Screaming green cheek... Help me =(

[Octomyde]

Hi there.

It is my first post here, and I am kinda sad that it has to be in these circumstances.

So, for more than a year, we had the best little bird ever. Honestly, he's awesome. He loves to be on our shoulder, so the first thing we thought him was that biting ears wasn't acceptable. He learned after only a few days! (I don't know if thats good, but anyway we were impressed). He also learned a few words, now he talks all the time. We also trained him to announce with a special word when he "has to go" ... so we know when to take him off of our shoulder, so he won't make a mess on us. We love him very much, he's just amazing.

That is... until we moved out to a new apartment, early January. The last month have been a nightmare. He screams ALL the time, when he is in his cage. Now, its not really possible to have him out "all" the time... when I go to the bathroom, he goes crazy and scream as loud as he can. When we cook dinner, we put him in his cage and he screams and screams.

To silence him I cover his cage. It takes about 10-15 minutes, then he calms down. Problem is that as SOON as I take it off, he starts screaming again. The last few days have been spent with the cage covered 90% of the time, which makes me very sad :31:

Its driving us crazy, and we have neighbors too that can hear him!

I wish I could do something... any help? =(

 

[roxynoodle]

Well, it sounds like he is stressed over the move. I would try to spend as much time with him as you can right now. Maybe his cage isn't in the best place? Can he see you in the kitchen? You could also try rolling it in there when you are making dinner.

If I have a bird out when I need to use the bathroom, I take it with me and set it on the sink, but that's because I don't want to leave it unsupervised.

Maybe setting up the cage so it is in a corner will make him feel safer. You could also try putting some plants around it to give him a "hiding" place and more security. Is he near a window? Some birds love to look out the window and others find it fearful.

Since he talks try to teach him to say a word or phrase instead of a screech as a contact call. I taught Rowdy to say, "Hey, hey" instead of screech for me. It's quieter and more pleasant. I do have to keep answering her though or she will screech.

 

[Octomyde]

Thank you, I will try moving the cage around and try to find the "best" place for him. He was near a window at first, but we moved him (He didnt like it). I think thats the problem, in the other appartment it was kinda dark and he was in corner. Now its very sunny and open... we may be on to something.

Thank you.

 

[roxynoodle]

Completely different lighting could be it. I admit my front room where the birds are is kind of dark and sheltered. There is a covered front porch over one window, which keeps scary things like hawks away from it. And the other window is blocked by a cherry tree and some bushes. It also faces east so it never gets that light in here and the wind is almost always out of the west so they don't really see trees and bushes shaking from it. It's also rural and a very low traffic area with no houses close by.

The first time Pete saw a combine go by though he jumped straight up off his perch. But, then after that he got used to them and stopped reacting.

 

[ZoeS]

You'll have to find a happy medium between spending more time with him (my GCC comes to the bathroom and shower with me) and training him to accept being in his cage quietly.

Will he accept attention in his cage? As in, can you put him in there, give him snacks and head scratches through the bars? That would be a good start. When he screams, leave. When he stops, return and give him some attention. The message he should learn is that he is still part of the flock even when he's in his cage.

Good luck!

 

[Roxy_9_2011]

I have had my yellow sided GCC for about 5 weeks now. The first 3 weeks were hard with her squawking whenever I was not visible...whether I was in the kitchen, bedroom, or bathroom. I was diligent about not returning to the living room (where her cage is) until she was quiet for at least a solid minute (used the clock to make sure it was always a minute lol). Me and her have come a long way in learning what each other wants. She will still call out whenever I leave the room, but as others have suggested I just call out saying "I'm here" and that really helps. After these past 3 weeks her squawking has gone down significantly. But what helped a lot was calling out to her I don't think her squawking will ever go completely away when I walk away (but still hoping!) As others have said too, it helps when they also see where you are. I will occasionally let her out on her stand to watch me as I walk around the kitchen, bathroom, and bedroom. As long as she sees me, she is happy. I do try to keep a medium of keeping her in her cage when I leave the room or letting her stand on her stand so she doesn't always get used to seeing wherever I am. (Which someone suggested as well )