My Luna won't sleep on a perch

[mangokiwi]

My Luna (female) won't sleep on a perch. I know that's weird, but it is true! We've had her 3 years and she lays down to sleep. I've been working on this since getting her and we have progressed.. from hands (yes, those were some adorable, but tough first couple of days!), to floor of cage, to happy hut, to happy hut with 'windows' cut into it, to a big net that has small openings, to a net with large openings, and currently on a net that has been trimmed to a couple ropes. However, now she just crawls into her water bowl instead?! I would not care if she slept on the net, except that I feel like it encourages nesty behavior (she is definitely tame and can be the sweetest, most cuddly bird ever.. but she get very nesty!). We also have a male lovebird, so I know that doesn't help. (They play together, but have separate cages. They display some breeding behaviors, but definitely are not bonded.) I should also add that otherwise she does not have any issues perching.

Does anyone have any suggestion or should I just accept the nesty behavior? I want what's best for her and not for me.

[linda040899]

The only thing I can think of that discourages nesty behavior, and it will only do it for so long, is foraging. Keep her busy looking for food as she would do in the wild, and she will have less time on her wings to think about other things. :) Start slowly at first and work up to where you keep both of them busy. A busy parrot is a happy one.

Some parrots don't sleep on perches and there's not a whole lot you can do to discourage their choice. Hopefully, the water dish doesn't have water in it!

[mangokiwi]

I guess I was under the impression (from comments of other bird owners) that it is extremely abnormal and bad for a bird to not sleep on a perch. I am glad it doesn't matter and I will be giving her back the nice big net! (the happy hut made her REALLY nesty.. net is okay!) Thank you so much for answering!

[linda040899]

As a retired breeder, I see a lot of different sleeping habits with my lovebirds and even my personal parrots. I don't know that I'd call it abnormal, just personal preference. :)

[mstomcat65]

my lovebird lacey doesn't sleep on a perch either..... never has since i got her. she first picked a favorite toy as her bedtime spot, then after i bought a wood ladder and hooked it across the top of her cage that turned into her spot. now that's the only place she will use as her bedtime spot. i thought it was odd at first and just decided that it's her preferance and i couldn't get her to change her mind, lol. i agree with linda, you can't usually change their minds once they've made their choice. :)

[bbslovie]

Hi, my Bea likes hanging out in her food dish. She sleeps on a perch sometimes and sometimes she sleeps in her dish. As long as she's happy and healthy I'm good with wherever she wants to sleep!

Barb :)