Need help with Blue and Gold behavior

[vajbirds]

Hello, I am new here but I could really use some advice.
I have a 12 year old Blue and Gold that I have had since he was 9 mths old. He is a very typical bird in most ways. He is messy and loud etc. He loves all members of my immediate family, my husband and 3 daughters but does not really like anyone else. And unless they are already a bird person and are not afraid, he will not let anyone else pick him up.

Here is my problem, recently, well the last 4 months or so, every time he sees my husband or daughters, he screams like hell. It is bothersome to the point my husband wants to get rid of him. I simply refuse to do that! I cry even thinking about it but it is causing problems in my home life.

They yell at him and him and spray him with water that he hates. And then we all end up arguing about it.

First question is...Any idea why he is doing this? He will go to them and love on them but still scream every time he sees them. Second question...What can I do to stop this behavior? I know I need to train Joey as well as my family members but I am not sure how.

Thank you in advance for any advice you can give me.

 

[BruceV]

Is it possible that he's screaming to get them to come to him? And do they go to him when he screams? Personally, I wouldn't spray him or yell at him for screaming. He's getting attention that way, which may be what he's looking for...even negative attention is attention.
I'll let the more experienced bird people give you the real cures. That's just my 2 cents.

 

[MarciaLove]

I agree with Bruce never yell at a bird it just stresses them out and makes them scream louder! And any attention negative or good will encourage this behavior try having your family be in sight of the birds but ignore him completely until he is quiet then go and praise him for being quiet eventually this should work to get him to stop screaming also he may be bored dopes he have lots of toys?? try some foraging toys to keep him busy and entertained i dont know why hes doing it could be many reasons sorry. hopefully someone with more knowledge than me can help more.

 

[jbirge]

My Yellow Headed Amazon (Pedro)starts screaming as soon as he hears my car pull into the driveway! Generally I will greet him open his cage and let him out! He usually calms down and goes about his business or jumps on my shoulder and hangs out with me.

This is flock behavior and I suspect to be expected. He also screams when my Galpal comes over looking for attention from her. I don't see this as bad behavior. Irritating sure but that's the nature of a Parrot!

Least as far as I can tell.

John

 

[JerseyWendy]

Hi there, and welcome to the forum.

We need a bit more information, please. What does your routine look like with Joey? Is he included in family activity? Does he have a playstand, if so, where is it located, and where is the cage located?

You mentioned he's only started the excessive screaming about 4 months ago. Was there ANY change in the household during that time?

Does he have ample toys which are rotated regularly, does he have mental stimuli (like foraging toys, for example).

I apologize for all the questions, the more we know, the more we may be able to assist you.

 

[Birdman666]

If you scream, the bird screams back...

IF YOU WHISPER, THE BIRD HAS TO GET REAL QUIET TO HEAR WHAT YOU ARE SAYING...

Standard screaming protocols have been posted several times. Cover the cage on 3 sides. If he doesn't stop, cover him completely. Wait for him to quiet down. Then uncover and praise the bird for being quiet...

The point here is not to punish him for screaming, but to UNCOVER AND PRAISE him for being quiet.

With my RFM, who is my only bird who was ever an attention screamer... after doing this a few times, all I have to do now is take out her cage cover, and throw it on the floor next to her cage, and she quiets down... And ask her "Do I have to cover you?!" She gives me the "guilty bird face" and behaves. BUT you have to be consistent about it.

 

[Birdman666]

They yell at him and him and spray him with water that he hates.

[Please stop doing that. Squirting him with water, isn't effective, and it will most likely just make the bird more aggressive... YELLING AT HIM ENCOURAGES THE BIRD TO YELL LOUDER. AND HE CAN AND WILL. Speak to him in a soft whisper when he does that. If he keeps screaming, he can't hear you talking to him, and if this is about wanting attention, he will quiet right down.]

Any idea why he is doing this? He will go to them and love on them but still scream every time he sees them.

[First guess: He wants attention from them.

Second guess: They have inadvertently done something that reinforced the screaming, i.e. he wanted something, and screamed until he got it, ergo, he has just been trained to scream to get what he wants.

Third guess: These are members of his flock and he is calling to them.

Fourth guess: These are the same people that have been squirting him with water, right?! When did that stuff start? Could be he's afraid they're going to again! Stop squirting him with water, and maybe the behavior stops!]

Second question...What can I do to stop this behavior?

[The screaming protocols are posted above. I KNOW these work. Be consistent, and covering the bird itself is not the answer. The answer is UNCOVERING THE BIRD AND REWARDING HIM FOR QUIET!!!]

 

[BruceV]

Darn fine answers Birdman! All of it makes such perfect sense!

 

[Birdman666]

Darn fine answers Birdman! All of it makes such perfect sense!

NEVER DONE THIS BEFORE...

A MACAW SCREAMING?! THEY DO STUFF LIKE THAT?!

This is a relatively easy fix. And if it prevents a big mac from losing his home, well, that is EXACTLY why I spend time on this board. I reach more people this way than I did when I was teaching bird handling classes.

Unfortunately, most macaws don't come with an instruction manual...

 

[Birdman666]

YELLING AT MY MACAW (OR ANY LARGE TOO) DOESN'T STRESS HIM OUT... IT STARTS THE "LET'S SEE WHO CAN YELL LOUDER CONTEST!"

AND GAMES THAT YOU KNOW YOU WILL WIN EVERY SINGLE TIME ARE REALLY, REALLY, REALLY FUN TO PLAY...

YOUR BIRD CAN SCREAM LOUDER THAN YOU CAN, FOR A LONGER PERIOD OF TIME THAN YOU CAN... IF YOU DON'T BELIEVE ME, KEEP PLAYING! HE'LL BE HAPPY TO SHOW YOU!!!

You've been warned!

 

[thekarens]

YELLING AT MY MACAW (OR ANY LARGE TOO) DOESN'T STRESS HIM OUT... IT STARTS THE "LET'S SEE WHO CAN YELL LOUDER CONTEST!"

AND GAMES THAT YOU KNOW YOU WILL WIN EVERY SINGLE TIME ARE REALLY, REALLY, REALLY FUN TO PLAY...

YOUR BIRD CAN SCREAM LOUDER THAN YOU CAN, FOR A LONGER PERIOD OF TIME THAN YOU CAN... IF YOU DON'T BELIEVE ME, KEEP PLAYING! HE'LL BE HAPPY TO SHOW YOU!!!

You've been warned!

This! Haven't you ever noticed if you turn up your tv, radio, etc while your Mac is yelling they just yell louder? Same goes for talking on the phone.

 

[jbirge]

I just want to say I'm glad I joined this forum. Great back and forth on this thread.

My Amazon has mostly good habits but I've learned to tolerate the call (scream) to the flock. I just let him know he's my pal and he's usually content to hang around with me.

 

[Bart.Shelton]

Hi can you help me I recently took in a Blue Headed and he is 12 years old but lateley he gone very quite and sounds as if he moaning and at bottom of cage looking I think food I change water and food daily. Usually he talks alot and nods his head but now hardly does this. Thank you

 

[KeroRocks]

Bart.Shelton Has your bird been to an avian vet? You need to get him to a vet!

 

[hanna.allen.71]

Do you take him out often? Birds of that size need to be out of the cage 4+ hours. He might be bored.