They're driving me crazy!

[Ashling]

OK so final exams are in 2 weeks and I study on my bed with the birds allowed freedom for most of the day. Recently, they have developed an incredibly annoying habit that amuses them both immensely. Ashling will climb onto Peanut's cage and slide down the bars outside the cage and hang in front of him and he begins this terrible screeching noise and doesn't stop. Sometimes she'll even do it from inside her own cage, and he still reacts when there is a large gap between cages. She'll just sit there as he screams at him; they will do it forever until I make them stop by saying "No Peanut! No Ash!" and she runs away from him and acts innocent. Then after a minute she'll go and do it again. I know that my intervention is not a reward cause they'll keep going even if I'm not in the room to reinforce the behavior. It seems to me that Peanut is being territorial but actually ENJOYS this face off, and Ashling is a brat and ENJOYS tormenting him. Well I don't enjoy it! I try to get Peanut to talk to her or sing to her instead, but he always ends up screeching. How can I discourage them from doing this when they give each other positive reinforcement? It's so annoying cause I wish Peanut would just ignore her, so that she wouldn't get any pleasure out of provoking him! My god they are like snotty little children!

[Ashling]

This is the set up- I can't move either cage anywhere else, there is no more space in my bedroom and I won't have them in any other part of the house where there is danger from kitchen fumes and cigarette smoke.

[Franciscus]

You could try putting a visible barrier between the cages. Only do half for now to see if they keep up the annoying behaviour, so they can still "visit". Any reaction to any behaviour is reinforcing the behaviour. Give them loads of attention when they are behaving (as in being quiet).

[Ashling]

Originally Posted by Franciscus

You could try putting a visible barrier between the cages. Only do half for now to see if they keep up the annoying behaviour, so they can still "visit". Any reaction to any behaviour is reinforcing the behaviour. Give them loads of attention when they are behaving (as in being quiet).

Thanks for your reply. Hmm your first suggestion works when they are both in their cages with the doors closed- I use a towel- but what about when Ash climbs onto his cage?
Sorry I meant to say I wasn't "positively" reinforcing it. As in, my interference isn't rewarding or encouraging the behaviour. I will give them attention when they are quiet though!

[MissV]

Oh wow, I had this SAME question yesterday when I was cleaning Eti's cage and Luca and Karis were going on and on. A visual barrier wouldn't work though, because Karis will call to Luca when she goes out of sight 9 times out of 10.


So my issue was...seriously, what do you do when the reinforcement isn't coming from YOU? Karis screams to get Luca to join in, otherwise Luca stays relatively quiet (for a sun). The ironic thing is that Luca is the one who taught Karis to scream. Karis is a dusky headed conure and not a loud bird at all. She much prefers whispering, but she'll do anything to get attention--particularly from luca.

Etienne and I just commiserate over this ridiculous behavior, but I'm still at a loss of what to do. I'm just trying reinforcement myself and hoping it will eventually kick in...because my attention is much better than Luca's and does not involve bonus witchery. -.-;

[Ashling]

I hope someone has an answer! At least you have Eti to back you up though ;) It's a conundrum. My only option is to have one with me at all times, it's easier if I have Peanut with me cause he just sits on my shoulder while Ash climbs everywhere. But then Ash screams cause she's not getting attention. I can't win!

What can you do to discourage screaming when there is a reward that outweighs any discouragement? How can you turn that reward into something unpleasant? These are the questions we need to ask.