Budgie
I was chatting the other day with Wendy, who answers the phones here at Birdtricks.com. Out of curiosity, I asked her about the nature of the phone call she gets. Some, of course, are customer service related, some are from people are looking for advice, but she explained that she gets a concerningly high number of calls from people whose birds have died. Sometimes these people are calling to cancel their toys or pellets subscriptions and in the midst of the conversation they fall apart. Wendy, being awesome, offers them a shoulder to cry on and helps them deal with their grief or the inevitable guilt that follows the death of a pet.
Of course, I asked her about some of the most common causes of death. That information tells us what we need to bring to people’s attention to help them keep their bird’s safe and healthy. I was very surprised to learn that she had TWO calls in one recent week where the deaths were the result of parrots sharing the bed with their humans.
I’ll be honest. There is nothing as heart-meltingly sweet as falling asleep with your parrot nestled against your body. I think it’s a combination of their softness and warmth, their smell, combined with the knowledge that they trust you so fully that they allow themselves to let go and fall soundly asleep. It’s a very memorable event and one that I am sure you are having no trouble calling to mind as you read this.
Now let me add one more image to that scene. Imagine waking up to find that bird beneath you – lifeless. Imagine your despair as you torture yourself by reliving the incident again and again – your bird suffocating beneath the weight of your body and you sleeping peacefully through it all.
Sorry about that.
I know that was unpleasant to read. But that was the exact scenario described to me by someone I was doing a consult for some years ago. One afternoon, she took a nap with her bird perched on her chest and woke up to find her bird under her. I think it is important to point out that this was a goffins cockatoo – not a budgie or a cockatiel.
Military macaw
I am sure that few necropsies are performed on birds that die in this manner, but I would put money on the fact that birds that die in bed with their humans do not die from being crushed, but from suffocation.
Birds are pretty pliable and pressure would have to be very intense to actually make them break, but it is easy to prevent them from being able to breathe. A bird’s respiratory system differs greatly from our own. They must decisively expand their chest to make room for the expansion of their air sacs in order to draw breath (our bodies use a diaphragm for this process). Without the ability to make the necessary room for air, a bird would suffocate – even if its head and nares were free and exposed. This is why it is also important not to restrain a bird tightly either in your hand or in a towel or harness.
As if this isn’t enough reason to stop sleeping with your bird, I should also point out the behavioral aspect.
Suffice to say, our birds enjoy sleeping with us as much as we do with them. There is little doubt that a bird that wanted to sleep in the privacy of its cage would either make its way there or would be very vocal until brought there. My cockatiels and quaker regularly return themselves to their cage when they wish to go to bed – the cockatoos would stay with me all night if given the choice. But birds that are allowed that freedom will make a scene when the occasion occurs that they are required to sleep in their cages. That can be unpleasant for you.
Some birds will raise the roof simply because they are being denied doing what they want to do, but some birds will grow to become insecure when away from the perceived safety of their humans protective care at night. This will be unpleasant for your bird and birds should never be allowed to become dependent on a human (or anything else) to that degree.
Even if there were no physically dangerous aspects to sharing your bed with your bird, you run the risk creating a poorly adjusted and mentally insecure parrot.
Please don’t sleep with your bird. We don’t want you to be one of the grieving owners that Wendy gets a call from one day.
Patty Jourgensen specializes in avian health, behavior and nutrition and has been working with and caring for rescue birds since 1987.
29 comments
This recently happened with my daughter. She was devestated and felt extreme guilt for a long time. She was only loving it, but it ended up a tragedy. It happens far too often.
No bird likes to sleep in a cage unless you train it to. The bird has to have a routine. All my 5 birds go right into their cage at midnight when I dim the lights in their room. They even get upset if it’s past their bedtime and I haven’t dimmed the lights. We are their parents and need to treat them like you would treat a small kid. Sadly, people don’t train their pets and then blame it on the pet for issues such as screaming or excessive attachment. You cannot sleep with your bird. Period.
Would a baby bird that suffocated this way be found dead with its eyes closed? Would the eyes be closed as if it died in peace?
Please, please, and please DO NOT SLEEP WITH YOUR BIRD!!! I slept with my baby… my baby Roko , he was a green check conure and we suffocated him this morning…. I’ve read this article and did not listen… it’s my first time having a pet bird…. Never ever again… just like everyone here, it hurts and you have this huge grief to deal with… I’m in pain… I love this bird so much… now I have to go through these pictures and videos of him knowing I could have easily prevented that … don’t make the same mistake….
I’m glad I found this. I just got a green cheek conure and he loves to sleep under my chin. I guess I won’t let him anymore.
After sleeping with my White Eyed Conure for seven years we got a memory foambed in a box. There is no easy way to roll over and stay in place. So I found myself popping up like a jumping bean to FLIP over and I killed my best friend.
I’ve read this before but I ignore it. I regret it so much that I have to experience this my own.. its been a week since my sun conure died but I still couldn’t sleep every night feeling guilty and sad. Please do listen guys, its just not worth it
Hi! I don’t even know where to start… I have had a caique named Charlie for a couple of years. In the beginning he was severely traumatized by his previous owners. We built up a deep connection where he finally trusted me with everything. I started working from home and never left him alone for more than a few hours. After a while I realized that he needed someone so I got him a best friend, also a caique, and they love each other so dearly. I started sleeping with them in my bed since they would be extremely upset if they didn’t get to be with me 24/7. It’s all my fault for creating such attached birds. It’s gone so well since my bed is huge. The younger caique always slept on the other side of the bed. Charlie on the other hand always wanted to be as close to me as possible. If I ever came too close to him he would nibble me as a warning so I would be aware. After talking to my vet and pet store about our sleeping situation and getting an ok from them so I thought everything was fine. Until this morning. I woke up at 07.00 per usual. I look for the birds since they have to do their morning business. I found Charlie dead in the bed and it’s all my fault for not researching this topic. I would never wish upon anyone to find their life partner stiff. Cold. Dead. I’ve never been more devastated in my whole life. He’s my comfort. He’s my family. He’s my best friend. He’s my light at the end of the tunnel. Now all of that is gone because of my own unawareness. Now my heart is aching and I don’t know how my other caique will cope since she can’t even be away from him for a couple of minutes. I feel like throwing up from all the guilt. I could’ve easily found articles like this sooner. Please listen to the warnings before it’s too late. I BEG you PLEASE DON’t make the same mistake as me. It will ruin your life. Charlie I love you so much and I hope you are at peace and I am so deeply sorry.🤍
My son and I woke up this morning to our favorite boy, our sun conure dead under the blanket with us. He had tried to snuggle with us as we were sleeping. It was my sons bird. He is only 10. We have done nothing but cry and grieve and nap our pain away all day. It is absolutely horrific. Our birds are free flighted but we never thought of this danger. A hard lesson my son and I shall never forget. My heart is shattered. Fly high my sweet Jax.
I lost a bird because my sister did this, it was recent and I just want to make sure that if you cuddle with your bird, make sure someone who won’t fall asleep is in the same bed or in one next to you to grab your little guy. I advise you to avoid falling sleeping at all costs and put them away the minute you get sleepy
To anyone reading this, please listen to this post and don’t sleep with your bird. I slept with my baby for almost 2 years, I thought nothing could happen because it had been so long and she’d be used to it. I woke up in the middle of the night last week to find her lifeless in my shirt (where she liked to sleep) I read this post a few days prior and it breaks me that I didn’t immediately start making her sleep in the cage Don’t make the same mistake that I did, the guilt will never leave
My name is Fernando I’m 31 yrs old I stay in Los Angeles ca. I had a parrot and felt asleep with him at first I could not find him thought he gotten out some how and flew to my leaving room or something I look all over my apartment and no signed of her I go back to my room and there she was in my bed berly breathing quickly I pick her up and start giving it water it lasted few hours before she pass away she pass away in my arms it was soo sad I cry my lungs out this happend two days ago and up to now i still cry for my parrot I miss em soo much his name was pollo, pollo means chicken in English
Hello my name is Lucy i am 11 years old and I slept with my bird last night I woke up to seeing my bird under the blankets she died from my own weight I am so devastated and still crying I just want you to know please don’t let your bird sleep with you if you want your bird to sleep with you I think you should but a perch into your bed frame with a poo and pee plate under the perch. R.I.P Bubba 🕊❤️ 2020 – 2020 Fly high my angel 🕊❤️
I believe my budgie had died this way. One night it was in my bed. When I woke up, it was dead. I still grieve that poor bird to this day, and I think I will do so for the rest of my life. Its life did not deserve to be taken
My bird, she is sleeping with me at night for last 3 months. Because she doesn’t like cage. I am always concious about her even when sleeping, so she is safe. But i would like to know whether humen would get any problem while sleeping with parrots?
So sad. My very first bird died this way in my bed when I was little. It was especially devastating at the time since I was young. While it was a hard lesson, it was still a lesson learned. Great article, hopefully others will change their minds if they currently sleep with their babies.
Good point!
I have a real problem, I purchased my Goffin’s 8 years ago from a bird store , The store had her on consignment. She was only 4 months old and had been through two different owners. We fell in love immediately and the first night home was a nightmare. She came with all her belongings, toys , cage and nite cover etc. Even though her cage was the same she screamed all night in terror. She would not stop screaming all night. I actually timed her, she screamed every 15 seconds all {ALL} night without a break. For three nights this went on . I thought a smaller cage at the foot of our bed might make her feel better so I tried that. No luck! I laid sideways in bed with my hand in the cage and she sat on my hand through the bars . I discovered the she had a fear of sticks, perhaps the previous owners were afraid to handle her and forced her to perch on stick perches So I took out all the wooden perches.Still no luck.. I also was able to talk to the breeder , I found out she was taken early and flown by air across the country. The breeder was very against it but the buyers had there own airplane and were adamant to take her. She thinks this traumatized her. Well to make this long story less long I just want to say, she sleeps with me and has for eight years. She is potty trained and says" weewee " when its time to go and I hold her over papers I place on the floor beside me. She never potties on the bed. I would not advise anyone to do this and wish she would sleep alone too however I am a very light sleeper with a painful arthritic condition . Because of that I never move or roll over without waking. She also sleeps above the blankets She is so special its ridiculous. I have 8 other parrots that all sleep in their cages no problem, I am up for any suggestions to help correct this . Ill try anything . But I cant have her scream excessively like she does when she is left alone in a cage at night.
I have a pied lovebird and a yellow canary, I have fallen sleep with my lovebird not often but about two times,and I found my bird by my side,I agreed to the facts that birds nerds to sleep @ their cage, as soon as I get home I spend time with my dear Lovebird,I have him in my room but when started to get darker my lovebird goes to his cage to his canopy to sleep!????
I have a question. I am aware of how delicate a birds respiratory system is. Are cold diffusing pure essential oils as bad or worse than candles , waxes, etc. I’m talking about the young living essential oils. Please let me know what your advice is.
I moved my Amazon parrot’s cage in my bedroom when friends were staying over. My husband and I didn’t think anything of it. A week later, we moved the cage back out. In the middle of a dinner party with my parents, my parrot became very vocal, mimicking a time of intimacy, very loudly, moaning and groaning and finally ending with “yes-yes-yes”. Yikes! No birds in my bedroom for me.
Nice article! Your views are completely true, as it is really becoming dangerous for our pet birds. So it’s better to avoid sleeping with your birds, it would help to protect your bird’s life.
How about putting the birds in a cage and then have the cage in your bedroom? My 2 cockatiels have freeflight and a large cage in the daytime. At night they go into their smaller “sleeping”, “travelling” cage. I would be too scared to sleep with them as I am a heavy sleeper. But my heart goes out to those who have lost their loved ones. I still remember and think about my very first cockatiel. rip
My friend sleep with his bird, but he made his bed a perch.
My parrot sleep in a bed
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