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[April12]

About 2 weeks ago I got a 8 month old Quaker parrot. For the first few days he was very quite and the more he got used to me the more vocal he got. When we are alone he is relatively quite. He "sings" in the morning until I wake up and if I leave him alone for to long he starts screaming but the thing that kind of brothers me is that whenever someone comes into my room and starts talking to me he would start screaming as loud as possible until they stop talking sometimes even if he hears someone talking to me outside of my room he would start screaming. He does this thing with songs to it's like he is trying to be louder then the song or the person talking and I don't understand why or how to stop this behaviour.

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[GaleriaGila]

Screaming is such a challenge. The Rb loves the sound of his own shrieks so much that I catch him sometimes just doing a StevieWonder groove, eyes half-closed, just marveling at his own volume.

Ignoring screams and rewarding quiet is the key but to the extent that screaming is self-reinforcing, well... toys, distraction, fun foods...

Is there a nutritious treat that really sends him?
I can always get a bit of silence by tossing the Rb a fat, juicy green chile. Of course, this can function as rewarding the screaming, so use with caution.

Take heart... try to hear it as ... parrot love!

I am bumping your thread in hopes you'll get more advice. Screaming is probably THE #1 problem with parrots.

Good luck.
Stick with us.

 

[noodles123]

Yes---and if you leave the room, sometimes talking to the bird BEFORE the screaming starts can PREVENT it--- never answer back to screaming once it starts or you are rewarding it. Do NOT crack initially-- you may have to wait it out for hours..My rule was, once screaming started, the human should be silent, no eye contact and do not re-enter the room. As soon as the bird is quiet for 10 seconds (1-Mississippi, 2 Mississippi...etc) come back in and praise for being so quiet (using a quiet voice yourself). If 10 s is TOO long, start w/ 5 and work up to 10. Any screams DURING the 5-10 Mississippi- second count re-start the clock back to 1. Be consistent and be patient and this will work.

Birds are flock creatures, so this is normal. That is why you can often prevent it by talking to your bird from the other room BEFORE screaming begins, but once it starts, you have to wait it out--wait it out (not forever...but follow a time-frame and wait for a window of quiet).