Weekdays OK - Weekends TERRIBLE

[SetonHallic]

Now my guy is great during the week but when my wife and I are both home on weekends he turns into a little monster. He screams whether he is in the cage or our, whether we are playing or not. He bites non-stop, won't let us near him, freaks out about everything... But he only acts this way on the weekend.

[huntress]

How do you know - I mean if your not home on week days what he is doing. Just need more info to try to help.

[rockybird]

I have had the EXACT problem with my wb caique, Zeek. He is the greatest bird - playful, affectionate, quiet - on weekdays when I come home from work. On weekends, he seems to always be in a rage, biting and screaming.

I dont think it will help you, but I think I have figured it out. On Sat and Sun AM I usually go mtn. biking, and walk around the kitchen with my biking sunglasses on getting ready. He HATES my sunglasses, to the point where I keep my Channels in the car, as he attacks them and scratches them. He also hates the cycling glasses and attacks them if he sees them. He goes into a rage. I think he is smart enough to know that if I have my glasses on, that means I am leaving. Today, I hid the glasses in my jersey pocket and did not let him see them. So far, so good. No tantrums yet (fingers crossed). He is madly fighting with the conures toys right now, as I switched cages for the afternoon.

I think he may be screaming for you two, since he knows you are home. I am not sure about the biting. But I will say that Zeek does not seem to do well with changes in routine, which I think is also part of the weekend anger.

[rockybird]

Scratch the above post. I just let him out of the conure's cage, and he is already angry, fluffed up, eyes pinpoint. He has also dumped all of the conure's bird dishes all over the floor. I think it comes down to the change in routine.

[SetonHallic]

I know he is quiet during the week because if not the neighbors would hear him. I also video-taped him while we were out a few times.

No problems.

[sweetpeaches]

it is interesting how they "know" you're around. we went away on vacation for 2 weeks and my caique was at home all day by himself. (my son was at work). usually my husband who is retired is at home all day with bailey. well before we went on vacation, bailey was sqawking quite a bit. but when we got home he was much quieter. well, that lasted about a week...now he's back to his "contact calling again". i call it "contact calling" cause he only does it when he can't see us in the house. it starts out with a beep..then gets louder and louder.

they are super smart birds and i don't want to condition him to think that he's going to get "his way" when he starts this behavior. (usually wanting out of his cage). so we've been covering him when he gets too loud just until he settles down (which usually occurs within a few minutes) then we uncover him and he's fine.

bailey is an only bird, and i think it's harder for them sometimes as they don't have anyone but us to interact with. but with patience and love i'm sure we and you can work through these times with our babies.

bailey is a great bird! he's almost 1 years old. friendly, funny and smart...sometimes he just wants his way!

[rockybird]

Isnt it true? I had to leave the house to study today, as he was constantly contact calling for me. Answering doesnt do any good, he only screams louder. Being quiet and out of signt also doesnt matter. Both the conure and caique KNOW that I havent left out the front door, back door or courtyard door. How they know this, I dont know. I guess they are very in tune to the flock whereabouts.

I had the caique out for many hours this weekend and no bites. I just hope that something has changed for the better.

SetonHallic, I would still give your bird time to adjust.

[Freedomoflight]

I agree, your bird is going through an adjustment period. Screaming on weekends is normal, he is still trying to figure a) his boundaries and b) what the normal schedule is. You are gone during the week and home for 2 days, and then gone again for the week, and he is confused. He wants the extra attention on the weekends, since you two are home, lol. I am currently not working outside of my house on weekdays, but I still try and act like its a normal student work week, to help my birds realize that this 'new' schedule is not set in stone. They act according to how they are used to us acting. Like I said, I am home during the week, and except for a few short outbursts, they are quiet all day. Then when the other person of the house comes home, they start causing a ruckus. Why? Cause they know that when we both are home from working this is when we spend time with them and they want the attention NOW.