Every bird owner’s dilemma is where to set up the bird’s main living area.
Every room has its pros and cons – including the bedroom.
So if you are wondering – Can you keep a cockatiel in your bedroom?
In short the answer is..
The general consensus is that it is better to set up your bird in the living room instead of the bedroom, but in the end, it is completely up to your own preferences.
Some bird owners have had success setting up their bird’s cage in their sleeping area.
Just be extra mindful of cleaning if you do keep your cockatiel in your bedroom.
So now that you know you can keep your little birdie in your bedroom
I think it’s important for you to know the pros and cons before you actually decide what you’re going to do
Can I Keep My Cockatiel In My Bedroom? (Pros & Cons)
Pros
With more people working from home in recent times, it may actually be a good idea for some to keep their cockatiel in their bedroom.
Birds need socialization and they like to spend time with their humans.
Therefore, whatever room you decide to put your cockatiel needs to be one that is frequented by you.
Oftentimes, for those that work from home or live with others, this would be your bedroom.
If this is the case for you, it would be a good idea to keep your cockatiel in your bedroom.
It’s nice to talk to your cockatiel while you are getting some work done.
Additionally, bedrooms tend to be smaller rooms which means they are easier to bird proof than garages or living rooms.
Of course, it goes without mentioning that an advantage of having your cockatiel bedroom is simply that you get to wake up in the morning and the first thing you see would be your bird’s fluffy face looking at you.
Cons
Although sleeping in the same room as your pet cockatiel may seem like a good idea, there are some other things to consider before making the choice.
First of all, there’s the danger of isolating your cockatiel.
Not many people spend time in their bedrooms after they wake up.
If you are one of these people that leave your bedroom after getting ready for the day, you risk having your bird feel isolated.
Your bird may even be angry once you come back from work for being left alone.
Related article – Can cockatiels be left alone?
Secondly, you should consider the disruption to your sleep as well as your cockatiel’s.
Once you put your bird to sleep, you should take care not to wake your birdie up.
Cockatiels are light sleepers so the slightest noise or movement could wake it up.
So this means no late night TV watching or late night studying.
If your bird is in your room, sleep time should be for sleeping only.
Most birds need 10 to 12 hours of sleep per night and if you can’t guarantee this to your bird, you’re going to have a very sleep deprived and grumpy bird on your hands.
Not to mention a lack of sleep can lead to health issues for your cockatiel too.
Finally, you may develop a serious allergy to your cockatiel, also called bird fancier’s lung.
Cockatiels are especially dusty birds.
So if you keep your cockatiel in your bedroom, you increase the chances of inhaling all of this dust as you sleep.
And even if you do not have any sensitivity to dust at the moment, another aspect to consider is the bird’s poop particles.
You can develop bird fancier’s lung by being exposed to and being in close contact to bird poop particles for a long amount of time.
Related article – Do cockatiels poop everywhere?
Now the question is..
Is It a Good Idea To Keep a Cockatiel In Your Bedroom?
The general advice is that the best place to put your cockatiel wouldn’t be the bedroom due to a variety of reasons such as the danger of isolating your bird, sleep deprivation, and the possibility of developing an allergy.
There are other places in your home that you can put your cockatiel, so the bedroom doesn’t have to be your first choice.
Although it may be a nice idea to keep your pet close by, keep the above factors in mind.
However, it should be mentioned that some owners successfully keep their cockatiels in their bedroom.
Think about your daily routine.
If you spend a lot of time in your bedroom because you work from home or due to projects, keeping your bird in your room could work for you.
You can even start to develop a good day time and night time routine so that you both can get the sleep you need.
If you keep your cockatiel in your bedroom, the main thing you will just need to be more mindful of is cleaning your bird cage more often.
There’s nothing worse than developing a bird allergy as a bird owner!
So if I shouldn’t let my cockatiel sleep in my room, where should they sleep?
Good question
Let’s find out..
Where Should I Let My Cockatiel Sleep?
Cockatiels love to sleep.
Ideally, they will sleep between 10 to 12 hours each night in addition to random naps throughout the day.
It’s important for cockatiels to have this much sleep in order to be happy and healthy.
One of the ways that you can guarantee good sleep for your cockatiel is by putting its cage in a place where it isn’t likely to be disturbed at night.
The best place to put your cockatiel cage would be someplace that is bustling with some energy during the day but quiet at night.
For many bird owners, the perfect spot is somewhere in the living room somewhat close to the window for good views.
The living room is often the heart of the home during the day and quiet at night.
But if your cockatiel’s daytime environment isn’t quite suitable for the amount of sleep the bird needs, you may want to think about getting a separate sleeping cage and propping that in another part of your house that will allow your bird to get some sleep
Wrapping Up
It’s a common conundrum for bird owners to decide where to put the cage.
At first glance, it might seem like a good idea to place the cockatiel cage in your bedroom as it’s an intimate room and it might feel similar to sleeping with your dog or cat.
However there are some realities to consider.
Ultimately, it is up to you whether you sleep with your bird or not.
But if you do, be sure to clean its cage regularly and make sure your cockatiel spends quality time with you.