Screamer or no?

[Marlee99]

I have only had my U2 for 2 full days. I have been just trying to let her adjust to life at my house. Everything is going well and she seems to be doing well.

I am just wondering something though. I know they tend to scream normally a couple times a day. She pretty much has lived up to this, and last about 3-5 minutes.

But tonight I went out for about an hour. My room mate who is up on the second floor said she screamed and said hello on and off the whole time I was gone.

My question is could this be from being afraid and insecure of her new surroundings? Or should I be thinking this is the real reason they were getting rid of her?

Marlee99

 

[jew1187]

I would suggest playing soothing music for her when you leave. It may help calm her. Especially only being there for two days, you know she is not used to her surroundings and you know she is scared. Play some soothing music or leave the tv on something appropriate that is not going to teach her bad words. It can't hurt to try.

 

[Marlee99]

Thanks, that's a good idea about the music. I did leave the t.v. on but it was in a different room. She already knows a few bad words..lol!

 

[jew1187]

lol, well... If you don't mind her knowing the words then I guess it doesn't matter. But just so you know, if you bring her out in public when she does get used to you and will allow you to do things like that and she says something in front of the wrong person, you can be fined for public indecency. lol. That is why I will be teaching Skyler all his words in Spanish. lol.

 

[MikeyTN]

Tops will scream. For such pretty birds they have a nasty scream. Mine would scream when she wants something. Then she would go back being a sweet baby again!

 

[greycloud]

I play childrens programs for all of my birds. I am sure she is scared being in a new home, new sounds, new pets and people. In time she will settle down and get into you schedule.

 

[MikeyTN]

I play childrens programs for all of my birds. I am sure she is scared being in a new home, new sounds, new pets and people. In time she will settle down and get into you schedule.

I play children program for my birds too. I have to watch what they watch cause my macaw catches on pretty fast.. MTV was being left on one day and he learned to sing shake that a** by eminem. LoL

 

[jew1187]

I play childrens programs for all of my birds. I am sure she is scared being in a new home, new sounds, new pets and people. In time she will settle down and get into you schedule.

That is a good idea. Dora the Explorer... hehe. Six nieces and nephews. lol. Yeah, you should bring the TV in the room so she can see it. Its much more entertaining I believe.

 

[bells]

I really think it will just take some time for her to realise that when you leave, you will always come back. To get Charlie nice and calm before he settled into our routine, i gave him a new toy everytime I left to keep him busy and distracted. Now he loves it when I go cause he knows its playtime. Music in the background, yesterdays junkmail to chew on, some bits of fruit for snacktime, mom's broken wooden bangle to destroy.... even if i just change his toys around in the cage to make things more interesting. I also pick up all my friends broken tupperware cups and containers etc. or pick up a few drinking straws at the local store when I am there- anything that is interesting and can be destroyed . He ONLY gets new toys when I am leaving so like I said- its always a positive for him- his own independant playtime.

 

[Marlee99]

I really think it will just take some time for her to realise that when you leave, you will always come back. To get Charlie nice and calm before he settled into our routine, i gave him a new toy everytime I left to keep him busy and distracted. Now he loves it when I go cause he knows its playtime. Music in the background, yesterdays junkmail to chew on, some bits of fruit for snacktime, mom's broken wooden bangle to destroy.... even if i just change his toys around in the cage to make things more interesting. I also pick up all my friends broken tupperware cups and containers etc. or pick up a few drinking straws at the local store when I am there- anything that is interesting and can be destroyed . He ONLY gets new toys when I am leaving so like I said- its always a positive for him- his own independant playtime.

Those are great idea's although here is the problem. I don't know if this bird was not given new toys over the years or what. I had bought her some foot toys and she will not touch them. The owner said she does not like anything new in or around her cage.
I am going to try and enrich this girls life, she is currently up on the table that I am sitting on. She has a few toys and is pretty relaxed. Although she completely ignores them. The only thing he said she plays with are old tooth brushes.
Marlee is on seed only to. I have been offering her fresh veggies, a little fruit, and Harrison's high potency pellets in some bowls. So trying to give her a favorite treat or toy when leaving right now is tough. Honestly I am surprised she does not have more bad habits or plucks herself based on her boring life. She doesn't appear to be a heavy chewer either.

 

[bells]

Aw thats so sad. If i were you i would just get her all the toothbrushes she can handle. Then start tying little toys to the toothbrushes one by one so she can associate them with the toothbrushes and she might understand they are also for chewing and playing. Also, when she trusts you more, she will start to watch you- thats when you can "show" her to tear up old paper, cereal boxes, junkmail- it becomes a great *messy messy* game! She is a 'too and they are notorious clowns and pranksters- she'll come around

 

[Marlee99]

That's a good idea Bells, I will tie some of her foot toys to the tooth brush's.

I built her a "tree" with a few perches on it. She finally just went on it today. She is now half snoozing, looking very content.

Dogs are much better today to. They still come running when she talks but are not freaked out anymore.

I read that you should not cuddle to much with them because they may treat you like a mate instead. So is it o.k. to cuddle at all? A few minutes ago I brought her out, I was scratching her head and she moved up my arm close to my chest. Is this o.k.? I don't rub her anywhere else but her neck and head.

 

[bells]

They love to cuddle and you are doing it the absolute right way. Charlie absolutely launches himself at my chest (and anyone else who gives him any attention- he absolutely LOVES my dad!!!) sometimes his beak hurts with the force he throws himself at you LOL. He loves being close to my body, so just not under your clothes or touching on body and she should be fine. Its only body touching that produces hormonal behaviour, but I swear sometime my fingers can fall off from all the head scratches to his bald-spot lol. A really good resource is Mytoos.com. Its a forum for cockatoo owners. I must say- its quite hectic. They are very against most people owning toos, very anti-breeding(which i also am) and quite scary at times LOL but i do go on there every now and then to check it out as it is a wealth of information and experience with this particular breed.
Well done it does sound like you are doing very well with her. Patience is the key so hang in there. I am also very new to toos so i am so happy to share experiences!
I also had dogs that are very curious- my staffie pretty much sniffs the air and walks away but my Jack Russell was very worrying at first- even though she is used to my other birds. The breakthrough came when she stole one of Charlie's toys he dropped on the floor and proceeded to sneak outside with it and bury it! After that- she doesnt even acknowledge him. Its like with the toy he paid her for his right to move in! LOL!

 

[greycloud]

Please DO NOT GIVE HER TOOTHBRUSHES! THERE ARE LITTLE METAL CLIPS MOLDED INTO THE PLASTIC TO HOLD THE BRISTLES IN PLACE. MANY BIRDS HAVE GOTTEN METAL TOXICITY FROM THIS.
Start to play with toys in front of her. Laugh and praise the toy. Let her see it is fun. Offer foraging toys with yummies inside.

 

[bells]

Wow I never would've guessed anything like that!!!! Thanks Greycloud!

 

[birdiemomma]

I suggest helping her get used to her new toys. Show her how the toys work and how cool they are. If she is still uncomfortable with it then make sure to keep them outside around her cage for a few days so she can get used to it

 

[Marlee99]

Please DO NOT GIVE HER TOOTHBRUSHES! THERE ARE LITTLE METAL CLIPS MOLDED INTO THE PLASTIC TO HOLD THE BRISTLES IN PLACE. MANY BIRDS HAVE GOTTEN METAL TOXICITY FROM THIS.
Start to play with toys in front of her. Laugh and praise the toy. Let her see it is fun. Offer foraging toys with yummies inside.

Well she has been playing with tooth brushes for years apparently. She is pretty easy on them, she just runs the little bristles along her tongue. With me playing with the toys she has now started to play with one of them.

She does not seem to chew wood AT ALL. I am amazed as I have heard they are big wood chewers. She does however seem to chew plastic.

 

[EdiferiousRex]

My too loves balsa wood, leather, straws, fibers of any kind, cardboard, some plastic toys, foam.
She hates (harder) wood, rope, some harder plastics. She has some colors she prefers to avoid, like red.

Her favorite thing are those little tennis shoes, have you tried them? Or just some natural fiber toys?

 

[Marlee99]

No I have not tried the little tennis shoes. I am going next payday to Parrotdise Perch to buy some toys. She doesn't seem to like the leather toy/ring I bought her either. She does like the softer cardboard toy, it's pretty much destroyed.