saraj Posted August 27, 2007 Share Posted August 27, 2007 My 8 yr old CAG makes a really irritating sound. I am sure it is to get attention. If I ignore it completely, he says, "Stop it! Go get your toy!" Some days I just leave the house to get away from the sound. He is a very talkative bird, does not like to be touched (by me anyway) and seems to be very afraid of most things. Strangely, the vacuum cleaner doesn't bother him at all. Would appreciate knowing if this noise is a "grey thing" and has anyone else had to deal with it. Thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lovemyGreys Posted August 27, 2007 Share Posted August 27, 2007 saraj it would help if you can describe the noise, screeching, loud pitch etc.. You say he is 8 yrs old, have you had him all this time ? a little background will help us to help you <br><br>Post edited by: lovemyGreys, at: 2007/08/27 00:19 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saraj Posted August 27, 2007 Author Share Posted August 27, 2007 The sound is hard to explain. It is just a loud clicking noise. It isn't the loud screeching when he plays, but it isn't too pleasant to the ears. I have had Darwin for 3 years, my daughter had him for 2 years before that, and one of the managers at a PetSmart had him in her home before that. He spends most of the day on top of his cage when I am home. He doesn't play with his toys much, but as I said, is a very talkative bird. Sings, repeats things in context, tells me exactly what he wants for dinner, etc. We went through a few months where I had to give him antibiotics 2X a day because of an infection which probably explains his hesitance to be loving. He does, however, take to 2 or 3 of my friends. Thanks for the prompt answer. Is this enough background? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
judygram Posted August 27, 2007 Share Posted August 27, 2007 Has he always done this clicking noise as long as you have had him? If so, it is probably the noise they all make, mine does a clicking sound but I don't find it annoying. I'm sure they all do it, but you are sensitive to it just like the rest of us find something in particular annoying to us. You will just have to find a way to deal with it, for I don't see him stopping it. I am sorry it annoys you but I don't know what else to tell you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Monique Posted August 27, 2007 Share Posted August 27, 2007 Most likely it's something he is heard that he is imitating. Mine does not talk yet but has learned to imitate a noise very similar to the alarm clock. Loud BEEP BEEP BEEP. Whenever and whereever he pleases. Not the most pleasant sound to live with and since it is the only one he can make he takes great pleasure in making it a lot!! But it doesn't annoy me - I know they mimic and expected that. One reason we don't swear in our house!!! I agree with judygram I think you re just going to have to live with it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TalonSis Posted August 27, 2007 Share Posted August 27, 2007 Talon makes this weird clicking sound too, its like she is rubbing her beak together. I foind she does it when shes bored, or tired. Melissa Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saraj Posted August 27, 2007 Author Share Posted August 27, 2007 The sound is much louder than grinding his beak at bedtime, Talon. Guess it is something that will just be, although it has gotten worse lately. Paying attention to him stops it, but isn't that reinforcing? Ah, well, thank you all for your comments. I will just enjoy his special ways and try to ignore that one. I am really enjoying all comments to everyone here and hope to learn alot from what I read. I have African Grey books on my nightstand, so you can see what my bedtime reading is! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dblhelix Posted August 27, 2007 Share Posted August 27, 2007 Welcome Saraj. Good info in this post. I am still not clear how long he's been doing the clicking of concern. I would ignore it as it sounds like you are trying and give lots of attention/praise to other behaviors/sounds made that you like. It may just be a phase. Sometimes they pick something up that they like for a while and then eventually it sort of phases out as other new things come up. Do be careful about reinforcing the unwanted behavior. Try to identify other more desired behaviors and reward those with attention so this becomes less frequent. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saraj Posted August 27, 2007 Author Share Posted August 27, 2007 Sounds like good advice - just needed some reassurance, db. Heis just being a parrot, I think. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
judygram Posted August 27, 2007 Share Posted August 27, 2007 Yes, Sara, he is just being a parrot, and that is what parrots do is make all kinds of clicking noises and imitating other household sounds. Maybe it won't be so irritating to you now that you know it is normal for them to make these sounds. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
imran Posted August 27, 2007 Share Posted August 27, 2007 polly makes the clicking sound too.. he ll fluff up and come close to me slowly and make that "CLICK" sound.. i dont find it irritating.. it could be tht your grey might be trainned by a clicker earlier(MAYBE)just assuming and he recollected the sound now.. dont have any advice hw to make him stop making tht sound Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest briansmum Posted August 27, 2007 Share Posted August 27, 2007 brian makes a loud clicking sound too, usually when he wants something, like your drink, or is about to do something i.e. jump on you. the clickinh doesn't bother me, but since coming back from my mums he's picked up a loud whinny noise which i can only assume he's got from the dog. this is very annoying. as dblhelix said, they go through phases and if he's only beeing doing it a short while he may get bored of it soon, the best way to help this is to ignore it, reward him with attention for making nice noises or saying nice things and ignore the irritating sounds you dont like. he's just being a typical grey and stretching his complex vocal chords! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lovemyGreys Posted August 27, 2007 Share Posted August 27, 2007 saraj , it seems perfectly normal after reading our members experiences with clicking they do go through phases of picking up different sounds around them best to try & ignore it. coco my little girl has just started beeping Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saraj Posted August 27, 2007 Author Share Posted August 27, 2007 Thanks all for the input! As I sit here at 8 a.m., he is busy playing with his toys and being very quiet. Oh, they make liars out of you sometimes. I do enjoy him in spite of the click and hope to learn a lot from all of you regarding all aspects of his complex personality. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kiwibarb12 Posted October 3, 2007 Share Posted October 3, 2007 Beckette makes a double click noise when I give her something that she wants, like a treat. It is her version of thank you, and I find it very cute. Especially when she thanks me for picking her up. I find that adorable that she would thank me for paying attention to her. I don't get thanked for cleaning the cage, or regular feedings, just the extras that I do. I think she is using positive reinforcement on me! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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