Questions about obsessive behaviour

[Florem]

Hi friends!

At Ebbes old home, he was always screaming that ear shattering amazon scream. It was incredibly loud and often accompanied with him ringing in a brass bell that he's obsessed with.
The owner's son and later the owner herself, told me to ring in it to make him come to me and that I can bring him anywhere as long as I had the bell with me, but something about it just felt wrong. It was too loud and he looked stressed out and made the same noise as he does when he hears babies or birds outside the window. I've placed it at a table so he can see it and touch it but not make it ring, and he's never screamed like he did over there, until today.

So, today has been a very active day with Ebbe and we had a lot of fun! He's been in a good mood all day and we've been training and playing and he got a shower.
Later, about an hour before his bedtime, he started to be quite loud. I always reply and chatting with him but not when it's too loud. He pecked at the bell and was making noises. I went to the bathroom and as soon as I came out, he made that ear shattering scream. I was a bit chocked since it's the first time he's done that since he got here and just said "shhh" and staring at him because I so was suprised. He's been a bit hyper and loud during the afternoon.
I've had a feeling that if he starts making that sound, it will be easier for him to continue. That he somehow remembers it. I wouldn't be as concerned if it wasn't for the neighbours and my paper thin walls.

So what's the deal with this bell? What drives a parrot to that obsessive behaviour towards a toy, and how should I react if he continues to scream?
Is there anything I can do to prevent it? I've been home from school sick for three days, mostly hanging out with him and I really thought the training and playing today would have made him content.

 

[AmyMyBlueFront]

What makes a parrot obsessed with ANYTHING,Florem?? Like with AMY over BB's house..relentless..will NOT take NO! for an answer I wish I knew..I put him back on his roof top,and by the time I turn around,he is headed right back for it.






Jim

 

[Notdumasilook]

I might be wrong, but could you put the bell out of sight and see how he reacts? Sounds to me like he does not like it.... or it reminds him of his previous owner. They have great a great memory.

 

[Florem]

I might be wrong, but could you put the bell out of sight and see how he reacts? Sounds to me like he does not like it.... or it reminds him of his previous owner. They have great a great memory.

I've been thinking about doing that but since I haven't fully understood this behaviour, I've postponed it. When the owner was here, he wouldn't let her touch the bell and got very upset when she got too close to it, so he protects it. I'm allowed to touch it but under very close supervision.
As I'm writing this, I realize how absurd all of this would sound for a person without a parrot

 

[Florem]

What makes a parrot obsessed with ANYTHING,Florem?? Like with AMY over BB's house..relentless..will NOT take NO! for an answer I wish I knew..I put him back on his roof top,and by the time I turn around,he is headed right back for it.






Jim

I've read some of your thread about the problems you have at the moment and I understand how frustrating it must be for you
Ebbe is very interested in a table lamp in the shape of a bunny which he is not allowed to chew on. He know it's wrong and I can see him looking at me as he moves closer to my lamp. Cheeky little thing.
I've come to terms with the fact that I'll just have to move it. It's almost like it is with children, sometimes it's just not worth all the fuss, but it's not as easy in your case. I really hope that you'll soon find a solution.

 

[LordTriggs]

I bet he's terrified of that bell, it's not exactly normal for a parrot to come when a bell is rung.

I'm going to take a wild guess with the evidence you've presented that the bell was used in some form of abuse. Think about how the previous owner wasn't allowed to touch it and how he will stare at the bell looking stressed. I'd remove it to be honest

 

[Florem]

I bet he's terrified of that bell, it's not exactly normal for a parrot to come when a bell is rung.

I'm going to take a wild guess with the evidence you've presented that the bell was used in some form of abuse. Think about how the previous owner wasn't allowed to touch it and how he will stare at the bell looking stressed. I'd remove it to be honest

I thought so too, at first. But at the same time, he sometimes strokes himself on it and kind of..cuddles with it. And they said that when it was hanging in his cage, he sometimes slept with his head in it.

 

[LordTriggs]

I bet he's terrified of that bell, it's not exactly normal for a parrot to come when a bell is rung.

I'm going to take a wild guess with the evidence you've presented that the bell was used in some form of abuse. Think about how the previous owner wasn't allowed to touch it and how he will stare at the bell looking stressed. I'd remove it to be honest

I thought so too, at first. But at the same time, he sometimes strokes himself on it and kind of..cuddles with it. And they said that when it was hanging in his cage, he sometimes slept with his head in it.

huh... Maybe he sees it as his friend/safe space? I'm thinking he as at first punished when he wouldn't fly when the bell rang so made it a habit to be close to it as good things would happen when he was close to it?

 

[plumsmum2005]

Plum has a couple of toys that are comforters and one of those being a bell which he mostly just likes to see swaying, although I sometimes catch him with it resting on his back??? I would get Ebbe some new toys, I am concerned with the bell being brass which is toxic to birds. You can get loads of different bells now that you could replace it with such as Search Results

 

[clark_conure]

Bird like noise......one thing they like more is attention. Clark is almost preternaturally quiet for a bird from what I read on here. I chalk that up to just saying ok, ok whatever when he's loud and being "ZOMG YOU ARE THE SMARTEST BIRD IN THE WORLDS" when he talks. I'd start repeating something you want him to learn and then go NUTS when he starts to get close to mimicking it. For one it's hard to loudly mimic a voice vs. a screech.

And two...then you can start discussing the important things like the meaning of life, why you change your feathers coloring everyday, can I have some of that food too...you know important stuff.

 

[Florem]

Plum has a couple of toys that are comforters and one of those being a bell which he mostly just likes to see swaying, although I sometimes catch him with it resting on his back??? I would get Ebbe some new toys, I am concerned with the bell being brass which is toxic to birds. You can get loads of different bells now that you could replace it with such as Search Results

Thank you so much for your advice!
I've bought and made a bunch of new toys for him but he's not really fond of them yet, exept the cardboard ones I make which he can destroy

 

[Florem]

Bird like noise......one thing they like more is attention. Clark is almost preternaturally quiet for a bird from what I read on here. I chalk that up to just saying ok, ok whatever when he's loud and being "ZOMG YOU ARE THE SMARTEST BIRD IN THE WORLDS" when he talks. I'd start repeating something you want him to learn and then go NUTS when he starts to get close to mimicking it. For one it's hard to loudly mimic a voice vs. a screech.

And two...then you can start discussing the important things like the meaning of life, why you change your feathers coloring everyday, can I have some of that food too...you know important stuff.

Haha, I do that too. He said his name twice before but nothing since, but he does mimic my tone of voice from certain words.
And I speak to him a lot. He gets to hear so much nonsense

 

[Notdumasilook]

He sounds like Cookie.... not at all impressed with store bought bird toys. Give him some cardboard or a leather shoe string with knots tied in it he totally enjoys himself. As for talking, when he was young he would catch on and repeat words and phrases at random. That ceased over time and now when he speaks he is telling me something. For instance, "wanna come see daddy"... he is asking to come to me. They do make the connection.

 

[wrench13]

When Salty gets too loud, we sing to him, and he quickly switches over to the song. It seems to work pretty well.

 

[SailBoat]

As always, you have received excellent advice above. I will add and /or expand on what others have stated and provide a bit of my own spin on addressing your question:

It is always important when attempting to understand Amazon (Parrot) Behavior that we Humans, tend to overthink things! With great luck, Parrots do not have the Huge Brain that Humans carry around. As a result, they keep things fairly basic, i.e. they do not overthink things. They function more along the lines of: Stimulus with a fairly rapid Reaction. Therefore, if something brings them joy they engage and repeat it. If something brings them fear or danger they fly or fight.

Amazons are known to get caught in the moment! If they like doing something, they can and do get carried away in the act. This can lead to ‘over-doing it,’ which to us looks like an obsession. With the Amazon, it’s just getting caught in the moment! This can be seen chemically, as they first see the Bell, it stimulates a Joy response and the Amazon starts playing with the Bell. Standing near and /or making contact with the Bell, stimulates a Protection response, and /or a Comfort response.

If the Parrot had been abused with the Bell or if the Bell was rang during the abuse that would trigger a Flight or Fight response, which would manifest in a very different (possibly dangerous) Response!

It is very important to remember that Parrots are designed to have life coming at them at high speed. So, they can become bored very quickly! Providing ‘things’ for them to do is very important. At this moment, your Amazon is really into turning large cardboard pieces into tiny pieces. So, provide it! However, as noted above, ‘they can become bored very quickly!’ Thus, importance of have a cross-section of different types of toys available! At some point, the cardboard will not draw your Amazon’s attention and s/he will be on to something else.

Loud Amazons! Personally, I love a loud Amazon! When our Amazons come to us, for a very long time, they are quiet as they recover from their illness or injury. As their health returns, so does their voice. For us, it’s time to rejoice and join them in their joy of life! Amazons can and do have periods of time in which they are silent, commonly when they are eating, sleeping, examining something (including watching us) or just daydreaming. When they play, express joy, verify where we are (contact calls) or express concern (fear danger), they express it loud and clear!

As stated by others, joining in and /or returning the calls is part of the process of bring down the level a bit. It also, ‘tends’ to limit the duration of the interaction. It’s their ‘Unrestrained Love of Life,’ and joining in can be just as uplifting for us Humans! It’s part of their natural, hardwired Joy of Life and commonly occurs in the morning and in the early evening. But can also erupt at any time during the day when they deem the moment deserves.

Mid to large Parrot owners should always introduce their Parrots to those who live around them and explain this Joy of Life thing to them. Tell them that it will happen and that if it becomes too loud, to please let you know! It will work to your advantage to keep up a relationship with them. Also, once you are more settled with your Amazon, invite them over to meet your Parrot.

FYI #1: You have likely not seen your Amazon spin into a Hormonal Out-bust. Like playing with the Bell, your Amazon will outwardly appear to be crazed much like you are seeing with the Bell, but will spin to even greater levels with or without the Bell. The Body Language that you are watching for is well presented in Birdman666 Thread at the top of the Amazon Forum, noting those Body, Head and Eye presentations in which Birdman666 states that the owner should stand clear and let the Amazon Cool Down! A Hormonal Out-bust is chemically driven and the Amazon has little to no control of the moment! Simply back away and let s/he naturally easy away from the out-bust!

FYI #2: Amazons (Parrots) provide contact calls whether they can see us or not! An unanswered contact call commonly results in an even louder contact call, followed by even louder until it reaches ear splitting levels. This can be avoided by you keeping an ongoing verbal connection with them. Yes, you will need to become the ‘crazy bird person’ that is seemly talking to yourself, out loud! This is why I developed a specific whistle song that I use as my contact call. Whistling in public is not seen as being as crazy as talking out loud to yourself.

NOTE: Joy of Life, extends to Joy of Seeing You! After all, you’re not returning contact calls (in their World) could mean that you are never coming back!!! So, Rejoice in Their Joy of Seeing You! We would have much better relationships, if we were as Joyful in seeing those we Love!

Hope that this helps!