Noises

[sunnyshine]

My 3 1/2 month old Eclectus mumbles and makes cute noises when he's by himself. He has already learned to say hi and is always practicing whenever we leave the room. He'll be saying hi over and over, very loudly, and it's just the funniest thing. But then whenever I walk back over to him or answer him, he'll scream. He will barely ever make these pleasant noises when he can see me, he'll just scream instead when I'm there. Then as soon as I leave he starts making funny noises and saying hi again! Anyone know why he does this? Should I still answer him back and go see him when he makes nice noises and talks, or just leave him alone?

[jriley]

Is he still being handfed? If not, maybe he was weaned too early and is begging for food? In a bird that young, seeing a person may be a hunger trigger.

I would definitely encourage the talking and cute noises by talking back to him when you hear him do it. As far as the screaming goes, if you are sure he's getting enough to eat, you can turn around and walk away when he screams and come back when he makes cute noises.

Julie

[sunnyshine]

Yes, he weaned himself. We took him home while he was at one handfeeding a day and did really well. Everyday until feeding time he'd scream and then stop immediately afterward. Then as I started introducing regular food to him, one day he just never screamed asking for his food and was at his food bowl all day for two days! He eats a lot out of his bowl, almost every time I look at him he's eating, so that shouldn't be the problem. Right now I can hear him saying "hiiii" and "huh?" over and over but I know if I walk over there he'll scream! So weird. So if I walk away when he screams, that won't teach him to scream when he wants me to leave?