Is this spoiling?

[eagle18]

I have had Fred for about nine months now and it has been an up and down roller coaster. He came to me in a hamster size cage and I kept him upstairs in that cage for about four months until I was able to buy him a very large cage. He seems to miss the smaller one.

I put the large cage downstairs off of the T.V. room and at first everything was fine. But a few days ago he started screaming at night. He has a night light and plenty of fresh water, food and toys. I thought maybe a turned on T.V. at a low volume would help. It has and it hasn't. Last night he started screaming and I just ignored him.

I have been told over and over again by experts not to spoil this bird. Am I spoiling him by leaving the T.V. on? If he would to go to another person down the line I don't want to make it so they can't stand Fred and then he is passed from home to home.

 

[Scott]

You'll have to play detective and psychologist to determine why Fred is now screaming at night. Is it possible he misses the small cage at night? Did he initially spend the night in your bedroom?

Not sure if leaving the TV on will help, but it might add a bit of complexity to his expectations. As you know, Umbrella's can be a handful.

 

[eagle18]

Yes, too much of a handful. Never again! I am often wondering if he is happy or not. No, he was down the hall from my bedroom. He was a banshee when I first got him but we have that now under control...a little. But yes, I do believe he misses that cage.It was God awful but it was familiar.

I would go onto mytoo's for help but they are a hostile bunch over there. Thank you Scott for replying.

 

[GaleriaGila]

What Scott said...
I would vote for experimenting with tv-off at night. It fits with natural light cycles.
And may I say: YOU ARE A HERO, to me, for taking this needy darling on!
I think you're GREAT!

 

[Laylatoo]

Is he covered at night? I know my birds sleep excellent now that I cover them. I have cozzzy covers for their cages so the light is basically blocked out and I don’t hear a peep out of them until I uncover in the morning. Before I covered, Layla wouldn’t settle and seemed nervous at night. Just a thought. Hope you find a solution and he continues to blossom in your care.

 

[eagle18]

He was covered when he was in the little cage. But when I tried to put a sheet over his big cage he bit me. My family thinks he was just attacking the sheet, but either way it hurt.

 

[wrench13]

Hi there. Possability of using his old small cage as a sleeping cage only?

 

[Scott]

Yes, too much of a handful. Never again! I am often wondering if he is happy or not. No, he was down the hall from my bedroom. He was a banshee when I first got him but we have that now under control...a little. But yes, I do believe he misses that cage.It was God awful but it was familiar.

I would go onto mytoo's for help but they are a hostile bunch over there. Thank you Scott for replying.

Hi there. Possability of using his old small cage as a sleeping cage only?

mytoos has a purpose, perhaps more to dissuade folks from acquiring toos rather than giving assistance with existing relationships.

I was going to also suggest placing Freddy in the small cage at night for sleeping. My hunch is he may prefer to sleep in your bedroom, and if agreeable, the small cage would be ideal. Food for thought, though it may open a large can of worms should you subsequently choose to place him elsewhere at night!

 

[Sunnyclover]

Hi there. Possability of using his old small cage as a sleeping cage only?

This is what I would recommend...or buy a similar cage and use that for a sleep cage. Also, TV off.

 

[LordTriggs]

Like others have said I think it's insecurity over being in a larger space to sleep. I would also turn off the TV but perhaps instead try playing low level white noise. I do the same for myself due to anxiety and it helps me sleep like a log

 

[AmyMyBlueFront]

I agree...he may feel secure in the smaller cage,and knowing you are right there 9in your bedroom)
Maybe have him in the small one to sleep,and have him in the larger one during the day? Until he feels comfortable with it? then slowly (once a week) see if he can sleep in the larger one. If he seems ok with it,try twice a week,then three times...etc etc until he is comfy all te time?



Jim

 

[Siobhan]

How does he bite you when you try to cover the cage? If he's shut in, he shouldn't be able to reach you to bite you. A cover and darkness could make a huge difference. No TV. It makes him think you're still up and then he wants you to hang out with him.

 

[eagle18]

How does he bite you when you try to cover the cage? If he's shut in, he shouldn't be able to reach you to bite you. A cover and darkness could make a huge difference. No TV. It makes him think you're still up and then he wants you to hang out with him.

How does he bite me? With his beak of course. LOL ( I crack myself up!)

eagle18 View Public Profile Send a private message to eagle18 Find all posts by eagle18 Add eagle18 to Your Contacts

How does he bite me? With his beak of course. LOL ( I crack myself up!)

He climbed up to the top of the cage and proceeded to bite through the sheet. The part where my thumb was. Thank you for explaining to me about the T.V. I plan to turn if off tonight.

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[eagle18]

Yes, too much of a handful. Never again! I am often wondering if he is happy or not. No, he was down the hall from my bedroom. He was a banshee when I first got him but we have that now under control...a little. But yes, I do believe he misses that cage.It was God awful but it was familiar.

I would go onto mytoo's for help but they are a hostile bunch over there. Thank you Scott for replying.

Hi there. Possability of using his old small cage as a sleeping cage only?

mytoos has a purpose, perhaps more to dissuade folks from acquiring toos rather than giving assistance with existing relationships.

I was going to also suggest placing Freddy in the small cage at night for sleeping. My hunch is he may prefer to sleep in your bedroom, and if agreeable, the small cage would be ideal. Food for thought, though it may open a large can of worms should you subsequently choose to place him elsewhere at night!

Thank you Scott, although I still feel like the owner of mytoos is meaner than a rattlesnake. I went onto that site and quickly jumped off with one owner and a moderator on my butt.

Thank you so much everyone for caring! I can't use the smaller cage because now my bare eye cockatoo occupies it. Another reason Fred hates Bandit. I use to feed him a warm meal before he went to bed and I stopped doing that. I am wondering if he misses that.

I might go out and purchase a smaller cage for him.

I just know that these birds can be manipulative so I try not to give into every shriek he makes. He had his first owner just a running and fetching for him all the time.