc.

Good luck!!

[Stephanie]

Birds have 10 times as many light receptors in their eyes as humans, so even a dim light in the vicinity of the cage would look like substantially bright light to them.
[It] is important for them to maintain natural biorhythms and a natural, annual breeding/moulting/recovery cycle.

I agree. I would never give any living creature a night light and advise against it (...unless it's a fancy moon-cycle light!) All animals are designed to experience full darkness most nights and require this for normal hormonal and other biological rhythms.

Because humans often stay up for hours past sundown, if the cage is in a human living area I would definitely cover it in the evening so that the birds can relax. They generally have an 'If I can't see it, it won't hurt me' attitude, so it actually helps them to settle down.