Desperate!!!!

[Jong81]

I am desperately asking for help from anyone who may have had this experience. I have had my African Senegal, Jake, for 5 years now. Five months ago, I moved into a new apartment. He has ALWAYS screamed this ear-curdling scream at the top of his lungs since he was 2 whenever I would leave his sight. I have tried EVERYTHING - toys, extended time out of cage, ignoring him completely (as hard as that was - i needed ear plugs), changing his diet, changing his location ... you NAME IT!

It has come to a point where he WILL NOT stop screeching unless I'm holding him constantly. Since living with my boyfriend, he has tolerated it, but now even I have had enough. I don't want to constantly have to cover him (which seems to be the only thing that works for a short time).

If I cannot stop him from screaming, I'm going to have to give him up. The neighbors have started complaining (I live in an apartment complex). It's breaking my heart, but he is just TOO needy. Someone please help!!!!

[tabooh]

Hopefully some members here can help you out, it must be so difficult. As for covering him that only works for alittle while. When he is being loud then you can cover him for only a couple of minutes, then remove the cover. That way he may or may not start to understand that his behaviour is not acceptable. You will have to be consistent with the mode of training. If you leave the cover on to long then he will not learn to make along story short.

Good luck!

[FloorCandy]

Unfortunately I found myself in a similar situation several years ago with my cockatiel. I loved that little guy, but when I went to work he made the smoke alarm sound at the top of his lungs for hours at a time. I had wanted a bird for a long time, and my across the hall neighbor had 2 tiels, and I visited with them, and she told me all about them. SHe had lived there with them for over a decade and never had a problem. I never heard her birds making noise. I thought all was well, and I bought a baby hand fed tiel. He was fine for a few months, and then the smoke alarm sound started happenening more often. I would cover him until he settled down, uncover him, and as soon as I left the room, it would start again. I blame myself for spoiling him, he just wanted to be with me. The downstairs neighbor complained, since he worked nights and slept during the day. I didn't want to cause further problems for the sweet lady next door by resisting, as birds were permitted in the lease and I didn't want them to reconsider if the guy made a big stink. So I rehomed my little boy. I found a great home with a friend, I even got to visit him sometimes. I promised myself no more birds until I bought a home because I was so sad to give him up, and that's what happened, now I own my home, and I just got my CAG. It's so hard, but if working with him doesn't help, you should start looking for a good home to rehome him, so you won't be in a hurry if you are forced to get rid of him. I was lucky I found someone quickly, but realize how hard it could have been, finding a taker for a screamer is not easy.

[NotEnoughTime]

Originally Posted by Jong81

It has come to a point where he WILL NOT stop screeching unless I'm holding him constantly. Since living with my boyfriend, he has tolerated it, but now even I have had enough. I don't want to constantly have to cover him (which seems to be the only thing that works for a short time).

Congratulations - he has you well trained.

Please read: Screaming in Parrots

[Angelsmum]

Yes, he certainly does! If it is not too late a good Parrot book would be of great help. I can recommend Parrot problem solver by Barbara Heidenrich but there are many good ones out there on parrot behaviours, why they do the things they do and how we can change this.

[Jong81]

As I've written, I have spent days ignoring this behavior. I leave for work in the morning ... screaming ... I come home ... still screaming ... I walk right past him - don't even say "hi" which is against my nature.

After reading the linked page, I have tried all of this. If I were to ignore his screaming until it stops, he would NEVER leave the cage. Should I try ignoring him to the point of not taking him out of the cage for a whole week? I have not tried denying him food until he stops ... you know what's funny? - I have him trained to poop on command and to lay on his back ... and yet I can't train him to shut up.

[Lori~D]

Should I try ignoring him to the point of not taking him out of the cage for a whole week?
If thats what it takes

[LovelySydney]

awww thats gotta be rough. Im sorry to hear you are going through this. I hope you try to do everything in your power to change this behavior before rehoming. Please keep us posted.

[Jag]

Screamers are VERY hard to deal with! My boys used to be screamers. However, now they are just normal calling/vocalizing. However, what I used won't help you. I can tell you that you're going to have to be more bullish that what he's being. Yes, that may mean NO attention (other than food/water) for several days. Someone else will either end up doing this, or he'll be shuffled from home to home. If you DO re-home him, do your homework and turn him over to a reputable rescue where he can be worked with. This will be about the only shot he'll have at being rehabbed. Sometimes you can find someone that you know that knows how to work with 'bird issues'... or you may luck out. Don't count on that, though. You're going to have to undo what you've done. I know you didn't mean to do it, but you've let it go on for 3 years now. It's got to stop, or this guy isn't going to have a chance, as I doubt many people would put up with it!!

I hope that he gets better soon... but you're going to have to reward the quiet, and ignore the bad. Hopefully you won't be evicted in the process...

[pi77]

how about a mirror ?

or maybe you can put a life sized portrait of you next to the cage

me i just take out my hearing aides.

problem solved!