My green cheek needs attention all day!

[mangokeaton]

Hey guys,

I've had my Pineapple green cheek for about 8 months now- I love him so much. Over the past couple weeks he's really started to bond to me and is always fluffed up just waiting for me to scratch his neck or give him a nice little massage He's adorable, but the only thing is I live in a first floor apartment with neighbors above me and I work from home a decent amount. He's already out of his cage for hours each day, but the second I put him in his cage he'll squeak and scream for me to come and get him. It's tough to ignore the calls because I have people living above me and need to keep him quite. His cage is full of toys, but he hardly ever plays with them and just always seems to be interested in whatever I'm doing.

I know that birds are naturally loud, but before the past couple of weeks (when he really started to gain a liking to me) he was really quiet even when he wanted to get out. I'll post some pictures in the future

 

[Agapornis]

Mangokeaton, I feel your pain! Both my GCCs do that, so having another GCC is no guarantee that they will entertain themselves when you are busy.

This is what I do: I put towels or a sheet on the table, and park their big flight cage next to it...then I attached a long rope perch to the top of their cage, and it hangs down to the table. On the table I have toys and food and water. So they can climb up and down, back to their cage or the table. They can also look out the window at the wild birds. That seems to keep them busy for a bit.

 

[legal_eagle]

It's normal for them to want to be with you all day, since in the wild conures are with their flock members all of the time. My GCC would love to be out with me all day long, but she's pretty quiet when she's in her cage, although she makes a squawk here or there. Are you saying that yours is screaming nonstop whenever he's in his cage? Has anyone actually complained? Also, I've found that GCC's tend not to spend a lot of time playing with toys by themselves.

 

[mangokeaton]

thanks aga! It's a great ideaa, i'll give it shot!


Legal,
No complaints as of yet, but my landlord has a no pets policy so I can't even afford a single complaint She starts off with quiet squaks to try and get my attention and when I ignore them she naturally gets louder....she's so darn smart.

 

[sofiaee]

Maybe read this? Living With Parrots Cage Free: Does Ignoring Really Work?

I'm no expert and am having issues with my conure screeching too but if she makes quieter sounds at first that you don't mind maybe try rewarding those by getting her out or a treat or at least calling back to her?

keep in mind I'm no expert haha

 

[Birdman666]

He is "pair bonding" with you. These are his natural pair bond behaviors. He needs to be taught that he can't be with you all the time, and needs to play nice.

He needs to be taught to play with toys at this point.

Conures should self entertain.

Conure spoiled bird syndrome is not pretty! It's not quite as bad as cockatoo spoiled bird syndrome, but it can drive you quite mad... Nip this in the bud now!

Put the toys on your lap, and play with them with him... Then, when he gets interested, put the toy back in his cage, and put him in it...

Standard screaming protocol (AND IT REALLY DOES NOT MATTER WHAT SPECIES YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT) is to cover the cage on 3 sides. If he continues to scream, then cover the front as well, until he quiets down. ONCE HE QUIETS DOWN, uncover the front of the cage. PRAISE HIM FOR BEING QUIET... Then, if he remains quiet, uncover the entire cage again. Praise and reward him again, for being quiet... (Most folks forget to praise the positive, and forget to reinforce quiet. Then the bird ends up being covered more and more.)

REINFORCE THE GOOD BEHAVIOR. NOT THE SCREAMING. HE CANNOT GET HIS WAY BY SCREAMING, OR IT WILL GET WORSE!!! HE CANNOT GET A "DRAMA REWARD" WITH YOU RUNNING OVER TO HIM WHEN HE SCREAMS.

THE MORE HE SCREAMS, THE MORE HE GETS IGNORED. THE LESS HE SCREAMS, THE MORE HE GETS PRAISED AND INTERACTED WITH.

Once he learns this, you probably won't have to cover him. Just get the cover out, ask the bird "Do I have to cover you?" and drop it on the floor next to the cage, and leave it there. Your bird will get the message...

 

[Birdman666]

Maybe read this? Living With Parrots Cage Free: Does Ignoring Really Work?

I disagree with some of this.

Again, the ignoring part is only about 1/4 of the protocol. That, in and of itself, doesn't do it. Pro Active.

Scream = you get caged and covered. Quiet down, and you get out and interacted with. Which do you prefer, bird?! Guess which one the bird will pick!

I vehemently disagree with techniques such as squirting the bird with water. Phobic birds are created in this manner.

I just posted the standard screaming protocol used at most rescues.

It works about 85% of the time, and some of these birds come in screaming for 5+ hours straight at full volume...

 

[MonicaMc]

Covering the cage doesn't answer why the bird is screaming in the first place. sofiaee posted a link that tries to prevent screaming in the first place so that it doesn't occur, therefore no need to 'ignore' it.

Parrots can find it rewarding for a person to come over and cover the cage, if that's what they wanted. Someone to come and "visit" them.

 

[legal_eagle]

I would cover the cage briefly until the screaming stops. Rinse and repeat.

 

[Kalidasa]

Is it possible just to leave him out, especially if you're home?

 

[mangokeaton]

Is it possible just to leave him out, especially if you're home?

well I do this, he's out every second I'm home. I live in an open apartment so I can see him from any part of the place. It's just he always wants to be on my shoulder or doing what I'm doing It's not the worst problem, I just want him to play with his toys when I'm not around more!