Amazon Screaming - Help!

[sydbee53]

Hello all!

This is my first time posting, and wanted some advice for my white-fronted Amazon. Her name is Captain America, and we adopted her about a year and a half ago. She's basically our baby, and we love her to bits and pieces, and she loves us! (From what we can tell.)

Our main issue is she screams. A lot. From what I can tell, her main trigger is in the afternoons (no matter how much time we've spent with her), or when she hears me come home in the afternoon. She squawks and squawks until I come check on her, and even then if I don't pay enough attention to her, she'll scream at me in the room.

I'm looking for some training tips and possibly some explanations for the screaming. I know I'm inadvertently reinforcing some of this behavior, but I have to check on her when I get home from work and there's barely a window here she isn't screaming that I could go in. I also don't entirely know what happy/angry vocalizations sound like for an Amazon, and it's hard to research. I've generally learned to read her body language, but I can't always tell if she's happy squawking or angry squawking.

Thanks in advance!
-Sydney, aka Bird Mom

 

[Laurasea]

Welcome to the forum! At the top of the Amazon forum are blue stickies threads, read those.

Make a post under welcomed new members thread do everyone knows you are new.

Here is a link to a screaming article
https://blogpamelaclarkonline.com/2...olve-your-parrots-screaming-problem-for-good/

 

[texsize]

I am dealing with the same problem in my Green Cheek Amazon's.
The afternoon time (and in the morning) are there natural time for making noise.
Sometimes re-directing them to a whistle instead of a scream can be done.
When they scream answer them with a whistle tune you don't find objectional.

Covering them for a little while can be effective but it's frowned on.

You did not mention the age of your Amazon. From my experience Amazons tend to become more calm and less prone to screaming as they mature.

 

[wrench13]

Re-directing can work, if the good Capt has a favorite song or tune, whistle it. Sometimes talking to her ina whisper can work too. But honestly Amazons are loud at some point in the day.OurSalty's trigger is when my wife starts to prepare dinner, he will just loose his S**T for10-20 minutes, even though we are all in the same room.

Do you have a contact call with Capt? One he uses to say like "I'm here,where are you" and you should have one that says to him, "I'm right here and I'm OK". They need thatin the wild and amazon companion parrots need that too.

Always look at it that its NEVER the fault of the Amazon, Its always the faultof the human. Once you have that perspective, it will help you figure things out.

 

[wrench13]

Oh and hav a small treat for her when you come home, we use small pieces ofpine nuts, just to say Hi and acknowledge that your home and happy to see her. Our Salty likes to rough house play at that point and it lets him blow off some steam.

 

[SailBoat]

Aaaaa, the joys of an Amazon in full health and Loving the World around themselves.

Personally I love an Amazon in full volume joy of living! Your biggest nightmare is coming home to a silent home! It will send shivers up your spine...

As stated above -- Amazons and near all Parrots are into Contact Calls as it is a natural part of their keeping in touch with each other. Try Contacting her first as you enter the door... Hey, there are very few things more enjoyable than being Welcomed Home!

It can not be repeated often enough: Contact Calls are the foundation of communications with your Amazon... As stated above, changing to a favorite song/ tune or a whistle can change the sounds. FYI: We use a series of different songs and tunes for different events, hence bring meaning to them. One song is always used when we wish to bring a sense of comfort to the moment. Another is used to address, Hey I'm Home and I missed you. Or, I'm leaving for (length of time), but I will be back... It is surprising how quickly they pick-up on what you are communicating.

I have worked out of the home for years and it was not uncommon that our Amazon would be sitting with me. As I was busy with different projects, our Amazon would be keeping an eye on the World around me. It wasn't long before I was being made aware that the Mail was being delivered, UPS was delivering something, the neighbors where walking by, etc, etc, etc... Once you start Contact Call use, you will be very surprised as to what information your Amazon will be bring your way!!!

Enjoy, after all, you live in the Wonderful World of Amazons!

 

[msdeb]

Mine starts as soon as they see my car pull into the driveway. I always hollar "hello!" back at them and do whatever I need to do( take off my coat, put up my purse, etc. ) until I can go into the living room and let them out. After that I do my evening routines (cook dinner, start laundry, whatever else needs done) but I can take them to a stand in whichever room I am in. Including them can cut down on the noise considerably. Sometimes mine get a half a corn on the cob to occupy them while we are busy. Often I go to the birds first and after a short visit I am released from service to continue to my chores.

 

[Ira7]

Often I go to the birds first and after a short visit I am released from service to continue to my chores.

HAHHHHHH!!!!!!!!

That’s the best way to describe it, and it should be mandatory learning for all new parrot owners. To quote a famous mafia movie:

“This is the life we chose!”

But does he have to see your car or just hear it? My sweet, departed cockatiel, 25 years old, chirped like mad when I pulled into the driveway, but couldn’t see me at all.