Screaming Parrot

[Nicole]

Hi,

 

my parrot (1.5) was on holiday - had a minder with other birds - since then she screams all day.

 

Has anybody any suggestions.

 

Thanks

 

Regards

 

Nicole

[lovemyGreys]

Hi Nicole, is the screaming a constant ear piercing scream ? Something she didint do before she was being looked after ?

 

Some parrots scream as a way to get attention.The cycle must be broken in order to change the negative behavior. Reward your bird when s/he doesn’t scream and never reward your bird when it does.Completley ignore the screaming behaviour as hard as it may be, never show any reaction.shower your bird with attention and love once the screaming stops.

[kiwibarb12]

Great advice!! Beckette had a really annoying noise, and by completely ignoring it she has been doing it a lot less recently. Rewarding the behaviours that you like is a lot easier than trying to break a bad habit that you don't.

Its actually hard to praise good behaviour because you don't really notice it. Especially something like being quiet. So you will have to make an effort to notice the lack of noise - not just give a sigh of relief. :lol:

[birdgranna]

Good advice from everyone. My CAG Quinn makes the sound of the smoke detector going off! I try to ignore him and he usually gives up, but every so often I have to peak in and check to make sure it is him. My husband likes well done toast so the darn thing goes off all the time:angry:

[matt314159]

I agree with the other posters, the thing to do seems to be to ignore them entirely when they're screaming. At least for Ponti, it's the worst form of punishment! But when she is quiet again, we give her all the love she can handle!

 

I've found that negative reinforcement rarely works at all with these guys. It's tough sometimes, but rewarding good behavior seems to have much more impact on a bird than "punishing" bad behavior.

 

Incidentally, probably one of the worst things you can do with a screaming parrot is to yell at them. They don't really (well, at least mine doesn't anyway) have a sense of being in trouble when they're getting yelled at. They seem to think you're simply getting just as excited as they are, and try to top you!

[danmcq]

LOL Matt - You got that right. Getting in a yelling contest with a Grey is BIG FUN to them :-)

 

They think your finally getting with the program.

[Nicole]

Hi,

 

thanks for all the reply.

 

She is still not the old parrot but today she was not to bad.

 

Thanks

 

Nicole

[matt314159]

I think with some patience, nicole, she will come around. look for changes over weeks and not days.

[lovemyGreys]

Quite right matt, the circle of screaming has to be broken but it will take time over the weeks, nicole im pleased you had a slightly better day.