please help!

[erinmiles]

I am wondering if someone has any methods on how the get their conures to stop screaming. I have a one year old sun conure and he strives for my attention. when we hears me in my room he screams, when i get up from the couch to go to the kitchen or the bathroom, he screams. I get so frustrated, I dont like to yell at him or get mad at him. if someone can please help me that would be very appreciated! Thanks
Erin

[Xen]

You didn't expect a loud screamer when you decided to buy a sun conure?

Your yelling isn't helping one bit though. It's just a super fun game for him to see who can shout the loudest... he'll always win, as you probably know.
Being "mad" at him for doing what is natural to him and for doing what he's probably learnt gets him attention isn't fair on him either.

If screaming gets your attention, then you've taught him that what he's doing works. All you can do is ignore the screaming until he figures that screaming doesn't get him his own way and reward him when he's quieter. He's a sun... you'll never have a "quiet" bird. You should already know that.

I have a sun who hasn't reached a year yet. Right now she's fairly quiet... even when she does scream I don't find it annoying or frustrating and I'm well prepared that she just may get louder when she gets past that year mark.

Different tolerance levels I guess...

[erinmiles]

thank for your insite, i just need to have a bit more patience.

[erinmiles]

thank for your insite, i just need to have a bit more patience

[PowerBBS]

Sun conures are well known for their screams. It's common, it pisses everyone off when they can't stop it & I doubt it's anything to do with boredom if it's an early morning thing!

Screaming is their means of communication to you & all they know until they're taught otherwise.

You may have taught you conure to scream to get your attention & let him out or say good morning to you. My sun conure did exactly the same thing first thing in the morning, same time every morning & all I did was COMPLETELY ignore it & when she was silent for a couple of minutes I greeted her & gave her brekky. It helps to have them in their own room so when it becomes unbareable you can shut the door. This will also give them an indication that you're ignoring the scream. Yours may continue to be persistent for some time & you need to be even more persistent than him.

Reward him by playing with him or offering him treats every time he's doing something nice or every time he's quiet., even if it means having to stop what you're doing & give him a quick play or treat. This is what he'll learn from. Sun conures need to be taught to communicate to their humans in a quieter manner as they're naturally very noisy birds, it's upto you to curb the noise from the start.

Sun conures can be very unforgiving parrots. They do become extremely noisy & can hold a big grudge if they feel they're treated unfairly or not getting attention they require. Sun conures do also require a great deal of attention through the day. They're hyperactive birds, always on the move & you need to make sure when you're unable to give him attention, he has plenty to play with & chew & plenty of room in or out of his cage.

Oh & YES a sun conure can be quietened! Our Sun will only scream for a few minutes (maybe 10) when we first get home as she wants us to come and great her and maybe get her out, else she's pretty quiet. When she's out... she doesn't scream at all.

[jenseits]

Yep, sun conures can be LOUD when they decide to vocalize, but that doesn't mean they should be screaming all the time.

Here are some tips on minimizing the screaming:
3 Tips to Stop Your Parrot’s Screaming

Basically you want to make sure that your sun knows how to entertain himself, be consistent about not rewarding loud screaming, and reward more desirable or appropriate behavior/sounds.

Good luck. (I feel your pain. Ever since bringing a second bird into my home, my sun hasn't been getting as much attention as he's been used to and he's quite vocal about letting me know about his displeasure!)

[ROYJOY]

you can reduce its fequentcy, but you cant stop it. he will scream for 30+ years.

[erinmiles]

thanks so much!! i am going to try to make this better! i do understand that its natural for birds to scream!