Horrible call for attention- plz help!

[Ashling]

Hi everyone,
This hadn't been a problem in the past, but it's getting to be a really bad issue. Whenever Ashling is in her cage and wants something- food I'm eating, playtime, to go for a walk etc- she'll make an extremely annoying rasping scream sound. It can get pretty loud... but the loudness isn't the worst part- it is the sound itself. It's like fingernails scraping down a blackboard. She does it mostly in the mornings when I'm running late and have no time to have her out, or at night when I put her in the cage when I'm eating something she's not allowed (potato chips, cheese and biscuits etc).
I NEVER reward this screaming behaviour. I don't give her what she wants just to shut her up, I don't even look at her.
If she says hello I give her what she wants. Is this right? I'm trying to teach her to use words to get what she wants. Am I making it worse? Argh she's doing it right now- I have a lollipop stick I've been chewing on, and she keeps screaming for it, and when she says hello I let her have it for a second, then take it back.
To her bird brain, am I rewarding her "hello" or rewarding the whole fiasco?
It's getting to the point where I have to put her in the travel cage in the walk-in wardrobe to get her to stop- but only in the mornings when I can't leave the room. Covering up her cage doesn't fase her at all. It breaks my heart to do this, but I get really frustrated otherwise. In the evenings I can just leave the room when she gets too loud. What else can I do? Can I make her not WANT to make the noise? Any suggestions, stories or anything would be appreciated!
Thanks,
~Melanie.

[kali]

postitive reinforcement is good. if you ever use negative reinforcement, make sure you use something positive as well to counteract it, so they know 'well if i do this i get into trouble, but if i do THIS i get something good'

ashling is awesome

[silvercb67]

The only thing I would change is to wait until she has been quiet for at least a few minutes before you give her possitive attention. Not right after she says a word. All we can do is try. ***BEST WISHES***

[Ashling]

Thanks Kali and silver. I will try waiting before I treat her- I had a feeling I was doing the wrong thing by rewarding her just when she says a word... cause she went straight back to screaming again after! I think I should have her out of the cage more, cause it only happens when she's in there. It's just the times that she NEEDS to be in there that can be headachy! Any more suggestions are welcome! :D

[Izzy]

Also, start rewarding her when she's quiet for a few seconds, and gradually build up the amount of time she has to be quiet before she's rewarded.

My tiel is the same way...slowly getting better, but it's been a long battle (especially since I can't get away from the noise at ALL in my 700 square foot apartment!).

Good luck! I highly recommend reading any books by Barbara Heidenreich. They're awesome, and will help you a ton!

[Ashling]

Thanks very muchly, I'll try that out. I gave her some eucalyptus flowers today, so she's extremely engrossed in them and very quiet. I feel blessed- she is an angel tonight!

[kali]

my 'angel' is engrossed in ripping the buttons off my new top.

my fault though for wearing a top WITH BUTTONS!

[Lori~D]

They are right. She has learned..."scream scream scream say hello" get a treat. You have to be ready at all times and start over. If she is quiet and you hear her say hello, give the treat or "click" and give the treat. If she starts to scream leave the room. Another thing I learned that really works when they start to scream is go up to them real close and start to whisper an entire conversation with them and they will begin to quiet down just to hear what your saying. Dont treat for this, its a distraction and change of direction. Try to practice this whenever you have time - not when your running late.

[budgzie]

lol I really want a cockatiel just like Ashling but with out the screaming

[bubbalori]

i would say just treat the situation like you do with naughty kids and bad behaviour...........my redcollar screeches if i say want some honey honey ehhehehe