Help, My Parrot Is Screaming, And I Don’t Know What To Do??? (long article)

[spectre]

I know of one woman who had a noisy GW macaw. She placed a bell in its cage and would ignore it if it screamed but would come running if it tinkled the bell. Now it just rings the bell when it really needs something.

[Maui's Mom]

i actually have tried the whispering thing . it works sometimes.

[kimtoo]

My new macaw has been doing some screaming. Usually it is when I get home or in the morning, sometimes it is when I am in another room. I started by calling hello when she screamed, then I decided that when she said hello (or anything else in people talk) I would reply with enthusiasm, when she screams I don't even acknowledge her. She now calls with hello, hi, milas a pretty bird, bye-bye, you get the point...She is still screaming some but probably only a third as much. She has only been with me three weeks, the first two weeks I did the
respond to screams with whispers and by calling back "hello", this past week has been the respond to words with enthusiasm and ignore screams,something is definitely working.

[tiger2]

When my amazons get out of control I start singing Row Row Row your boat and it stops the screaming and they have learned a new song too!

[Beth65]

I have an orange wing amazon and she is almost 6 mos. old and boy is she a screamer. I've tried telling her "I'll be right back" and whistling back to her when I leave the room, but she screams after I do it. Am I reinforcing the screaming? I reward her for sitting quitely on her T-stand or while she is playing in her cage in hopes that will quite her down. I've only had her a little over a month and I'm hoping a new playgym that is on the way will help keep her busy and quieter when she is out of her cage. Although any other suggestions would be great.

[Monica]

Lots of toys, bathing, etc to try and keep her pre-occupied... maybe some music or the tv.... depending on bird though, some birds will use a contact call and learn it, while others will just keep screaming when they hear it...

Of course, it could also help to get her to exercise daily, if she's clipped, hold her on your hand and make her do 'laps' around the room, while sitting on you...

Also, make sure she's getting plenty of sleep at night. There's plenty of other suggestions in this thread to try... it can be done, so don't give up!

[Maui's Mom]

Hi Beth., i have screamers. 4 of them. they do it basically 3 times a day .. 10:30 a.m, not sure why but boy do they let loose. 3:30 in the afternoon .. its because we are all coming in from work or school around this time and they get excited to see everyone home. The 7 p.m. is before lights out.

Dont give up. in my case the TV gets them over stimulated and they try to keep up with the sound. plenty of food toys, birdie bagels .. nuts they need to crack, those things keep them mellow during the day .

[maggieL]

Originally Posted by Monica

When your bird screams, how do you react? Do you come running to see what the problem is only to find that nothing is out of the ordinary? Do you yell at the bird to shut up or hit the cage? Reacting to a birds screaming can only make things worse and teaches the bird nothing. If you have a close bond to the bird, you can do one of two things:

1. Tell the bird where you are going, and how long you will be. Birds enjoy being with their flock and do not like being separated. They may scream for you to come back. Whenever you leave, tell them where you are going (is it to work? Or is it just another room?) and what you are doing, for how long. If the bird screams, reassure them where you are.

2. Completely ignore the bird. If your bird screams, do not react. This cannot happen overnight, however with patience, and earplugs, over time your bird will learn that screaming isn’t getting him what he wants. After your parrot has been quiet for at least 2 minutes (up to 5 minutes), go to your bird and praise them for being quiet, maybe give them a treat or toy. Over a course of several weeks, increase the amount of time that your bird is quiet then reward your bird. This teaches the bird that it gets attention with he or she is quiet, not when they are loud.

Number one works for Buddy,when he screams I just tell him what I am doing or say "I'm here" then he sometimes says "Come here" and I say "In a while crocidile" It probably sounds silly but I love our conversations and he is so smart, I believe he understands me and knows what we are saying to each other

[cockatoo]

I have to agree with Monica - way to go!

What I've found has worked beautifully, is investing in a couple of CD's with Amazon bird/animal noises. This has been great -- everyone is at attention most of the time, listening to who...all else is in the area. It's a riot...it's also soothing for me and others to listen to as well, much like rainforest noises.

I have mostly Toos, and Macaws with issues....that I've adopted/rescued through the years. And it's soothing to them as well...

Manon
www.wingspanaviaries.com

[sml]

Originally Posted by spectre

I know of one woman who had a noisy GW macaw. She placed a bell in its cage and would ignore it if it screamed but would come running if it tinkled the bell. Now it just rings the bell when it really needs something.

Thats a funny invention

I have taught also to our birds that I come only to them when they whistle/say/do something in nice quiet way. And that works greatly! Amazon wistles, macaw says "tule tule, which means come, come in english. The grey havent yet learn any specific callingsound, she just use many different nice voices.