Screaming Female

[Akara Crystal]

I have a problem my female screams all day long. Even when I'm in the same room with her. She's hand tamed and she has a male with her, but why is she screaming. It's making my brother mad.

[Renae]

Reinforcing Screaming:
Although screaming is a part of owning a parrot and a flock behavior, it's not normal for a pet bird to be screaming all day. If 1 cockatiel screams, it's more than likely that your other cockatiels will learn how to scream too. Screaming becomes a behavior problem when a parrot learns to scream excessively for attention. Our reaction to excessive vocalization will determine whether or not this behavior becomes a habitual problem. Birds who are considered screamers have in some way been rewarded for this behavior, even though their reason for screaming is rational from a bird's perspective. It's up to us to identify what has caused screaming in the first place and to either eliminate the source if possible, or to slowly desensitize the bird to the source. We must then identify what we have been doing to reward and reinforce screaming. If screaming is being caused by seeing wild birds outdoors, move the cage away from the window. If a barking dog in the bird's room causes screaming, don't let the dog in the bird room.

Most avian behavior consultants agree that negative behavior like screaming should always be ignored and positive behavior, like being quiet, playing, doing tricks, talking or singing, should be rewarded. However, we often do the exact opposite of what we should be doing by encouraging and rewarding screaming. It's common for even the most dedicated and loving cockatiel owner to ignore a bird when the bird is quietly playing then reacting with strong emotion and drama when a negative behavior like screaming is exhibited. Your bird perceives any type of reaction to screaming as attention and a reward. If your bird screams and you come rushing into the room or go up to his cage or he if he screams and you yell at him to simmer down and be quiet, you are giving him the attention he wants, you are reinforcing the behavior. It doesn't matter if it's negative or positive attention, it's still attention.

Solutions:
It's much easier to prevent screaming than it is to deprogram a bird and stop screaming once it becomes a habit and a constant call for attention. It takes a great deal of patience to stop screaming but it can be done. Avian Behavior Consultant Liz Wilson states that it takes about 10 days to eliminate an undesirable sound, like an annoying word, from a bird's repertoire, and you do this by ignoring the word. Getting a bird to stop screaming can take much longer. The habit did not develop overnight it's not surprising if it takes just as long to undo the behavior that we reinforced for so many months. There's also a pretty good chance that the screaming will get louder and longer at first. Have patience and be firm. Ignore the screaming and do not show any reaction to it at all.

* Do not reward screams. Whenever you rush over to your bird in response to a scream, you are teaching your bird that screaming gets the results s/he wants.

* Establish a flock call so your bird can keep in contact with you when you leave the room. Choose a word or whistle that your bird recognizes to let your bird know you're home.

* Use your flock call when you leave the room so your bird knows where you are.

* Yelling, punishing, responding with anger, banging on the cage bars or any other negative responses will damage the trust your bird has in you. It also teaches your bird that screaming gets desirable results.

* Make vocal contact with your bird first, before s/he has a chance to scream for you.

* Ignore the screaming and only give your bird attention when s/he is quiet.

* Walk out of the room and don't come back until your bird stops screaming.

* Reward and praise your bird for good behavior like playing with toys or making pleasant sounds like chirping, talking or whistling.

* Lower your energy level. If you are prone to talking or moving quickly and you show excitement in your voice, use a more quiet, slower and calmer voice tone.

* Keep the cage away from doors and put it up against a wall, near a corner for security.

* Keep the back of the cage covered so your bird has a place to retreat when frightened.

* When your bird is hormonal, during Spring and Summer, cover the cage for 14 hours each night for 2 weeks to break the hormonal cycle.

* If your bird always screams when you have company, move her/his cage into another room where he will be more comfortable, before your guests arrive.

* If you know your bird screams when you are cooking, walking the dog, watering the garden or on the telephone, distract her/him with some millet seed or a favorite toy before you start.

* Although not always effective and as a last resort, covering the cage may help to calm a bird that has been over stimulated by noisy children, barking dogs or outside noises. Take the cover off when your bird is quiet.

* Take your bird out of the cage several times a day when s/he's quiet, not when s/he starts screaming, to break up boredom and give her/him the attention s/he needs..

* Put your bird on a play gym when you are in another room folding laundry, paying bills, reading etc. This gives your bird extra out of cage time.

* Keep a supply of colorful, interesting shreddable and movable toys in the cage and rotate them every week to keep your bird busy.

Exceptions:
Sometimes screaming should not be ignored. If your cockatiel's cage has been pounced on by a dog or if he has just been frightened by your neighbor shooting off a package of bottle rockets, it's necessary and appropriate for you to go over to your bird and reassure him that he's safe. Screaming to greet you when you come home from work is another exception. If you use your flock call then go over to the cage and say hello to your bird when you come home each day, you can prevent screaming from becoming habitual. Birds who have lost a mate also need reassurance so it's appropriate for you to spend more time with them as well. If your bird's screaming seems to be completely devoid of meaning, it's a good idea to walk near the cage without maintaining eye contact or speaking, and check to make sure that your bird is OK. The scream may be from having a toe caught in a toy, or you may have forgotten to replace the water dish this morning or a mouse or fly may have taken up residence in the cage. You may also want to consider taking your bird to an avian vet for a check up to rule out pain caused by a health problems.

[Ashling]

Great response Renae!

[Monica]

I haven't read Renae's response... but does your cockatiel get daily exercise? Does she get frequent bathes? Plenty of toys to destroy?

It's possible that her brain isn't stimulated enough, especially if she's clipped and bored. Give her stuff to do! It may help!

[Akara Crystal]

Originally Posted by Monica

I haven't read Renae's response... but does your cockatiel get daily exercise? Does she get frequent bathes? Plenty of toys to destroy?

It's possible that her brain isn't stimulated enough, especially if she's clipped and bored. Give her stuff to do! It may help!

She does get those things, but now I find out why she is screaming she must like my father. When my father leaves the room she screams, when my father return she is quiet. Is there a way to make her quiet when my father leaves the room?

[Shadow190]

You can do is trade her in for another male cockatiel. You can use Craiglist or some local breeders/petstore owners who might do that for you for a fee.

[prettypenguin]

What's up with the make cockatiel thing? I smell troll.

[Akara Crystal]

Originally Posted by Shadow190

You can do is trade her in for another male cockatiel. You can use Craiglist or some local breeders/petstore owners who might do that for you for a fee.

I rather not I spent a lot of money for her and she talks so I will keep her.

[chinniechantel]

Originally Posted by Ashling

Great response Renae!

I agree, great post, thank you. I am going to make my husband read this, he always goes to Phoenix when he screams, I tell him no but he always does it, thus conditioning him to scream for attention. I need to break that cycle now! He feels bad for him and now Phoenix knows it and screams all the time when he hears us around. It is easy for me, it just comes naturally because I have so many younger siblings, to ignore bad behavior or it gets worse, much worse. So training your husband is as important as training the bird!