Screeching Green Cheek Conures

[Colibri22]

Hi Everyone. I have been having some screeching issues with my two green cheek conures, Hachi and Froggy. They are a bonded pair that live together. I have had them for close to 4.5 years. I recently moved into a small 1 bedroom apartment, and their cage is in the living room. I don't know if they are hormonal or what, but they are driving me crazy with their screeching. Especially in the mornings, as soon as I uncover them and open their cage for them to have room to fly and exercise during the day, they start screeching (sometimes screaming, but more screeching). They get into a pose where it looks like they are about to fly, bent forward and kind of flitting their wings slightly, all while making a pretty loud screeching sound. I am at my wits end because if they are too noisy and my neighbors complain, my landlord won't let me keep them. I have toys available for them to play with, but they never touch them. Sometimes they like to hang out with me on my head or shoulders, but mostly they fly right back to their cage to continue screeching.



I took a short video so you can see kind of what I'm talking about. I'm hoping maybe someone has experience with this type of behavior and have some suggestions on what I can do to get them to stop. It seems like they want something, but I have no idea what!





Video link:



[ame="https://youtu.be/RNEbrdJYBJs"]Screeching Green Cheek Conures - YouTube[/ame]

 

[T00tsyd]

My Syd is highly hormonal at present - is it possible they are being territorial? How long is it since you moved into your new home? Is it possible that they are not yet fully settled in their new environment? Have you set flight paths for them showing where they can go, what is solid like windows etc? I just wonder if their behaviour is trying to sort out directions etc because it is all new. They may have been quiet to start with simply through surprise/shock at the move. When I came here I actually carried Syd around from place to place tapping walls and windows and putting him where he could perch and TBH he largely stays with those places. I notice that he also does the same when like you say he wants to fly usually to me as I leave a room but is not sure of himself. Do you think it might help to take them on an instruction tour?

 

[Colibri22]

Thanks for the suggestions! My birds are pretty familiar with the layout of my apartment and are pretty comfortable flying around and landing in different places. But I will take them on more "tours" to see if they like that! Usually when I take them away from the area their cage is in, they get anxious and fly back to it. They don't mind leaving of their own accord, but they don't like it so much when I initiate the move!



They have been with me in this apartment for about two months now. I really enjoy having them with me. I just wish there was something I could do to minimize the noise! In past years, they have gone through seasons of being louder than normal. So it could be a seasonal thing. But to me, it very much looks like they are straining to get at something, but I don't know what. And they are free to move where they want, so its not like they are locked in the cage and can't get whatever it is that they want. In fact, sometimes even when the cage is open, they will go inside and sit on the perch and do the straining thing, acting like they are trapped in there. It is very frustrating!

 

[Maalik]

I heard the summer season is hormones time for Green Cheeks. My Tikimaka is pretty quiet and I haven't seen many issues, but he is also young and isn't bonded to another bird. That may have something to do with it. I feel very lucky I have a quiet green cheek. Would love to see if anyone else has some recommendations for this kind of issue. Thanks and good luck!

- Maalik

 

[tracyg7]

I have one that was kind of aggravating like that, didn’t screech like yours, but was obviously unhappy or not satisfied about life in general. I tried new toys, rearranging toys, etc., to no avail. What worked for me was a tabletop fountain (my birds are cage free). He fell in love! They both actually love it for the running water to drink and a shower/bath. Different personalities love different things, unfortunately (lol!). You’ll surprise yourself at what you’ll discover that makes them chill out. Could even be something like music (my fist one loved Pink!). Good luck, and may the Force be with you.

 

[Colibri22]

Unfortunately the short video in the post is actually them being pretty quiet...they can really work themselves up sometimes! I will keep searching for new things to keep them busy/distracted/stimulated. But I also hope it is partly hormones and that it will calm down soon. I grew up with budgies, who are loud chatterers, but don't have the piercing shriek that my green cheeks have!

 

[YoshiSquee]

I have one that was kind of aggravating like that, didn’t screech like yours, but was obviously unhappy or not satisfied about life in general. I tried new toys, rearranging toys, etc., to no avail. What worked for me was a tabletop fountain (my birds are cage free). He fell in love! They both actually love it for the running water to drink and a shower/bath. Different personalities love different things, unfortunately (lol!). You’ll surprise yourself at what you’ll discover that makes them chill out. Could even be something like music (my fist one loved Pink!). Good luck, and may the Force be with you.

Do you keep the fountain running continuously or just for an hour or so? Do you also keep the fountain on his cage or just near it?