Need help with a Orange wing

[Beth65]

I've read some threads on screaming, but I think my situation may be unique or maybe nobody has written about it.

I have a 6 month old Orange wing who screams more than the DYH I had. First, this isn't my first parrot, so I know they vocalize and can get very loud and I'm OK with that, but I think this is excessive. On the weekends when I am home she does nothing but scream and yell the whole time I'm home. When I'm gone, my husband says she is quiet as a church mouse, unless the sun is rising or setting, the normal vocal period. When I leave the room, I tell her I'll be right back, I've tried whistling to her to let her know I'm still near by, but she just gets louder. On the rare occasion when she is not yelling I try to reward her by telling her she is a good girl, but that starts her in again with the yelling.

She's been to the vet and she's fine, plenty of toys, a manzanita tree to climb on, fresh fruits & veggies daily, a big, clean cage, a t-stand. I only hold and play with her when she is quiet. I've tried putting her back in her cage and covering it but she still screams! She doesn't bite or mind being covered up in her cage.

Any advise would be greatly appreciated. I'm at at loss.
Thanks,
Beth

[AmandaB]

Sounds like my OW. He just does it for my attention. If I'm not in the room with him or in sight at all times, he screams. I don't understand it, he's got a buddy whom he's bonded with, but that's not enough for him I guess.

[Monica]

That sounds normal... a bird who really likes you and wants to be with you when you are there, but is quiet when your not there... that or she doesn't like you!

Going through something similar with a mitred conure here... He was taught a certain contact call for "I'm coming to get you", however I've been switching it over to "Hello!"... So whenever he starts saying "Hello!" I"ll go and get him... otherwise I ignore him. To help with the process, I can also make the phone ring, and he'll eventually answer with a "Hello!"

So, if there is a certain noise that your amazon will react to, and say something either a small amazon noise, or a human word, try making that sound, then when the amazon reacts, go to her. If she screams and is noisy, ignore her.

[AmandaB]

That's a good idea Monica, I'll have to remember that.

[Lisa B]

This is a story about the passing of a dear friend and companion. Her name was 'Polly'. I adopted this little Orange winged Amazon back in 1990, or should I say she adopted me? The story begins with a customer of mine telling me that her daughter had birds. This conversation was ongoing each week for months. One day she asked me If I could 'place' the two tiels her daughter had cause she was going to have a baby. I happily agreed, knowing that I could find them a good home. I had mentioned that if they wanted to ever 'place' the Amazon, I would happily give her a home. A few months later I got the phone call I was waiting for...they said to come pick her up. Nervous about my first large bird being an Amazon, I was terrified of her. They gave me a large leather glove to handle her. I walked around with that glove, still terrified to give her my hand. When I would place her on the back of the couch, guests would, jump up in fear. I moved to a dowel from the glove, and so did 'Polly'. She never showed any signs of aggression, so about 6 months later, I bravely gave her my hand. She eagerly hopped right up. I was amazed, I couldn't wait to show everyone how much we have progressed together. Looking back after having numerous Large species of Parrots pass through my life, I realize “Polly” did not have a nasty feather on her.
She was definitely the sweetest Amazon I have ever come in contact with. I was not nervous to hand her to anyone. She would hop up on anyone's hand, and look around nervously for her 'mom'. Polly was about 30 years old, that I could safely say. Not old for an Amazon, but old in the statistics of the average Amazon, because of human neglect. I know I gave her the best of care that I could, and probably prolonged her little life by years. But being selfish about her, she didn't spend enough time in my life.
She didn't talk, she didn't have to. I feel she didn't have anything to say, but I loved her just the same. The only problem with her was every once in a while she would start to scream. The only way to quiet her was to dance with her. As soon as you would start to sway, so would she. That would keep her content.
I recently moved, and she had been underweight for some time. No matter what I tried to feed her, she was very picky. I think the stress of the move and her physical condition added to her poor health. In my 23 some odd years of living with birds, I've come to learn the differences between a sickness and old age.
One night, I heard some noise coming from the bird room. I jumped up to find Polly lying on the cage floor, crying. I thought because she had always shown the lack of full use in her right foot, that she fell off her comfort perch. I went to pick her up to check her and she was stiff. She was alive, but was having a seizure. The look in her eyes terrified me and brought me immediately I to tears. I cradled her in my arms, and I think we both cried. She seemed to regain strength, and I placed her back in her cage. She fought bravely to climb back up to her perch, but I saw how difficult it was for her. I placed her in a carrier with a towel and moved her right next to my bedside. Neither of us slept. She had numerous seizures throughout the night. Each time I would grab her and hold her, only placing her back in the carrier for the fear I would fall asleep and hurt her.
The next morning I had hoped it was all a bad dream. I called my vet and explained the situation. I placed Polly back in her cage and she ate. She was not herself, but certainly not the same as the night before. The day went well. I still did not leave her side all day. Then nightfall,another night I wish I could erase from my memory. The seizures started and never seemed to end. She screamed, cried and had the most gut-wrenching look in her eyes. I was hysterical. I held her most of the night and whenever she was in her carrier, I had my hand outstretched in there with her, just to let her know that she was not alone.
In the morning after a horrible night, I once again called my vet. I knew my own heart was saying I can’t put her down, My head was telling me it was not fair to Polly. Her eyes reminded me of her excruciating pain.
I had a friend drive me to the Vet, For this was something I could not do on my own. I held her close to my heart the whole time until they took her from my arms. I whispered to her that I loved her and I was sorry I couldn’t help her anymore. I told her that she was a good little girl, and I hoped she thought I was a good mom.
Polly is buried in my dad's backyard, because that will always be my home. She is beneath an evergreen tree, with another feathered friend and my first bird, 'Tweety'. I can always look out there and say "Hi".
Every once in a while, I'll go to my birdroom door and start to dance, looking for that little green head bobbing back at me, and I realize she's not there. I'll smile as my eyes fill up with tears and say under my breath, "I miss you Polly". The rest of my flock Looks at me like I’m crazy. I wonder If they miss her too. I know Harley, My DYH Amazon misses his playing buddy. You can see the emptiness in his eyes, and he is eerily quiet.

So I hope that everyone who reads this is reminded

that sharing your lives with birds is certainly a Privilege, and if its any kind of labor besides a labor of love,then you shouldn't own birds!!

One of my privileges has been taken away for good.
She will never be forgotten, by me or anyone else's life she's touched.

[Beth65]

Please don't think I don't love my bird. I do! She makes me laugh. I wouldn't care if she didn't utter one word. I just want to make sure I'm giving her everything she needs, that I'm not missing something.