Alfie wont stop screaming!

[Pippin2009]

Hello we need help with our cockatiel Alfie as he dosent seem to be very happy in his cage as he spends most of the day screaming until we eventually give in and let him out. We do let him out on a daily basis generally in the evening but the minute we uncover him in the morning his screams! I am not sure what to do with him to get him to calm down a bit as he is so loud and it go on for hours and we cant let him out all day. Would he be better off in an aviary or is there a technique we can use?

[New Ekkie Mom]

Some level of screaming/vocalizing in the morning and evening is natural for birds and should be expected. Above and beyond that, it is more just a matter of making sure the bird's needs for attention, exercise, and mental and physical stimulation are met and making sure that the bird is not getting reinforced for behaviors you don't want...much easier said than done. lol

As far as making sure Alfie's needs are met, consider these questions:
How much time is he getting out of his cage now on a regular basis?
What size is the cage he is in when he's not out and about?
Where is his cage located? Is it in a main part of the house where he can feel like he's part of the action even while he's in the cage or is he shut away by himself?
Does he have a variety of toys and activities to keep him busy and entertained while he's in the cage? Foraging activities where he has to work to get his food are great ways to occupy his mind and focus his energy on something other than screaming and waiting to be let out.
When you do let him out, does it seem that it's one on one attention from you that he wants or just the opportunity to be out of the cage?

The key piece of information for me was when you said that he spends most of the day screaming until you eventually give in and let him out. Every time you let him out as a direct response to his screaming, you are reinforcing him for screaming. He has now gotten what he wanted, so the screaming worked. Guess what he's gonna do the next time he wants out? And every time you try to hold out and ignore it only to eventually give in again, you're teaching him that screaming LONGER and/or LOUDER is what will work. I know it's hard and frustrating and makes you want to poke holes in your ear drums, but if the screaming is going to stop, he has to stop being reinforced for screaming. Every time, no matter how long he screams.

Instead of trying to ignore it until you can't stand it anymore, try waiting for those few seconds of silence...and I mean seconds. lol If he stops screaming for even 3 seconds, or just changes to a more pleasant vocalization, immediately praise him and let him out. Teach him that THIS is what will get you out.

Also, what if you tried letting him out more often during the day, even if it is just for 15-30 min at a time. Like in the morning while you're getting his food ready or getting dressed or having coffee, wait until he stops his morning screaming for just a few seconds (or changes to a more pleasant sound), and let him out. When you get home from work or school or errands or whatever, wait for a few seconds of good sounds or no sounds, and let him out for a bit before you eat dinner. Then after dinner, let him out again. Work around your schedule, but basically just break up his day a little more. Give him more opportunities to come out, even if he's not out for hours at a time each time. When he does have to go back in his cage, give him a treat or a new toy to reward him for going back and to give him something to do when he gets back in.

I am sure others will have more suggestions.

Danielle

P.S. Just a heads up...when an animal has learned to do a behavior to get what it wants (i.e., screaming to be let out), and all of a sudden that behavior doesn't work anymore, it will try harder and longer to make it work. There will be a period of a few days where Alfie will probably go through what is called an "extinction burst". He will throw himself body and soul into screaming in an effort to make it work again. Hang in there. Invest in some earplugs if necessary, but be extra sure to reward those times when he is NOT screaming. Good luck!

[RubyMuse]

what Danielle said is true - this works. It worked for my cockatoo whose screaming was almost unbearable. take it from me, this techniques WORKS!

[Pippin2009]

Thanks alot for your advice I will definatley give this a go and I will let you know how we get on with this.

[mmr]

you have taught him that if he screams long and loud enough you will let him out! If you are hime, why can't you let him out to play?

If you really want to stop the screaming then you just have to buck up, get ear plugs, and ignore it. Eventually he will learn that he isn't going to get his way no matter how much he screams!

[Razzle]

Try to get inventive about opportunities to let your bird out. To your bird, out of the cage play time does NOT mean you have to stare at him and hang on his every chirp. Does he like to sit on your shoulder? If so, he can sit there while you eat dinner (but not while you're cooking as that is dangerous of course), while you watch tv or while you are on the internet. If he can chewon your ears and hair, whistle and garble in your ear and you can spare him an occasional quiet "good baby!" or kissy noise then he will adapt to having QUIET quality time with you while out of the cage.

The above suggestions are very good ones. Any pet or child that learns a reinforced behaviour needs it taken care of in basically the same way -- teach them that it is not appropriate and offer a substitute behaviour that WILL work. You can also try using a simple voice command to ask your bird to be quiet, then praise and reward the bird for being quiet by letting him out of his cage or giving him a treat, or even just praising/petting him. Try talking to your bird the way you would talk to a small child. "Sorry, honey, you can't come out now," in an apologetic tone when he needs to stay in, or "Do you wanna come out and play?!" in an exited tone when you let him out, every time you come over to open the cage door.

Good luck, and if all else fails you could always just get him an agent for Broadway... :)