To Cover or not cover..that is the question

For questions about finch enclosures (cages & aviaries).
Jefreys
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To Cover or not cover..that is the question

Post by Jefreys » Wed Jan 08, 2014 1:16 am

So I'm new to Zebra Finches..Got 2 for Christmas.A male and a female..no names yet....a real shock..very pleased
Do I need to cover their cage? They have a bamboo house?nest? I have been covering it but If I do not need to or should not, let me know..
I have read and watched YouTube videos but no mention of covering cage at night...
thanks

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Toddmin
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Re: To Cover or not cover..that is the question

Post by Toddmin » Wed Jan 08, 2014 8:00 am

Jefreys, I normally cover my parrots, but I don't cover my finches. I think if they are not in a draft, they should be fine.
- Todd

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mayble
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Re: To Cover or not cover..that is the question

Post by mayble » Wed Jan 08, 2014 9:46 am

That's a popular question on this forum, and seems to come down to the preference of the birdkeeper - the finches don't seem to care either way.
I don't cover my cages.
Welcome to the wonderful world of finches! Warning: they are addictive!

Lorddaxter
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Re: To Cover or not cover..that is the question

Post by Lorddaxter » Wed Jan 08, 2014 10:01 am

I dont cover mine, I also have a night light, I had a bird have a night terror once, not a good outcome:(
4 Gouldians
4 Owl Finches
2 Lavenders
2 Parrot finches
1 Cordon Blue

1 Crazy Canary

2 Quarter horse palominos, 1 connemara pony
1 GSDxwolf, 1 Shih-Tzu, 1 Boston terrier
2 Cats

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Sally
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Re: To Cover or not cover..that is the question

Post by Sally » Wed Jan 08, 2014 10:21 am

As Mayble said, it is the preference of the birdkeeper. I have an entire spare bedroom full of cages, so covering them would be impractical. Also, when covering/uncovering cages, it can scare our flighty finches. Even when birds are in an area with a fair amount of traffic, they seem to adapt to it without needing cover. They do need a nightlight of some sort, as night frights can cause them to fly into the cage bars hard enough to injure themselves.

And welcome to the forum! There's lots of good reading at the Finch Information Center, linked at left, and the members are always ready to help. If you put your general location in your profile, it helps when answering locale-specific questions later on.
3 Purple Grenadiers, 1 Goldbreast + 1 cat.

National Finch & Softbill Society - http://www.nfss.org

debbie276
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Re: To Cover or not cover..that is the question

Post by debbie276 » Wed Jan 08, 2014 10:55 am

I don't cover mine either, my birds would freak out.
welcome to the forum :)
Debbie
long time breeder of lady gouldians:
Green
SF Pastel (SF Yellow)
Pastel (Yellow)
Blue
SF Pastel Blue (SF Yellow Blue)
Pastel Blue (Yellow Blue)

GREAT articles on avian lighting:
https://mickaboo.org/confluence/downloa ... ummary.pdf
http://www.naturallighting.com/cart/sto ... sc_page=56

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Lithium
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Re: To Cover or not cover..that is the question

Post by Lithium » Wed Jan 08, 2014 2:56 pm

I cover mine, mainly because they're in my bedroom. They tier covered at about six, and I stay up until midnight doing homework sometimes.

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chirpy
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Re: To Cover or not cover..that is the question

Post by chirpy » Wed Jan 08, 2014 3:51 pm

I sort of cover mine. Half of the cage is covered with a terry cloth. They haw a night light that sits on top of the cage incase of night frights. I cover half incase a certain somebody turns on a bright light and I don't want them to freak out too much. If they are in a bird room I wouldn't cover them though ;)
Mommy to:
2 Soc's: Bebop (Roseanne cause she's a big girl!) & Rocksteady
1 Black and white cat: Poker (aka Pokes, Pokey)
1 Ball Python: Riff (aka Hawk-eye)
1 Lutino Cockatiel: Stewie (RIP! I love you <3)
1 Avid rib eating sports fanatic.
1 Accident prone 2 year old daughter.

1st clutch: 07/04/2013 - 4/6 fertile 1/4 DIS.
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ohboi_jc
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Re: To Cover or not cover..that is the question

Post by ohboi_jc » Wed Jan 08, 2014 5:11 pm

I don't cover mine but they have a light. Welcome and good luck with the zebs. :D
Joshua

Societies: Fawn, Gray, & Ino
Gouldians: GBs, YBs, and BBs
Strawberries: Amandava amandava

Started finching 05.14.2013
(List keeps getting longer every time you look at it...)

Jefreys
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Re: To Cover or not cover..that is the question

Post by Jefreys » Wed Jan 08, 2014 8:44 pm

Thanms for the welckme and the info....

Jefreys
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Re: To Cover or not cover..that is the question

Post by Jefreys » Thu Jan 09, 2014 6:30 pm

Wow. My kindle is in need of spelling lessons.

Jefreys
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Re: To Cover or not cover..that is the question

Post by Jefreys » Sat Jan 11, 2014 11:04 am

So...I got an email from admin....

"You are receiving this notification because your post "Re: To Cover or not cover..that is the question" at "FINCHforum" was disapproved by a moderator or administrator."

I have never been "DISAPPROVED" in my life...this is a first....
Well, there was that one time when I asked out this girl, I thought I was madly in love with, she looked at me with ,what I thought was , a "disapproving" look...but that could of just been my imagination..I cannot even remember her name...lol

So should I be seeing a box with a check mark in it next to ominous words that flash in red "D-I-S-A-P-P-R-O-V-E-D" or is this like "Top Secrect Super Classified Clearance Under Penalty Of Death" type stuff that if I ever mention, someone will be at my door...be right back..someone is knocking on my door...rather authoritatively...in a loud demanding knock...O NO. Someone please feed my Zebras. I may not be back for some time..

Really .....Can someone explain why my post was "disapproved"

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Sally
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Re: To Cover or not cover..that is the question

Post by Sally » Sat Jan 11, 2014 11:16 am

Jefreys

I'm the guilty party! It was simply a case of a duplicate post, the post you made about the spelling on your kindle. I do apologize if you didn't get a reason. When a moderator or administrator disapproves a post by a newly-registered member, there is a box for us to give a reason. I thought this reason was sent to the member, along with the notice that it was being disapproved. Often, new members make duplicate posts because they don't realize just how long it may take for a post to be approved. The other problem is that sometimes posts are simply slow to show up, so members hit the submit button more than once.

And no, I wont' show up at your door--not this time anyway! :lol:
3 Purple Grenadiers, 1 Goldbreast + 1 cat.

National Finch & Softbill Society - http://www.nfss.org

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chirpy
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Re: To Cover or not cover..that is the question

Post by chirpy » Sat Jan 11, 2014 12:34 pm

Mommy to:
2 Soc's: Bebop (Roseanne cause she's a big girl!) & Rocksteady
1 Black and white cat: Poker (aka Pokes, Pokey)
1 Ball Python: Riff (aka Hawk-eye)
1 Lutino Cockatiel: Stewie (RIP! I love you <3)
1 Avid rib eating sports fanatic.
1 Accident prone 2 year old daughter.

1st clutch: 07/04/2013 - 4/6 fertile 1/4 DIS.
Image

Jefreys
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Re: To Cover or not cover..that is the question

Post by Jefreys » Sat Jan 11, 2014 12:56 pm

If only I could get such satisfactory response time in other areas of my life.
Lol

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