Perimeter Alarm

[Ekkietiel]

Our Eclectus has been doing so much better since switching up diet, larger cage, and longer nights rest. At least we thought so... he has a habit of screaming at the top of his lungs whenever BOTH my wife and I aren’t visible to him. We do not run back into the room when it happens for fear of encouraging the behavior, and if one of us is in the room we’ll leave to let him know it’s not acceptable. This is becoming very problematic when one of us is working and the other is at home. Or we’re outside doing yard work. I can only imagine the noise when we’re both at work.

And that’s where the neighbors/hoa come in. They’re starting to say he’s being “bothersome to the neighborhood”. I kid you not. We are on 1/5acre so he’s heard outside the house, which means the neighbors can hear him too.

Does anyone have suggestions on how to limit this behavior? We always leave the TV on for him when we’re gone to help him feel not so alone. But we cannot help the need to leave the house. Clearly he doesn’t understand this. Thank you for any insight! Anyone who has the misfortune of dealing with an hoa knows how horrible they can be. Charlie is for sure doing better with feather destruction and overall temperament. But having the neighbors involved makes this a more pressing issue.

 

[ParrotGenie]

Our Eclectus has been doing so much better since switching up diet, larger cage, and longer nights rest. At least we thought so... he has a habit of screaming at the top of his lungs whenever BOTH my wife and I aren’t visible to him. We do not run back into the room when it happens for fear of encouraging the behavior, and if one of us is in the room we’ll leave to let him know it’s not acceptable. This is becoming very problematic when one of us is working and the other is at home. Or we’re outside doing yard work. I can only imagine the noise when we’re both at work.

And that’s where the neighbors/hoa come in. They’re starting to say he’s being “bothersome to the neighborhood”. I kid you not. We are on 1/5acre so he’s heard outside the house, which means the neighbors can hear him too.

Does anyone have suggestions on how to limit this behavior? We always leave the TV on for him when we’re gone to help him feel not so alone. But we cannot help the need to leave the house. Clearly he doesn’t understand this. Thank you for any insight! Anyone who has the misfortune of dealing with an hoa knows how horrible they can be. Charlie is for sure doing better with feather destruction and overall temperament. But having the neighbors involved makes this a more pressing issue.

Sound proof the walls where the cage is at and walls that that towards outside and opposite end of cage. They sell sound dampening padding you can hang on walls. Also make sure bird getting 3 hours plus out of cage time and don't pay attention to screaming as he will learn it won't get him attention and reward when he quiet. He never be a 100% quiet as he flock call from time to time, or get loud at random that just in their nature and how they are.

 

[SailBoat]

Aaaa, no. You really want to develop 'contact calls' with your Parrot. Remember, they are social creatures that long for communication and being near their flock.

Consider an on-going communication with your Parrot:
- Hi, I'm in here, and will be coming your way soon.
- I'm downstairs and will be up in 10 minutes.
- I'm going outside and will be gone for 1 hour.
- Hi, I'm home and I missed you so much.
- Etc, etc, etc,

We keep our Amazon in the main open area of our home. At night, he sleeps in our bedroom. With the exceptions of us being physically out of the house, he is within sight of us, which is much like their real world.

Understand that we work with very special Amazons that are old, commonly ill and just as commonly abused. A high level of interaction and/or just being near by goes miles to minimizing screaming. That said, it is just as important to remember that Parrots are very loud and it is a requirement for communication in their natural range.

Somethings, Humans need to just be loud with their Parrots.

FYI: We twice a year, visit our neighbors with our Amazon just to introduce him to them. Commonly, our biggest problem is finding our neighbors near our Amazon's window talking to him...