Interesting (albeit bothersome) screaming behaviour

[Dinosrawr]

I'm just curious if anyone else has ever encountered this. My birds definitely vocalize, as most parrots do. But they are FAR more likely to do continuous screeching if my boyfriend is the only one in the room with them, which is kind of a huge issue as the screaming only worsens his current state of mind. If I'm in the room with them, they may talk or occasionally let out a screech, but it's pretty rare. They're incredibly quiet with me no matter what I'm doing so long as I'm in the room with them.

For example, this morning I woke them up and sat in the room for a good 40 minutes waiting for them to eat a good portion of breakfast before letting them out. They hardly made a peep. Then my boyfriend comes back into the room after bathing, and while we're both their they stay relatively quiet, talking here and there. I then decided to leave the room and go into our office space to go on my computer, and BAM - insane amounts of consistent shrieking for a good 35 minutes. The first 5 minutes were contact calls for me, but after that it was almost mindless, loud shrieks aimed at my boyfriend.. and when he finally couldn't stand it and left, dead silence. Not a peep. They haven't said a word.


They always seem to do this, regardless if I'm home or not. If he's in the room with them, they'll scream their heads off pointlessly. Even if they're out, even if he's just sitting there, even if they're right beside each other preening or with him. They'll shriek until the cows - or I - come home. And I know it's not a "I hate you" scream, because they both love him and enjoy being with him. At the same time I almost feel like they can sense his state of mind and almost want to bully him for it.

Has anyone else ever experienced it where the birds will scream moreso "at" one person versus others?

 

[texsize]

Do they also scream when you leave the room and the room is empty?
I know that is really the only time my Zon's scream. If we all leave the living-room (especially if we leave the tv running) and go into bedroom's /kitchen and they have no people to look at.
Can you try taking one of your Fids with you to the computer?
texsize.

 

[Dinosrawr]

It's not so much an issue of me leaving and them calling for me, it's that they literally scream their heads off when it's just my boyfriend in the room. They didn't scream when he left, and 40 minutes later they still haven't made any calls (nor have I entered the room).

If I were to take one and not the other, Shiko would contact call consistently. But once again, it's not the contact calling that's bothersome. It's the incessant screaming directed at Brendon. They do it every day with him.

 

[plumsmum2005]

I'm just curious if anyone else has ever encountered this. My birds definitely vocalize, as most parrots do. But they are FAR more likely to do continuous screeching if my boyfriend is the only one in the room with them, which is kind of a huge issue as the screaming only worsens his current state of mind. If I'm in the room with them, they may talk or occasionally let out a screech, but it's pretty rare. They're incredibly quiet with me no matter what I'm doing so long as I'm in the room with them.

For example, this morning I woke them up and sat in the room for a good 40 minutes waiting for them to eat a good portion of breakfast before letting them out. They hardly made a peep. Then my boyfriend comes back into the room after bathing, and while we're both their they stay relatively quiet, talking here and there. I then decided to leave the room and go into our office space to go on my computer, and BAM - insane amounts of consistent shrieking for a good 35 minutes. The first 5 minutes were contact calls for me, but after that it was almost mindless, loud shrieks aimed at my boyfriend.. and when he finally couldn't stand it and left, dead silence. Not a peep. They haven't said a word.


They always seem to do this, regardless if I'm home or not. If he's in the room with them, they'll scream their heads off pointlessly. Even if they're out, even if he's just sitting there, even if they're right beside each other preening or with him. They'll shriek until the cows - or I - come home. And I know it's not a "I hate you" scream, because they both love him and enjoy being with him. At the same time I almost feel like they can sense his state of mind and almost want to bully him for it.

Has anyone else ever experienced it where the birds will scream moreso "at" one person versus others?

You don't state what that is but they do pick up and hone in on things easily.

Or it's that they want him to do something with them? Do they have a playtime with him?

 

[Anansi]

You don't state what that is but they do pick up and hone in on things easily.

Or it's that they want him to do something with them? Do they have a playtime with him?

Great points, both. Has this state of mind been a recent development? And, if so, have Shiko's and Avery's behavior coincided with that timeline?

And also, do they scream if they're actually out and playing with him? (Without you in the room, of course)

 

[Dinosrawr]

Thanks for the responses [emoji4].

They do have play time with him, and they do often continue the behaviour even if he's interacting with them. I'll come home and he'll have bloodshot eyes from the massive headaches they give him. He's so kind in that he wants to spend time with them and have them out, but they've been making it so hard for him to do it lately with their behaviour.

It does honestly seem like they're reacting to how he feels and bullying him. He's been pretty stressed, anxious, and down because of a multitude of things. Essentially just a cocktail of negative emotions that he's trying to keep to himself as he's not the type to burden others with his problems, and he's not a reactive type of person either. Avery's screaming is pretty consistent with his emotions in regards to timeline, though. She NEVER screams like that with me, ever. So when she gets started Shiko continues the screaming and they amp each other up into a screaming storm around him.

I'm not exactly sure how to stop it. I've told him to cover Avery whenever she gets started, but he'll do that and she'll continue her screaming regardless. The only way it stops is if he leaves, but in a way it feels like he's rewarding them for that behaviour because the screaming stops - it's almost opposite of when a person leaves and they scream for them to come back.

I'm pretty much at a loss. He's starting to feel like they don't like him or want him around, but I just feel like they're sensing his negativity and behaving accordingly. Either way it's not exactly a great situation [emoji20]

 

[plumsmum2005]

Thanks for the responses [emoji4].

They do have play time with him, and they do often continue the behaviour even if he's interacting with them. I'll come home and he'll have bloodshot eyes from the massive headaches they give him. He's so kind in that he wants to spend time with them and have them out, but they've been making it so hard for him to do it lately with their behaviour.

It does honestly seem like they're reacting to how he feels and bullying him. He's been pretty stressed, anxious, and down because of a multitude of things. Essentially just a cocktail of negative emotions that he's trying to keep to himself as he's not the type to burden others with his problems, and he's not a reactive type of person either. Avery's screaming is pretty consistent with his emotions in regards to timeline, though. She NEVER screams like that with me, ever. So when she gets started Shiko continues the screaming and they amp each other up into a screaming storm around him.

I'm not exactly sure how to stop it. I've told him to cover Avery whenever she gets started, but he'll do that and she'll continue her screaming regardless. The only way it stops is if he leaves, but in a way it feels like he's rewarding them for that behaviour because the screaming stops - it's almost opposite of when a person leaves and they scream for them to come back.

I'm pretty much at a loss. He's starting to feel like they don't like him or want him around, but I just feel like they're sensing his negativity and behaving accordingly. Either way it's not exactly a great situation [emoji20]

I really feel for you, he sounds a great guy and he loves birds! Would he consider some counseling - perhaps talking to someone who isn't known may help. Please encourage him to seek some help although it isnt always easy to do this with males I know.

Re birds I would cut short playtime if they create blue murder, tell them to be quiet, shush or such like as the first thing and finally leave the room.
If they are bullying dont let them! They will learn that good things do not happen whilst they are carrying on. Obviously if they do quieten then he will need to positively reinforce that with treats and praise. Sending all good wishes your way.

 

[Anansi]

Wow. I've never heard a case quite like this one. I mean, we've all heard of situations where a bird screams whenever a certain person enters the room. But Shiro and Avery are so... specific with their trigger. They only scream if they are alone with him! Wow.

I'd say to arm him with each bird's favorite treats and have him begin bribing them. (You can no longer feed them these favorite treats. Only him.) Once they begin to associate him with said treats and anticipate his arrival with them (this should be done between meals when they are at their hungriest), he can make a big show of turning away when they start screaming at him. This way, his turning away wouldn't quite be a reward for them anymore. It would be about them losing out on their treats. (As long as you wait until the treat association with him is firmly established.)

As for your boyfriend, I hope he rebounds soon from these feelings of anxiety and depression. I think it's a testament to his character that he endeavors to spend time with them even though their screams can sometimes add to his emotional distress.

I hope one of these suggestions works out for your situation, Chantal. Please keep us updated.


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[Dinosrawr]

Thanks Plumsmum [emoji4] I'm not really at liberty to discuss all of what my boyfriend battles, but you can be confident in knowing that he seeks out professional help as often as possible. He's certainly not shy in terms of taking control of his life and doing everything in his power to be as calm and kind as he is.

I'll tell him to try and give an immediate reaction to their behaviour instead of trying to wait it out. It feels so counterintuitive considering that you shouldn't reinforce screaming by responding to it, but it's a bit of a backwards situation. I'll let you know how it goes. I might have to start teaching them a "quiet" command. I can disrupt Shiko's screaming with a whistle, but Avery may be more difficult. I'll have to think of something and get him to try it. If they do be quiet, I'll definitely get him to reward!

Stephen, I think I agree. I'll also try having him be the only positive reinforcer in regards to treats and to use physical language to show them that screaming is not accepted. I'll have him give treats consistently to them, akin to a clicker, for a few days. Then as they scream, he can say "no treat" and turn his back. They definitely know what "no" and "treat" mean, so I'm sure they'll make the connection!

I'll get my boyfriend to try these suggestions for the next month. One for the first week or two, then the other. Thanks for the help and suggestions, I really appreciate it and so does he [emoji4]

 

[Anansi]

You'll likely need to give the technique more than two weeks for it to be effective, Chantal. But fortunately, the two approaches have much in common and aren't mutually exclusive once the association is made between your boyfriend and treats. Take a look back and you'll see what I mean.

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[Dinosrawr]

Yeah, I agree. Brendon spends the brunt of the time out with the birds before I get home and they've generally been out for four hours before I even walk back in the door. My line of thinking is if he's consistent every day with a particular behaviour (specifically regarding for silence), it shouldn't take longer than a month or two to have the initial behavioural trigger in place. I told him it'll take awhile, and chances are the silence will only be in increments at first. He's okay with that (thankfully - partners who appreciate your birds are wonderful!).

The most ironic part of all of this is that Shiko is the loud one 99% of the time. He ALWAYS screams and vocalizes, but that's just who he is. Avery is generally dead quiet and will often give a quick, "stop screaming" sound to Shiko too. But when it comes to him, she lets loose her loudest scream. I'm hoping this little trainings mods will do something, and it kind of sucks because I can't really do the training for them like I have for nearly everything else.