Loud parakeet

[weaglette]

​4 weeks ago I moved to a new apartment. My two parakeets are in the same cage as before, in front of a window like before, next to the same plant as before. I tried to make it as similar as possible.
But the male squawks loudly continously. It's hard to watch tv or read with this racket going on, It's like he's calling me to complain, or trying to send a message to someone else. The only creature he could possibly miss might be an outside bird that hung around the old place but I never noticed that happening.
I've yelled at him, sprayed with with water, put new toys in the cage and put him in the closet....I don't know what else to do. I'm afraid the new neighbors are going to start complaining.
Suggestions?

 

[Christinenc2000]

Oh no Please don't spray him with water or put in the closet Maybe he feels your tension and is reacting from that.

 

[SoCalWendy]

Don't worry about something that hasn't happend yet. Chances are it won't. Please do not spray him with water either, or put him in the closet. He is probably confused and scared because of his new surroundings. You need to be more patient with him, maybe let him out of his cage so he can explore. He will calm down, but if your getting mad at him for being/doing with birds do, you will not help him transition and will only make it worst for him and for you.

P.s. Yelling at him will only encourage him to yell back at you. So you are encouraging his behavior by yelling at him.

 

[RavensGryf]

Budgies ARE loud and obnoxious at times. Especially males. People think because they're small, that means quiet. There's a surprising amount of volume there when they get a screaming fit going.

It is the WRONG thing to do to spray a bird with water or yell at it. Birds don't learn that way. Their instinctual way of 'thinking' is very different than us or other mammals. It will do more harm than good, and still won't stop him from screaming.

Budgies are very vocal birds period. Even happy well adjusted Budgies that get to play and fly to their hearts content. Maybe even more so when they're happy! There are ways to work with larger species who have a screaming habit, BUT I believe Budgies don't always scream for the same purposeful or manipulative reasons as some parrot species do. IMO you can't stop a Budgie from being vocal any more than you can stop a wild songbird from singing when it wants to. Yeah, lock it in a dark closet would work sure, but how cruel is that?! Think about it.

I normally wouldn't suggest someone rehoming their birds, but if it really bothers you that much, then I'd maybe consider finding them a home where they can truly be appreciated for the little cute characters they can be. Someone who can truly accept the noise even when it gets irritating. Good luck.

 

[weaglette]

I did let him out but he flew all over without finding the cage again and I had to capture him so that just created more stress.
The female is fine. She just stares at him like he's crazy.

 

[Christinenc2000]

Maybe because the weekend is coming up you can spend some extra time with them and help them relax into the new area buy a special treat for them.

 

[weaglette]

And to RavensGryf, I've had parakeets for over 20 years and do not appreciate your snippy, condescending response. I am quite familiar with their normal behavior which is why I reached out for ideas on how to handle this anomaly. I will now look elsewhere.

 

[Christinenc2000]

Oh don't be mad. One thing I do appreciate is you were totally honest in your post and I am sure others want to help.

 

[RavensGryf]

And to RavensGryf, I've had parakeets for over 20 years and do not appreciate your snippy, condescending response. I am quite familiar with their normal behavior which is why I reached out for ideas on how to handle this anomaly. I will now look elsewhere.

Sorry you misunderstood it to be condescending. I simply went off of what I saw written on your post. Hopefully you haven't been spraying budgies and yelling at them for the past 20 years.

With that, mods, I'm off this thread :52:

 

[SoCalWendy]

And to RavensGryf, I've had parakeets for over 20 years and do not appreciate your snippy, condescending response. I am quite familiar with their normal behavior which is why I reached out for ideas on how to handle this anomaly. I will now look elsewhere.

Oh please don't go... Sometimes it's hard to tell how a person is responding by a post, especially when it's a sensitive issue. I'm sure her comments were well intensioned. I even thought hmmm what your doing was extreme to a bird who is not settled into his new home. Maybe he misses his old surroundings, wild birds outside, etc. I had a canary that I loved dearly die suddenly. He was also by a window and there was a bird feeder on the other side of the window. He made several friends with the wild canaries and other wild birds. When he died, I had to remove the feeder because these wild birds would come to my window and call in looking for Skiddle. It made me so sad. 3 months after removing the feeder I still had wild birds calling in to my window. I decided to get another bird. But my point is, he was used to his old surroundings, sites and sounds. Make sure his cage is visible and let him explore. Place some lettuce or Millet on top of his cage and encourage him to go there. Whatever you do please don't chase him or yell at him. He will only see you as a predator. If you want him to go back into his cage, put something in it he really likes.

 

[SoCalWendy]

And to RavensGryf, I've had parakeets for over 20 years and do not appreciate your snippy, condescending response. I am quite familiar with their normal behavior which is why I reached out for ideas on how to handle this anomaly. I will now look elsewhere.

Sorry you misunderstood it to be condescending. I simply went off of what I saw written on your post. Hopefully you haven't been spraying budgies and yelling at them for the past 20 years.

With that, mods, I'm off this thread :52:

You didn't say anything wrong, nor were you condescending. Some people can be very sensitive when it comes to the care of their animals. I have a psycho German Shephard across the street that is suffering from serious separation anxiety, all he wants to do is escape and because he can't he barks and barks and barks. I trained dogs for years, I want so badly to go and help that dog, but I am apprehensive about how to approach his owners. I'd even train him for free, if they would let me. :21:

 

[Kalidasa]

I agree with ravensgryf first of all. And I've been keeping budgies in an unbroken line for 35 years, and never even heard of such nonsense. Spraying them and sticking them in a closet to "shut them up" is abusive behavior, period. Your budgie is obviously upset and looking for reassurance, not FLAT OUT ABUSE! Hosing down a dog and at putting it in a closet is ABUSE (I can use caps too!) doing it to a child, or any creature is ABUSE! It's no different for such a creature as bright and sensitive as a budgie. I pity your birds for having such a cruel owner. And you can blast me with your impotent caps all you want, but you are an abusive animal owner. What a tough guy, terrorizing a little defenseless budgie! Shame on you!

 

[getwozzy]

Alright folks, put your pitchforks away....

The OP came here for help- why not give constructive advice that would help out in this particular situation instead of bashing them?

Although I do not agree with the methods that have been tried, I would suggest looking at the situation from a different angle- even though you've tried to make the new place as similar as the old, what if there's something scary outside the new window? Or like others have suggested, maybe he's calling for a wild birdy friend?? Maybe change things up- relocate the cage away from the window, turn on the radio or tv, or try distracting him with fun and interesting toys?

 

[Mattroma]

While I in no way condone you methods ,I do understand your stress. I lived in a apartment with a husky. There were times I was like "oh my god shut up". Afraid that the other neighbors would complain about her being loud. It forced me to adjust my routine with her. It meant more walks, more belly rubs, more toys etc..
I know a dog and and a budgie are very different, I do commend you for trying to find a solution. But to get angry at them for being loud is absurd, after all they're budgies.
You said that you let him fly around but got stressed trying to catch him. Let him fly longer,he will tire out. If that doesn't work clip his wings,buy a small play stand, fake tree something new for him to explore. Better yet he will be able to sit with you for some interaction.
But honestly one way I can tell my budgies are happy and content is by the amount of vocalization they do. The times they are quite are when they are startled and stressed do to some sort of commotion. I've also noticed that they love to be heard over the tv. I would take it as a postive response that they are so vocal so soon after a move.

 

[JerseyWendy]

.....(I can use caps too!) ......!

LOL Chris! She didn't use all caps, she increased the font size... :54:ROFLMAO!

 

[HeyHey]

Is it possible that the parakeet is sick or hurt?

 

[ZephyrFly]

I've been discouraged from other forums because of negative criticism from comments (in websites defence the moderator did revive my confidence but not til after a few comments that made me more than a bit irked) and I've always liked this forum for their understanding and helpfulness. I'd be sad to see someone turn away after a bad experience.
We're always learning better ways to help our birds and learn new ways to deal with their behaviour, either being patient or modifying their behaviour or any other way.
Yes the spray bottle doesn't help, doesn't always work for cats and dogs either.
The closet, well if he cant see you or the other bird he is still likely to call out, "guys? Where are you?".

 

[Abigal7]

If you want to do something immediate the only thing I suggest is cover the cage when the bird is loud and then uncover it when it is quiet. I have no desire to try to judge you and understand you are just being stressed that someone will complain about the noise. I have come to the belief birds do sense a person's stress. The bird no doubt senses your stress when you spray it with water or put it in the closet. I want to add I do not think anyone here thinks bad of you but they will speak up that they do not agree with these methods. On a side note it is funny that when you get more then one budgie on how loud they become. I swear they are the noisiest bird that I hear in any petstore.

 

[EAI]

On the top of my head, I'm thinking it could be a flock call. Maybe someone had a parrot at their old house? Or there were groups of birds around all the time and your male got used to him? Other than that, I think everything is still new to him so he's letting out his distress for now, or there is something outside or inside that's startling him like already stated.
Or maybe the yelling is making him yell back? As you're encouraging him to let out his screams. But I totally understand, sometimes they get a bit noisy when everything is quiet but earphones work fine .

Are your parakeets handtamed? I was thinking you could allow them on your shoulders and slowly introduce them to different rooms.

Please know that no one here wants to be rude or upsetting to someone else. We try to give advice on what we think would better your birds and you. Of course, you don't have to agree and go along 100% (well maybe unless it's medical), but it's good to just have that on the back of your head.

Maybe dimming the lights will help soothe them when they get too noisy.

 

[weaglette]

Delfin,
I got your message but it wouldn't let me send a private message back since I just joined.