Train Your Conure Not To Screech

[joewill85]

Hi. I'm new to these forums but not to birds. I've seen so many threads over the years about how to get various breeds of Conures to stop screeching at their owners. I wanted to share a method that my wife and I have used and it's worked great.

Conures, like all birds, feel the need to behave in accordance with the rules of the flock they're in. If their behavior is shunned, then they don't want to do it anymore so they can feel like part of the group. In the wild, birds turn their backs on other birds to show disapproval of their actions.

So how does this apply to your home? When we got our Green Cheek home she was as mild and quiet as the breed is known for, but she still would let out the occasional screech either because she was protesting something or just wanted attention. So whenever she did this, my wife and I would immediately get up and leave the room without saying a word to her. We'd stay out of sight for about a minute, and then return to the room without any acknowledgement of her. After about another minute, if she was still quiet we'd go up to her cage to giver her attention. After about 1 week she hardly ever screeched for any reason. She still chatters at us and makes various other noises, but almost no screeching.

It's important to note that if you have anything like a TV or a radio that's turned on when your bird starts screeching that you mute it when you leave the room. Otherwise, the bird still thinks there is someone left in the room to yell at. It's also very helpful to randomly give them attention when they're being quiet so they don't associate being loud with getting attention. I hope this works as well for you as it has for us. Our little Research is now very well adjusted, is super affectionate, and has learned not to yell at us when she wants something.

 

[AFP520]

Will try this with our Gold Cap. Thanks for the tip!

 

[Lovelyloribeth]

This is a great technique! I'm going to try also. My GCC hollers at me whenever I leave the room tho. Because I'm not in there with him. How would I go about that if I'm already out of the room? Lol

 

[lexx510]

This is a great technique! I'm going to try also. My GCC hollers at me whenever I leave the room tho. Because I'm not in there with him. How would I go about that if I'm already out of the room? Lol

Respond only to a desirable bird call. For example - if he makes a soft peeping sound, respond to it. If he screams or screeches, ignore. They catch on quickly. Guava knows that when she says "Give me kiss" or "Hey cutie," she always gets a response. It's now become her bird call. Whenever we leave the room, she says "Give me kiss" or "hey cutie" instead of screeching. We respond by repeating the same phrase, so that she knows we are nearby. Sometimes she just peeps softly, and I peep back.

 

[joewill85]

This is a great technique! I'm going to try also. My GCC hollers at me whenever I leave the room tho. Because I'm not in there with him. How would I go about that if I'm already out of the room? Lol

Respond only to a desirable bird call. For example - if he makes a soft peeping sound, respond to it. If he screams or screeches, ignore. They catch on quickly. Guava knows that when she says "Give me kiss" or "Hey cutie," she always gets a response. It's now become her bird call. Whenever we leave the room, she says "Give me kiss" or "hey cutie" instead of screeching. We respond by repeating the same phrase, so that she knows we are nearby. Sometimes she just peeps softly, and I peep back.

Yeah that's exactly the way we go about it. If she screeches while we're gone we just stay gone longer. I also whisper to her when I get back so she gets the idea that it's good to talk quietly at the moment. She's smart, like all Conures, and she picked up on it quickly.

 

[DebsFlock]

I totally agree with this, and I think the most important point is rewarding the behavior you want -- give attention when they are quiet. And if they use a less annoying call to request attention, such as "Pretty scoo bird" i will try to acknowledge that, like Lex50.

I would modify it a little bit. Contact calling is normal, birds want to know where the rest of the flock is. So I will respond to one call when I'm out of the room but within earshot. I won't respond to repeated or insistent "yelling" and I do try to encourage more pleasant calls such as "Hey birdie" rather than ear-splitting screeches.

 

[patch]

I did this for a while and ever since, Pepper's been quiet as can be unless he gets spooked or is greeting me/the morning. His greeting screeches are over in seconds so that I don't mind much. When I'm out of the room, he says different phrases like, "What are you doing?" It's a harmless technique that really works.

 

[Carol]

I totally agree with this, and I think the most important point is rewarding the behavior you want -- give attention when they are quiet. And if they use a less annoying call to request attention, such as "Pretty scoo bird" i will try to acknowledge that, like Lex50.

I would modify it a little bit. Contact calling is normal, birds want to know where the rest of the flock is. So I will respond to one call when I'm out of the room but within earshot. I won't respond to repeated or insistent "yelling" and I do try to encourage more pleasant calls such as "Hey birdie" rather than ear-splitting screeches.

I've read this thread, but my problem is that my GCC only starts screeching when I leave the room. The minute I go back in, she stops. Yikes!

 

[MonicaMc]

Most people are aware of the extinguishing technique...

There is another technique, that of putting your bird up for success. That is, keeping your bird from screaming by preventing it in the first place. It takes work, like anything, but can lead to a happier bird without the need for screeching and having to ignore it. After all, who wants to deal with screaming?

Living With Parrots Cage Free: Does Ignoring Really Work?

Some other blog posts that may be of interest concerning screaming.
Living With Parrots Cage Free: Search results for screaming
Search Results screaming « Best in Flock – Parrot Blog

 

[brittish]

Awesome link!

 

[WannaBeAParrot]

@ Carol -- have you tried teaching your bird "be right back" or "back soon" or something like that? Every time I leave Pritti to go in another room for short time, like bathroom, kitchen for something, i look him in the eye and say "be right back". He's heard this a gazillion times now and it holds him back from calling to find me for a short time out of room. I don't use that technique if I'm not coming right back, i.e. leaving house.