Terrified of rain

[BeatriceC]

What do you do to help a bird that's terrified of rain?

Charlotte is a pathetic ball of nerves and anxiety right now and has been since yesterday morning on account of the fact that it's been raining for two days. It doesn't rain often here, but I've noticed this behavior every time it rains. I feel so bad for her. She's already on anti-anxiety meds and I can't increase her dosage. She doesn't like to be approached at all when she's this upset, so I can't even comfort her. I'm at a loss at what to do.

Help!

 

[Nicky76]

Archie was scared when we had heavy rain and hail recently. We found turning up the radio we leave on when we're out helped.

Poor Charlotte [emoji8]


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[Terry57]

Archie was scared when we had heavy rain and hail recently. We found turning up the radio we leave on when we're out helped.

Poor Charlotte [emoji8]


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One of my dogs is terrified of thunder, and we turn the TV up and that helps him. Great idea about the radio, too.

 

[BeatriceC]

I'll start up Pandora on my iPad for her. She's a shaking ball of nerves even with me right in the room with her. I'll see if that helps. Thanks.

 

[happy410]

I wish you could send the rain to North Alabama, it's been 3 to 4 months since we've gotten any.
Hopefully the advice of the radio will help.

 

[BeatriceC]

Well, I'm in Southern California. We're in a major drought. We need every drop we're getting, and then some.

 

[Scott]

Distracting noise such as radio or TV should be helpful. I'd also imagine closing the blinds or relocating Charlotte to avoid the visual sensation might be effective.

Yeah, yesterday and parts of today were really bad, high winds and squall-line rain.

 

[SailBoat]

What do you do to help a bird that's terrified of rain?

Charlotte is a pathetic ball of nerves and anxiety right now and has been since yesterday morning on account of the fact that it's been raining for two days. It doesn't rain often here, but I've noticed this behavior every time it rains. I feel so bad for her. She's already on anti-anxiety meds and I can't increase her dosage. She doesn't like to be approached at all when she's this upset, so I can't even comfort her. I'm at a loss at what to do.

Help!

Fear of Rain would not be associated with a natural fear. So, there is some kind of driver at work here. But, first lets target on what she is fearing /reacting too.

A Companion Parrot, which is inside, is not feeling the rain upon them, so how does she know it raining? I am guessing that she is hearing the rain as it contacts the roof or side of your home, correct?

So, based on this being something that she is hearing, what is it exactly? Is it the sound of rain on the side (also windows and doors) or the roof of your home. There are additional sounds associated with rail like thunder and/or high winds. Or, is it the full combination of the sounds?

Since Parrots can tie so tightly with our emotions, if you have a fear of rain or its associated sounds, it is possible that she is reacting to your emotions regarding rain. This is more common than we would want to believe or admit too. If so you are not alone, since most Humans are on edge during heavy storms.

The most common source of just the sound of rain is our roofs. Their standard design creates a open area above the ceiling of the home, which amplifies the sound into the living area below. This amplifing effect can be greatly reduced by adding insulation above the ceiling areas. Different types of insulation will have different affects depending on the type of roof (metal really adds to the level of the sound). So, if this is a direction you wish to consider talk to the contractor about the differences and what insulation will best fit your needs.

Rain storms with heavy winds, which drive it against the house as is storms with thunder are the hardest to minimize the sound!

The recommendations regarding providing a 'white noise' in the form of other sounds i.e. Radio, TV, etc... will clearly help.

Take the time to note the different levels of the sound that rain is heard in the different rooms of your home. It is very possible that some rooms have louder levels than others. If true consider moving her to a room that is less effected.

 

[BeatriceC]

Sailboat, thanks for your really thoughtful reply. You've given me a lot to think about.

Charlotte just has so many issues, it's difficult to really narrow down what's causing them all. I do think it's the sound of rain that's bothering her. She's noticeably more anxious when the rain is heavier and louder. There's not a whole lot I can do to minimize sound by moving her, as the every single room in the house has massive windows. It's a tri-level split, it a T-shape, and a good chunk of the lowest floor doesn't have a bit of the top floor covering it, so everything has direct roof over it (I think that made sense...one of these days I'll come up with some ariel photos to explain).

I have zero fear of rain myself. Quite the opposite, there's pretty much nothing more relaxing to me than listening to rain beat against my roof and house. Well, a good thunderstorm would be better than just rain, but rain alone is pretty awesome. This fear has to come from her time before she came to us. We've only had her a little over four months, so we still have a long way to go with her rehabilitation. We're still discovering new things weekly.

The music running did help a bit. What didn't help is that we had the cable repair people over (again) and so we added fear of strangers to fear of rain and yesterday was just a bad day.

 

[Kentuckienne]

I read somewhere to run water, vacuum cleaners, etc to get birds in the mood for a shower if they are reluctant to bathe. Maybe her formers forced her into a shower, and that's what's scaring her. If she can only hear the rain but not see it, is she still frightened?

 

[wrench13]

Beatrice, if the music helped a bit, maybe something with more of a white noise, steady and of a similar sound type, could help more? Like a tv with no channel on it ( ala Poltergeist )?

 

[SailBoat]

Sailboat, thanks for your really thoughtful reply. You've given me a lot to think about.

Charlotte just has so many issues, it's difficult to really narrow down what's causing them all. I do think it's the sound of rain that's bothering her. She's noticeably more anxious when the rain is heavier and louder. There's not a whole lot I can do to minimize sound by moving her, as the every single room in the house has massive windows. It's a tri-level split, it a T-shape, and a good chunk of the lowest floor doesn't have a bit of the top floor covering it, so everything has direct roof over it (I think that made sense...one of these days I'll come up with some ariel photos to explain).

I have zero fear of rain myself. Quite the opposite, there's pretty much nothing more relaxing to me than listening to rain beat against my roof and house. Well, a good thunderstorm would be better than just rain, but rain alone is pretty awesome. This fear has to come from her time before she came to us. We've only had her a little over four months, so we still have a long way to go with her rehabilitation. We're still discovering new things weekly.

The music running did help a bit. What didn't help is that we had the cable repair people over (again) and so we added fear of strangers to fear of rain and yesterday was just a bad day.

Tri-Levels are a true pain to dampen sound as the design works to flow the sound though the home. They are also difficult to decorate (I'm told). So, understanding that decorating and the use of color are not any part of me, I will offer some goals and let you and those who can take over.

The overall goal is to dampen /soften /limit the transfer of sound with in each room and room to room. As I understand it, that would involve the extensive use of Linens on walls, at windows, in hallways, ceilings and hanging light fixtures. Any Linens hung should set away from the wall or ceiling, this traps sound and greatly reduces sound bounding off the hard surfaces behind the Linen. Over-sized or over-use of Cloth covered furniture. Hard surfaces of tables and chairs can also have Cloth covers. If you have hard floors, use throw rugs.

So, calling all members that have talent to make that happen!!!

 

[SailBoat]

Beatrice, if the music helped a bit, maybe something with more of a white noise, steady and of a similar sound type, could help more? Like a tv with no channel on it ( ala Poltergeist )?

Great, now the poor girl will fear that the Poltergeits will be flowing out of the TV's! Great one Al, had me LOL!!!

 

[BeatriceC]

I read somewhere to run water, vacuum cleaners, etc to get birds in the mood for a shower if they are reluctant to bathe. Maybe her formers forced her into a shower, and that's what's scaring her. If she can only hear the rain but not see it, is she still frightened?

She's afraid of vacuum cleaners too.