Does my Quaker need a nest? I want to provide a nest for my Quaker, Wasabi. However, I am not for sure what is safe to to use. I want to get him off of the perch at night. I don’t think it is natural to hold on to the perch. Please recommend where I can purchase a safe nest for him. He is 1 yo. Thanks <3
Hi,
No, Wasabi definitely does not need a nest. Adult birds do not sleep in a nest. A nest is only used by breeding pairs during breeding season. The rest of the year, they roost high in tree branches or other safe places depending on their environment. It is perfectly natural for him to sleep on a perch. In fact their feet are designed for gripping, even when they are asleep. It’s hard wired into their brain to maintain a good grip, just like animals that can sleep while standing but don’t fall, or marine mammals that sleep underwater but do not drown. In spite of some of the products that are made and sold for pet birds, please do not get him a bed, bird tent, hut, coconut shell or any type of nest. Unfortunately not all products that are sold for birds, are safe for birds. We have a webinar on this very topic to help bird owners know what is safe for their birds. Wasabi would probably appreciate a high perch for a sleeping perch. You can even put a cover over that part of the cage at night, to mimic the foliage he would have around him when in a tree.
Thank you for asking Lafeber,
Brenda
