Screaming

   RESOURCES FOR SCREAMING
   AND NOISE ISSUES

 

Check to make sure all of his/her basic needs are met. Does your bird have food, clean water, toys, light, shade, whatever.

Does the location of the cage cause the problem. He can't see you, he can see you, he can see outside (and it scares him), he can't see outside (he might enjoy the activity), does he get startled by people coming in by his cage, etc.

How exactly do you and others in the house respond when he sounds off? Is he getting a drama reward? This is when you yell at him to shut up, or rush over and cover the cage or put him back in his cage - by doing these things you are giving him attention, albeit negative attention, and this can actually reinforce the screaming!

Is your bird getting enough activity? Try giving him a drenching shower, doing some aerobic wing flapping, or setting aside 15 minutes a day of undivided attention teaching him to fetch or so a trick.

Is the bird getting enough sleep? Are you keeping her up at night? Try insuring her 12 hours of dark quiet sleep time by covering the cage with a dark cover from 7pm to 7am, or whatever 12-hour period fits your household's schedule.

Create a reassuring and calming contact call. While you're out of sight, whistle or call to him quietly. Never enter the room when he's loud and if you must . . . do NOT give him eye contact or talk to him . . . turn your back to him when he's screaming.

Finally, praise, praise, praise, him for anything and everything he does that is good. (even being quiet or playing) Praise the good and ignore the bad.

Please review our listing of selected Back Issues that address screaming problems.

There are also some articles on our web site that might be helpful to you: Articles.

Especially read the following articles:

CONTACT CALLS: The Communication Link With Our Parrots.

The Basics Of Nurturing Guidance as it applies to Companion Parrots, by Sally Blanchard

Why You Can't Punish A Parrot, by Sally Blanchard

Sally's Companion Parrot Handbook covers all aspects of parrot care and behavior, including problem solving of such problems as screaming.

The Companion Parrot Quarterly has many articles that address this and all other aspects of parrot care and behavior with in-depth, incisive articles. Please consider subscribing!

Finally, if you need more help, you might want to consider a behavioral consultation. This is a fee-based service which can be done by phone. Sally Blanchard's time is limited but if you can reach her by phone at 970-278-0233 and have your credit card ready, she may be able to spend some time talking to you about your parrot's behavior and logical positive solutions to the problems you are having. The best time to reach her is on Monday or Tuesday afternoons from 1:00pm to 5:00pm Pacific Standard Time.

If this article helped you and you appreciated the information, The Companion Parrot Quarterly continues to have in-depth, practical articles such as this one. PLEASE SUBSCRIBE