what am i doing wrong?

[xxme2uxx]

after 6 months of researching we decided to get a green cheek conure hes 4 years old we went to see him a few times before buying hes a lovely bird very tame altough he does bite your clothes but sometimes he wont come on your finger he will just walk away - the problem is we have had him about a month now and all he does from 7.30am till 8pm is scream - he has a large cage which has about 4 hanging toys and branches im at home all day so give him plenty of attention he has fresh fruit every morning inc a boiled egg once a week - he seems to have taken to my husband more than more he will go on him more but still screams - i try and play with him lots of toys like little balls and i hide things in newspaper which hes not bothered about - i try and take him with me all over the house when i do housework but 7 times out of 10 he wont get on my finger - he has his cage door open all day long so never stuck in there - we try and do everythink with him inc singing to him but he just sits on top of his cage screaming at us for nearly 12 hours aday - its getting to the point his not cute just annoying altough we do love him - what else can i do? im very fustrated please help?? he seems better when hes alone but then theres no point of having him lol

 

[T00tsyd]

I think I would go back to the beginning. Just out of interest I counted the toys in Syd's (GCC) large cage - 10, plus 8 different styles of perches, 3 ladders 2 swings and somewhere to hide away which he never uses. I change the layout every couple of days by moving the perches/branches and I move toys around and also have a stock that I change at the same time apart from a couple of favourites that he would miss badly if they moved out. I find that each time I revamp his space he spends time working out his route around. I also hide treats (seeds) in different places to keep him amused.

He is not out as much as some people allow but I am also here all day most days. He baths in the sink in a bowl which is his choice although given the chance he prefers the dog's water bowl. He doesn't get the chance of course. He has 2 play stands which I made both of which he seems to really enjoy and the toys there change regularly as well.

At 4 years he is probably quite out of his comfort zone missing things he has known in the past as much as the people he was with. So back to basics. More cage time with maybe more in cage entertainment. Then give him no attention when he's screaming. If he stops then chat to him and let him get comfortable before moving on. I'm no expert by any means but just give him some time and space would be my way forward.

 

[GaleriaGila]

I like Toot's advice.
Screaming is such a challenge. The Rb loves the sound of his own shrieks so much that I catch him sometimes just doing a StevieWonder groove, eyes half-closed, just marveling at his own volume.
Ignoring screams and rewarding quiet is the key but to the extent that screaming is self-reinforcing, well... toys, distraction, fun foods...
Is there a nutritious treat that really sends him?
I can always get a bit of silence by tossing the Rb a fat, juicy green chile.

Good luck!

 

[Anansi]

Hello, and welcome to the Parrot Forums family!

Hmmm... There are behavior modification and training tactics to try, but if your little guy has been screaming nonstop every waking hour for a month now, the very first thing I'd do is take him in to see a certified avian vet (the certified part is important. A certified avian vet might catch subtle things that a regular exotics vet might not) to rule out any medical issues. He might be screaming due to physical discomfort or even pain.

Take him in even if he seems fine. Birds instinctively try to hide illness or weakness, as predators target the weak as easier prey.

Also, make sure that you are feeding him enough. He could be screaming out of hunger. Were you able to confirm with his prior parront how much he was fed? Was he also a screamer there?

If he checks out okay medically, and his food amount seems to be on point, you can begin by properly training him to target and step up. Here are videos on both:

Stepping up: [ame="https://youtu.be/GIaDDSeZKnI"]Parrot Training Workshop Live Demo - Step Up Training with a Macaw - YouTube[/ame]
Target Training: [ame="https://youtu.be/HaOicTtwIZo"]Beginners guide to target training parrots - YouTube[/ame]

Both of these are very important. They form the foundation of an interactive relationship with your bird. The best time for this training is between meals, when your bird is at his hungriest. Note that I'm not advocating the withholding of food for the purposes of training, as I abhor that method. Rather, I'm suggesting strategically timed training.

This is assuming a meal schedule that revolves around specific, designated meal times, whether two or three times a day, rather than free-feeding. With my birds, it's 2x a day, with a nighttime snack before bedtime. So my optimal training time is maybe a half hour to hour before dinner, when those treats will be especially tempting. Training should then last anywhere between 5-20 minutes per session, depending on your lil' guy's attention span. Never go for longer than his eagerness can maintain, as he'll lose interest. Just like show biz, keep him wanting more!

Be lavish with your praise, and use their favorite foods for treats. Stuff that he can't get at his regular meals. With my ekkies, I just use nuts broken into smaller pieces. (Not so big as to fill them up quickly, nor so small as to be unworthy of the effort. Aim for "Just right", Goldilocks style.)

You may find that improving your interaction with him cuts down on the screaming in and of itself, as the screaming may just be an expression of boredom. If not, there are methods you can engage to help bring the screaming down to more tolerable levels. You just want to work on establishing a bit of a bond between you, first, as most of the methods used against screaming rely upon the bird actually enjoying your company. He needs to begin associating you with fun time! And the training described above will take you far in that direction. As intelligent birds, parrots enjoy learning new things. Mental stimulation is key. You can help the association along with shameless bribery as well. Nothing says love to a parrot like the presentation of a beloved treat item.

Once the association has been made between your presence and heavenly treats, here is a link to scream extinction methods: Barbara's Force Free Animal Training Talk: Stop your Parrot from Screaming for Attention

Keep in mind, it's unrealistic to expect a perfectly quiet bird. It's absolutely normal for a bird to make occasional flock calls when you are out of the room to check on you. Or to have set times during the morning or evening when they like to test the range of their singing voices. These methods are set to address screaming on the level that you have described in your post. It might take some time, as some birds are more stubborn than others, but you'll get there. Persistence is key. Persistence and patience.

 

[Anansi]

Oh! One other thing! Check on his environment. Is there anything that might be freaking him out? Do you have other pets that might be frightening him? Is he near a window and possibly unused to seeing so much traffic and such? Do you have kids who like rough and tumble play near his cage? These are all potential causes of the screaming as well.

 

[xxme2uxx]

thankyou for your advice - i will take him to the vet but i dont think theres anythink medical as he shuts up when hes alone :/

 

[xxme2uxx]

i do have a dog but hes old and sleeps all the time mainly in the next room - hes not next to a window and i have two 10 year olds who are at school all day x

 

[Anansi]

You're welcome.

So chances are it isn't medical or environmental. It's good you're taking him in to see the vet just in case, though. I'd say start working on the steps advised above. It'll take persistence and dedication, but it should make a difference.

 

[xxme2uxx]

thanks hun hes stated to bite me the past 2 days dont know why - he will fly on my and bite HARD im going to leave him alone for a few days he seems to like it better x

 

[eagle18]

thanks hun hes stated to bite me the past 2 days dont know why - he will fly on my and bite HARD im going to leave him alone for a few days he seems to like it better x

I wonder if he is getting hormonal. My cockatoo becomes a little bit more demanding and aggressive this time of year.

 

[xxme2uxx]

i dont know but what i do know is i thought i would get a pet who loves to play and wants attention i decided on a parrot as im at home bored most of the time but sadly my bird seems to prefer to be alone lol x

 

[Anansi]

Just hang in there. Eagle could very well be right about this latest biting habit being a hormonal thing, in which case the storm will pass.

Parrots are very rewarding companions, but they tend not to be as "easy" as dogs or cats. I think this stems from the combination of their intelligence and the fact that they are not mammals. As avians, they perceive things FAR differently than we do... despite the fact that we often like to anthropomorphize them and their actions. Fact is, the sooner that we realize how different they are from us, the better our relationship with them tends to be.

Why? Because to understand that they are not like us is to better comprehend, respect and accept their perspective. And the way they will respond to us behaving in a way that makes sense from their point of view will likely surprise... and delight... you.

But it takes time. And a lot of patience. But the investment in time spent will prove more than worth it. There is a lot of focus on training... and for good reason... but there is also an adjustment that has to be made on our side as well. Two-way street, you know?

 

[Tielsforlife]

I read your post and I’m thinking this is learned behavior. I would bet this is exactly the reason he was given away in the first place. It seems to me that the only real attention he got from his previous owners is in reaction to this behavior which then reinforced it. Remember, birds have the intellectual maturity of a 5 year old. What would you do with a five year old to correct negative behavior? Ignore the bad and praise the good. The problem is that it’s going to take a VERY long time and a lot patience with a bird. Good luck. I hope it goes well.