A healthy and happy conure needs high-quality sleep – and a lot of it. Conures have a lot of personality and sometimes their sleeping preferences can reflect those little quirks. One conure might like sleeping on her back in a hammock while another may sleep rod-straight on his perch. There is a lot of information on conure habits, but because of their varying dispositions, their owners can spend a lot of time researching their behaviors.
Conures usually sleep standing on a perch situated in a high corner of their cage, commonly tucking their head beneath one wing. Perch-sleeping conures enjoy having something soft to lean against as they rest. Some conures sleep lying down on their side or back and enjoy a soft enclosure to lay in. Conures typically sleep 10 – 12 hours a night.
You might worry that something may be wrong with your winged companion because of the way they sleep. If you find that your conure is getting a bit nippy or grouchy, they may not be getting enough uninterrupted sleep.
There are some simple ways to tell if your conure is getting the rest it needs and in this article, we will break down some of the different sleeping habits of these lovely birds and help you and your feathered friend get the rest you deserve.
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How Long Should a Conure Sleep?
Conures need a lot of sleep, typically an uninterrupted 10 to 12 hours a night. It is beneficial for your bird to have a routine bedtime as well.
Putting them to bed every night at around 9 pm ensures that your bird is going to get enough rest and wake up between 7 and 9 in the morning.
It is important for both birds and humans that they don’t interrupt each other’s rest, and having a routine will make it easier for everyone involved.
A bird’s internal clock dictates when it goes to bed and when it rises and we need to do our best to imitate this.
Electronics, other animals, and children may try their hardest to interrupt the birds’ sleep and it is very important that they have a stress free, comfortable place where they can tuck in for the night.
Conures Sleeping Too Little
This seems to be a common problem with children of all shapes, sizes, and species and it’s no different with conures. It is important that they get enough rest and sometimes some tough love is required.
If a conure is being a bit of a brat about going to bed, they may need a more rigid bedtime structure. Once their area is calm, dark, and quiet, simply place them in their bed at their designated bedtime. Even if they protest, they should fall asleep soon enough.
If they protest further, it may be time to try covering or uncovering their cage, removing noise-making devices, or perhaps trying a new type of bedding or perch. Once you’ve both found that sweet spot of bedtime + comfort, you may find your bird giving you the hint that it’s time for bed every night.
Conures Sleeping Too Much
If your conure is sleeping too much, over twelve hours a night, and falling asleep during the day it could be a sign that you and birdie need to visit the vet. Lethargy, poor grooming, milling about on the bottom of their cage could all be signs that they aren’t feeling so well and they may need some medical attention.
You may need to make sure that their sleep is not getting interrupted in the night. If there is something keeping them awake and stopping them from getting their 10-12 hours, you might have a sick bird on your hands.
Conures, like most birds, are heavily affected by stress. It is important that you monitor their sleep behaviors if they are sleeping too much, to avoid a trip to the bird doctor.
Should Conures Be Covered At Night?
For optimal sleep conures need both darkness and quiet. While it is not necessary that you cover their cage at bedtime, if you have a hard time keeping their cage area dark, you may need to cover their cage to block excess light.
Some birds may not need complete darkness and they may show irritation with having their cage covered. Every bird has its own personality and you may have to conduct some trial and error to find their favorite way to sleep.
Keeping the sleeping environment quiet is equally as important as keeping it dark. If your TV is too loud past your bird’s bedtime you may have a conure temper tantrum on your hands. For your conure to get optimal rest their environment needs to be dark and still just as it would in the canopies of the rainforest.
Even if you think you’re being quiet enough it could still be loud enough to annoy the conure or make them feel left out. They may scream in annoyance for you to pipe down, or they may yell to come out and join the fun. Placing their cage in a closed-off space or away from nighttime activities can cut down on this.
Do Conures Sleep With Their Eyes Open?
Yes, they may, and it is a good thing to see. Like many species of birds, the most common sleeping position is with their head tucked under a wing with their eyes slightly open. Not only is it very common for conures to sleep this way, with their eyes open a peek, but it is a good sign that your bird is content and resting well.
Another sign that they are content, and possibly sleepy, is beak grinding. If you find your bird’s eyes to be half open and they are working their beak back and forth, they may be signalling that they are ready for bed. A happy bird may also grind their beak while they sleep, much like a dog barking in its sleep.
Why Do Conures Make Sounds At Night
There are a few reasons why your bird may be waking you up at night with the sounds that they make. Most likely it is just another quirk that sets birds apart from other animals, but it could be a sign that your bird needs your help to make a change.
- Chattering : Just like us, conures can dream. If you find your bird making odd sounds throughout the night, sounds that don’t necessarily sound like upset shrieking, it’s most likely that they are muttering sleepy nonsense as they slumber. It is nothing to worry about but it might be concerning at first.
- Beak Grinding : Like we stated before, beak grinding is a good thing. It means your bird is content. Birds grind their beaks to keep them sharp and it can carry over into sleep. Kind of like a happy little snore.
- Crying : If your conure is crying out after they’ve been put to bed it can be a sign that there are noises or lights that are waking them up. If they can hear you from their cage, they may feel left out and they will make sure you hear them complain.
- Chewing : If you can hear them chewing on toys or their cage at night it could be that they are being naughty and avoiding going to sleep. As long as it doesn’t escalate to screeching it can be ignored
- Beak Wiping : Birds wipe their beaks on their cage or perch to clean off food or to make sure their beak is nice and polished.
Everyone is Happy When Everyone Sleeps
Understanding when to put your conure to bed and how long they should sleep is vital to a healthy and happy relationship between you and your bird.
By observing your conures routine, you should be able to gather when something is off. Then, you can work together to normalize a good sleeping routine so everyone is content.
