Rough day yesterday and this morning

[Ijistcantsayno]

Precious has taken to shrieking when I’m not in his line of sight. This started yesterday and has continued today. He is also starting to be a bit aggressive to anyone else who wants a moment with him when I’m around. I would greatly appreciate any tips or tricks to nip this in the bud ASAP.

His bedtime is 7PM and he wakes up around 6:30AM. Should I put him to bed earlier? Unfortunately the whole house is up at 6:30AM during the week so I can’t really have him sleep in any later because he can hear us all talking and moving around.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Laurasea]

This is the adjustment time. It was rough the first couple of months with Penny. Then things calmed down.

Have a flock call when you are out of sight, use it the first time he screams, then don't respond again. Also try and use your flock call or whistle first, when you just step out if sight. Once he uses the same nice flock call them always repeat it when he uses it.
I will link some screaming article.

 

[Aavogaro]

I completely agree with Laurasea. We do the “cat call” whistle the first time he calls to us out of the room. He now does that after trying his “scream once or twice with no answer. Flock calling is a normal part of bird life so the best suggestion is to try and at least turn it into something that is more pleasant to listen to. Also if he keeps screaming while you are out of site do not acknowledge him when you come back into view. That reinforces the incessant repetitive calling in hopes to get you to come back to him. I can’t really help with the aggressiveness as that isn’t something I have a lot of experience with.

 

[SailBoat]

Aggressiveness can be founded in a wide cross section causes. The most common is the 'My Person' thing. With you being the chosen one and everyone else is being pushed down the ladder.

Target everyone else providing the neat stuff. Also, try pass the 'Birdy' game, where the Parrot is past around to everyone. Rewards are provided when the pass is successful.

The goal is to socialize your Parrot and as a result, you may still be the chosen one, but everyone is part of the family...

 

[Ijistcantsayno]

Thank you everyone! I do normally whistle back, it’s sort of a habit because Skye (our first budgie) just likes to know we are still home. Or to demand a nibble of millet, or just want us to watch him be a goofball for a minute. Skye will settle down after we call back most of the time, but Precious is just not giving up the constant shrieking. Unless he’s with me. I’ve tried to avoid being the one to take him out when anyone else is home. The exception to that is my 8 year old son is not allowed to take any bird out of any cage without an adult present. I’m also encouraging the family to take Precious out of the cage while I’m out running errands. He will accept “out” from everyone and is happy...until he realizes he could be with me. If I’m not home there are no problems. He will go to anyone and everyone including people he hasn’t met before, as long as I’m not home.

Pass the bird will be interesting, for starters I think I will make sure I pass Precious to my husband. This should make for an interesting family game night!




Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Laurasea]

This is fine line. You want to maintain your bond with him. You want him to feel secure that he can count on you, that you have a commitment to eachother. To avoid a bird that has chosen you causes the bird much stress, likely making things worse. Stand by your bond, and encourage and reinforce positive interaction with the rest of the flock family.
Avoiding him is making him feel unsafe in this new dynamic. Please continue to send plenty of one on one time with him. And play pass the bird.

 

[LaManuka]

Unfortunately the behaviours Precious is exhibiting may be what got him left at the pet shop by his previous owner in the first place. Cockatiels are prone to getting fixated on certain things, like screaming or whistling the same tune over and over (and over and over... you get my drift!) and it can be very difficult to break old habits.

You can try to teach him new tunes to whistle which are more pleasant to the human ear and a bit less frantic sounding than the “OMG MY HUMAN HAS DISAPPEARED ITS THE END OF THE WORLD!!!!!” type screams he’s probably making right now, but it will of course take time. If/when he stops screaming, respond to him with a low contact whistle that says “Don’t freak out, I’m right here”. He should *eventually* calm down once he’s become more accustomed to his new home, so hang in there!

 

[Laurasea]

I mentioned Penny before, and man did she scream when I first got her. She was screaming because everything was different, nothing was like she was used to, everything was Scarry, she was so mad at the world too! She shot poops at me whenever I came near, she would lunge , threaten and bite. Then at times beg for snuggles, then stomp around. Plus I think she greived for her person, Really it does take time to adjust. I too thought oh man this is why they got rid of her! But after a couple of Months! She stopped all screaming. Unfortunately for me Neptune was young and impressionable....he took up her worst scream sound as his favorite. He still uses it way to much. While Penny just talks, no screams anymore ever.

Here is thenice article on screaming, I forgotten to link before.

https://blogpamelaclarkonline.com/2...olve-your-parrots-screaming-problem-for-good/

 

[Ijistcantsayno]

This is fine line. You want to maintain your bond with him. You want him to feel secure that he can count on you, that you have a commitment to eachother. To avoid a bird that has chosen you causes the bird much stress, likely making things worse. Stand by your bond, and encourage and reinforce positive interaction with the rest of the flock family.
Avoiding him is making him feel unsafe in this new dynamic. Please continue to send plenty of one on one time with him. And play pass the bird.

He’s been with me almost all day off and on. He’s been chattering my ear off while I went through the closets. Whistling lord only knows what, plus a couple new tunes that I recognize from my daughter play that’s coming up. She’s been practicing right next to his room so he’s picked up a couple of the songs. I have to say that was a nice way to clean out some of the clutter, definitely helped to keep me entertained at the same time! He’s refused every offer from everyone else all day until I went to pick up lunch. Then he was all to happy to hang out with the rest of the family until I returned.

And to clarify, I let everyone else take him out so they get a moment with him before he inevitably ends up with me. I’m not ignoring him, but sort of trying to let them get the credit for his “freedom”


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[noodles123]

You have to teach him independence--- yes, they are flock creatures, but there is also something to be said for setting a time limit before responding when demanding/repetitive screaming happens. I have a cockaTOO (umbrella) and she has screamed for HOURS during her worst tantrums (she doesn't do it for more than 5-10 minutes theses days, as she knows it doesn't work). They key is, respond to flock-calls BEFORE the bossy screaming starts, but once it becomes demanding, wait for a solid 15 seconds (minimum) before responding and entering the room (speaking in a quite voice and saying, thanks for getting quiet). The 15 seconds should re-set during any scream-fest if you hear a sound...NEVER attend to the screaming unless they have gotten quiet first (or unless you can tell it is an emergency/pain sound). You can then increase the wait- time to 20 seconds of quiet etc over time-- it teaches them that they cannot make you appear by screaming. At the same time, make sure you try to avoid this by talking to them when out of the room etc.