Screaming eclectus

[EdiferiousRex]

I posted here a few months back about my eclectus; Linus. He has been screaming non-stop for 2 or 3 months now. It began as he was a baby screaming for food, and would stop after he was fed. Then as he weaned it was whenever he saw me. Now it's any human he sees that starts the screaming. What can I do, why won't he stop? I don't want to give way my baby bird but my roommates are going crazy. He won't stop with attention, or when left alone. He always has his favorite foods and water and toys. I just don't know what he wants.

 

[MikeyTN]

Do you take him out often? Do you have a playstand? I would suggest in using the playstand so he would be out of his cage playing on his stand. Mine would scream when he wants out or attention. I swear I trained little devils.... got them all sweet and hand tamed, now they readily steps up and scream if you don't let them. I place them on their stand where they play nicely.

 

[EdiferiousRex]

He gets out with us for a few hours a day, both one on one as well as in the same room on a stand. No matter what the screams don't stop.

 

[MikeyTN]

Has he been screaming since day one?

 

[Pedro]

I posted here a few months back about my eclectus; Linus. He has been screaming non-stop for 2 or 3 months now. It began as he was a baby screaming for food, and would stop after he was fed. Then as he weaned it was whenever he saw me. Now it's any human he sees that starts the screaming. What can I do, why won't he stop? I don't want to give way my baby bird but my roommates are going crazy. He won't stop with attention, or when left alone. He always has his favorite foods and water and toys. I just don't know what he wants.

I have read through your other posts & i think you may have reinforced this behavior when you first got her.

I have found this link hope it will help you understand what has happened.
Excessive Screaming & Companion Parrots

 

[EdiferiousRex]

No it has not been since day one, except at feeding times. How would I have reinforced this behavior, and more importantly how do I correct it. Excessive attention doesn't work, ignoring it does not either.

 

[Pedro]

You have possibly given him to much attention in the beginning. In other words you have spoiled him. These birds are highly intelligent.

When i handraise my baby eclectus parrots i never handle them excessively until they are weaned. They are always kept in view of me through the day. I very rarely have what i call a needy bird that screams when i am not in sight. Usually when they do i will call back just to let them know where i am.

Where you able to open the link in my above post.

Your bird is still very young so he should grow out of it.

Some other things that's worth looking into.

Is he eating a variety of foods. Sometime they will carry on if they are hungry.
Have you tried giving him a feed of handrearing food of an evening. Helps to settle them.
He may not like the position his cage is in the house, do you cover him at night, does he get enough sleep at night.

Also Google some of Sally Blanchard & Barbara Heindereich they both have some great ideas on parrot behavior & how to deal with it.

 

[MikeyTN]

Like Pedro mentioned, what are you feeding him?

 

[EdiferiousRex]

He gets a hand feeding every night before bed, through the day he gets beans, squash, pellets, sweet potato cereal, rice/grains and some fresh fruits/veggies ( whatever it is that we have for the day)
I should clarify, the screaming does halt when he is alone for longer than 20 or 30 minutes, as soon as he sees me or has any interaction with me he begins.
He is covered from 9 pm to 7 or 8 am daily, he has two cages one in the living room as a corner cage, the other in my bedroom. He stays where I am, usually. If we have company he does get relocated to the bedroom and has the company of the other bird as her cage is also there, the reason fir moving him away at these times is people can't stand his screams ( I feel really horrible about doing it though).
I've yet to read your link, didn't see it, but I will today.
I do understand that something I have done has caused this, I just need a nudge in the right direction to correct it. When I purchased Linus I promised to provide for him the best I can for as long as he lives - I feel strongly about doing so. I feel very frustrated and ashamed with myself for allowing this behavior and nit correcting it sooner, but all the advice I've received has been "mine did it too, then he/she stopped" but this has been months, this must be wrong.

 

[EdiferiousRex]

The link was very insiteful, I notice the mention of toys. Linus has at least one of each type of toy but shows little to no interest in them. I suppose that the positive/negative reinforcement may be one of our largest problems as well, not only from myself (removing him when others are irritated) but from one of my housemates screaming back (i will be more stern in my distaste of this behavior) maybe not letting him inti the large play cage alone as much might help? Opinions? Will he stop if I reward him when he does and give him more attention? Or will that cause more issues as I cannot sustain that level of attention long term (assuming he can't scream all day in my presence).

 

[Pedro]

Here is Goodbird.inc site from Barbara H that may give you a few ideas.

Good Bird Inc Parrot Training Talk: Stop your Parrot from Screaming for Attention

I really hope you get to the bottom of this problem as Eclectus are an amazing parrot to own. I love all mine with a passion.

 

[EdiferiousRex]

Thank you Pedro, these links are so helpful. What would you suggest as a good balance of his time with me/without me, in the same room/other rooms, physical contact/verbal contact? I currently am a student and am gone 2 "full" days a week 8-4, and two mornings 8-12:30, otherwise past errands or social events (not often) I am home. I don't want to give too much attention, but at the same time too little either.
I've ordered the book from Barbarah H. At good bird, and I will print out the links to post for my housemates to read and comprehend how their behaviors enforce his activities. Currently he is silent, on his stand in my bedroom. This is one of the first times he's been quite in my presence in months.

 

[merlinsmom13]

When Merlin has a screamie day, I put in a flute CD (native american flute music). He loves it, he will sit quietly & listen. This doesnt solve your real problem, but it might give you some peace to think about it.

 

[EdiferiousRex]

I'll try that, Phoebe met a friend's friend who played live native flute music for her and she was fascinated, I'd completely forgotten.

 

[EdiferiousRex]

Screaming has stopped, he 'talks' a lot when I'm near, but it's at a manageable volume level. He hates the living room cage, and will scream if brought near it. He's starting to stoke out at one of my roommates, as well as my cockatoo if she gets near the bedroom perch he loves (which was hers first). The roommate just avoids him now, the cockatoo is frustrated.

 

[MikeyTN]

At least one problem solved....

 

[EdiferiousRex]

I figure out the biting is because they try to pet him (he hates being petted!.) once that was corrected, the biting stopped and at this point Linus is very well behaved.