squwaking cackatoo

[brightwing]

I have a cockatoo who screams when he wants out of his cage, how can i stop it

[LovelySydney]

Birds scream for a reason. I am assuming since he is screaming when he wants out of his cage, this means that when he screams you let him out correct? He had to have caught on to this and now knows that if he screams you let him out. What you need to do is try and reverse this behavior by #1 ignoring his screams (I know this is hard and I know screaming is really obnoxious and LOUD but this is what has to be done) and #2 you start rewarding when he is being quiet and you let him out at those times.

Basically if he screams, you don't do anything. You try to the best of your ability to go about your daily life & ignore the screaming. Now, once the screaming stops, then the training begins. When he is quiet you reward that behavior by letting him out of the cage and giving him play time. Birds catch on pretty quickly to things & I feel like if you really follow through with trying to change this behavior than the behavior WILL change.


Keep us posted and good luck! I know its not easy but it CAN be done!! It is hard not to give into the screaming but persistence is key!!

[swanwillow]

*ahems*

Also-does he have anything to keep him busy in his cage? Is his cage big enough for a cockatoo? Toys, food, water, things of that nature?

[jdlilfan]

Mattie Sue Athan's book, "Guide to Companion Parrot Behavior," has a great section on positive behavior reinforcement, such as what LovelySydney mentioned. I highly recommend it. You can find it on amazon.com. She really goes into detail about correcting problem behaviors such as screaming.

There is a difference between normal vocalizations and problem screaming. However, a 'too is a 'too...and they're going to be loud.

Correcting problem behaviors isn't an overnight process, but with a lot of time and patience, things can turn around! :)

[Astrid660]

My cockatoo usually screams if I am walking around or sitting nearby and she is in her cage. She doesn't think it's fair. So, she's almost always out when I'm home. I think they are just not meant for cages, he probably wants out and thinks squawking will get you to let him out. I would suggest going to him when he is quiet. They need lots of toys and positive attention to be happy. .. I would suggest a really big cage filled with interesting toys, decisions for the bird to make, not just a food and water dish, they need a lot more variety than that. Remember he most likely just sees the same room every day so he needs stimulation because he can't just go somewhere else and find something interesting to do - if it's the same view, same cage, same everything all the time they become unhappy birds.

Good luck :p

[Congobongo]

I wish I could leave mine out more often but if I am not keeping an eye on them...every piece of wood and furniture in the room would be shredded and anything else tossed off and on the floor!