Parakeets are active birds with a high energy level. They will spend most of the day engaged in exploring activities while chattering away. If they are fortunate enough to have another budgie in the cage, they’ll have a good time playing and teasing.
That said, when one sleeps in the middle of the day, pet parents begin to worry that their parakeet may be ill, upset, or depressed. Actually, considering their high energy level, it would be unusual for them not to take a nap occasionally.
It’s quite normal for these little birds to nap. If they’ve played quite a bit, at some point, they may feel the need to rest, or they may not have slept soundly the night before, so they are recuperating some lost sleep. Your parakeet may just decide it wants to relax, or if has snacked, may need some downtime.
Parakeet naps generally will last from a half-hour to 45 minutes. Should your budgie sleep for several hours, there may be a problem.
A budgie needs approximately ten to twelve hours of rest daily, so naps integrate into nighttime repose to get the full resting period. What they don’t manage to get at night will be recouped by napping during the day.
If your budgie is sleeping for several hours during the daytime and more than once a day, this behavior may indicate a problem. It might signify that your parakeet is ill or injured, or that it is not getting sufficient rest at night.
Parakeets do not utilize scheduled nap time and are perfectly capable of sleeping in the daytime or with the lights turned on. To assist budgies in getting a full night’s sleep, turning off lights and covering your bird’s cage at the same hour daily can help.
Is My Parakeet Sleeping During the Daytime Normal?
It certainly is all right if your parakeet sleeps during the daytime. Naps of 30 to 45 minutes will be fine as long as your bird doesn’t sleep for longer periods. After a daytime nap, your budgie should wake up energized.
As high-energy volatiles, your parakeet will tire out. These birds need to sleep well and soundly at night. They can become exhausted when playing and they may decide that they prefer to rest in shorter naps more often.
So, fear not if your bird is taking a between daily activities. In fact, it would be a bit unusual if your parakeet did not nap at all during the daytime.
Does My Parakeet Sleep Too Much During the Day?
If your bird sleeps for longer than 45 minutes, multiple times during the day, it may be indicative of illness. Budgies can be susceptible to
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- A mineral imbalance
- Digestive tract issues perhaps due to a diet change
- Immune system reactions to minor infections
- Depression
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When humans fall ill, they try to get as much rest as possible and often remain in bed to rest. If your parakeet is sick, it may be doing the same.
Should your parakeet be sleeping more than what has been normal, check to see if your bird has fluffed up its feathers. If the environmental temperature sits between 70° and 75°F, your parakeet should be comfortable.
If a parakeet is too cold or too hot, it will fluff its feathers to adjust its temperature. If the room temperature is comfortable, fluffed up feathers indicate other.
Your parakeet may be struggling and attempting to maintain its internal body temperature, or it may be looking for comfort.
If excessive nap-taking is accompanied by loose tools, a lack of appetite or thirst, and general lethargy, request a veterinary appointment immediately.
If there are no other symptoms, your parakeet may not be sleeping during the night. To discover if this is the reason, you’ll need to watch your bird at night.
It should sleep for several hours at a time during the night. If your budgie is active a night, restless, chattering, or fluttering, it will need some help.
See also: Why Is My Parakeet Standing on One Leg?
How Much Should My Parakeet Sleep?
Research suggests that parakeets require ten to twelve hours a night of sleep in a 24-hour stretch. Parakeets get most of their sleep requirement met by sleeping during the night.
However, these birds do not sleep soundly straight through the night. They will awaken several times and will definitely awaken if the sun rises, or the lights are turned on. Because they do not sleep soundly and continuously during the night, they will snatch short naps during the day.
A minimum of ten hours of sleep are necessary for your bird’s immune system to function adequately. Your bird must maintain this level of rest daily. With less rest than ten hours, your bird will have an increased risk of contracting illnesses due to a depressed or weakened immune system.
If your parakeet is sleeping more than twelve hours a day, it is seriously ill.
When parakeets do not get adequate sleep, they will become testy and irritable and can become aggressive. This can create problems if you have more than one parakeet in a cage as aggressive behavior can lead to injuries among cage mates.
To determine if your budgie is getting an adequate amount of sleep at night, observe for signs of aggressiveness, including biting and feather-picking. If you observe aggressive behavior, try putting your bird to bed an hour or two earlier.
Put your budgie in a quiet room and cover the cage. Begin by anticipating sleep time with shorter intervals. When the aggressive behavior stops, you’ll have the correct sleep time.
What time Should My Parakeet Go to Sleep?
A bird’s internal clock is influenced by light. In the wild, birds will go to sleep at sunset and awaken with the dawn. Even in captivity, a parakeet will retain its instinct to follow the natural light cycle.
Generally, the ideal time for a parakeet to go to sleep is at six p.m. At this time, you should notice your parakeet relax and settle down inside its cage. About an hour later, your budgie should be fast asleep.
It’s fundamental that your budgie is not disturbed by any kind of artificial sleep during its natural sleep cycle. Hence the cage should be covered and positioned in a room where your bird will not be disturbed if you are awake and active.
If you and your family have an active lifestyle, you do need to find your parakeet a dark and very quiet room to sleep in to protect your bird’s health.
Can’t My Parakeet Sleep with the Lights On?
Technically, yes, your parakeet can sleep with lights on, but not constantly, and certainly not long-term. In the wild birds have the advantage of nighttime without artificial lights and lamps. At the most, they deal with moonlight and stars which are considerably dimmer than artificial lighting.
If they were in the wild, parakeets would require the darkness to enable sleep. It contributes to their well-being and overall health. Without adequate sleep, a parakeet will be stressed, compromise its immune system, and become ill.
Excessive light exposure can worsen behavioral issues and increase disease susceptibility. Research also has shown that a female parakeet may produce eggs that will not be fertilized. By doing so, it will channel essential nutrients toward the eggs instead of its own body.
Considering all the hazards, it’s a good habit to keep your bird in the dark for sleep. An exception would be if your bird suffers from “night frights” like children. You can leave a soft night light on to help your parakeet manage panic attacks.
Should I Cover My Parakeet at Night?
A cage cover will help your bird stay calm, quiet, and get some sleep. You should cover the cage every night. A cage cover will provide your parakeet with a secure feeling because it will protect your bird from sounds and movements disturbing it.
When you select a cover, choose a darker shade to block out all the light, and should there be light, it will be dimmed and dulled.
It won’t be necessary to use a cage cover during the day. Your budgie will catch a nap whenever it feels comfortable doing so.
The Bottom Line
Parakeets are diurnal beings. Diurnal means that they will be active in the daytime and sleep when it’s nighttime. They will not explore, chirp, chatter, forage, or engage in play after the sun sets.
Placing your parakeet in a quiet dark place and covering its cage will provide darkness and dull any sounds permitting your beloved pet to get a good night’s rest.
