2006-10-17 10:02:29 · 10 answers · asked by hairydog 3 in Pets ➔ Birds
Macaws are by nature a very vocal bird. Screeching is part of the package when you live with one. Stopping it is probably not an option. That would be like asking you to stop trying to communicate. Get used to it, because the bird is going to be around a long time.
You can try contacting a bird specialist, to see if there is anything you can do to discourage it, but I don't see that you will stop it.
2006-10-17 10:48:38 · answer #1 · answered by clovicat 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋
I have a macaw as well. I make him toys (there are great sites online, try cheep parrot toys and tips under Yahoo groups!) and rotate them all the time! If your bird is bored, or UNSTIMULATED, he will skwalk! You can make them easily or just buy them. But be sure he has 5 or so in there, big macaw toys. Not wee bird toys.
Also, when dh comes home, my macaw GOES NUTS. He knows dad is his guy. So he won't shut it until dh goes over to let him out.
Lastly, when he does this, move him if possible? Make a pvc pipe perch (covered in vet wrap where he stands) and put him near you. Easy.
He is a flock animal, he wants to be with you.
Last resort, give him a bowl full of peanuts..unsalted..in the shell! Keeps them busy for a while!
2006-10-18 05:21:32 · answer #2 · answered by WriterMom 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
We have a blue and gold macaw and two African greys. Bandit our macaw has a screech once or twice a day, and all we had to do to make him behave, is show it a spray which we use for washing them. Used only as a mist, and only on his body,
But when naughty, he gets the jet strait in his face. We only have to pick it up and he legs it to the other side of his cage, he is the good then. He gets a warning from me and Smokey calls out warning !!! warning!!!.
He had a spray a few times, when we first got him two years ago, now he may only need reminding once a month and he's good, without even getting wet.
Works on the the old girl too.!!!!!!
2006-10-17 10:34:04 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
You are correct in that reinforcing the unwanted behavior will increase it.
Have you praised or reinforced his being quiet?
Start by identifying when he is quiet. What is going on in the environment when he's quiet? What is happening when he is loud? Is the t.v. on? Is there a lot activity going on when he screams? Is he alone in another room when he's screaming?
Learning to be a keen observer will let you in on a lot of his motivation for the screaming.
Every behavior has a function or motivation-there is a reason for it. If it didn't have a positive result of some kind, your parrot wouldn't do it.
You have probably inadvertantly reinforced the screaming by paying attention to it: even negatively. If you can consistantly pay attention to and praise those quiet moments and methodically ignore the screaming, you can extinguish the screaming. It's going to take a while. I suspect that it's taken a while for it to become a full throttle behavior, so it's going to take at least that long to extinguish.
You can do it, but it's going to take a while and you have to be consistant. At the end of the process, you are most likely going to get what's called an "Extinction Burst". This is an increase in the screaming for a bit that is the last ditch effort to keep the behavior useful: you paying attention to it.
Here is a link to a website that will assign a caseworker to you and your bird in order to assist you with getting rid of the behavior:
http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/ParrotBAS/
They are a Yahoo group that specializes in Parrot behavior training, and they take on cases like yours to help you learn how to get rid of this unwanted behavior. They have had countless successes with cases such as yours and they do this training all via the intetnet. It's work and it's involved, but they are very successful and very respectful.
Give them a holler and they will be very willing to assist you with this.
Good Luck!
2006-10-18 00:51:05 · answer #4 · answered by Phoenix 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Hahns macaws are little chatterboxes. They tend to vocalise intently more so than just about any other parrot I have ever come accross
Have a look at this page, there are some interesting articles.
http://www.parrotchronicles.com/departments/scream_behavior.htm
2006-10-17 10:15:49 · answer #5 · answered by dave 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
http://www.birdtricks.com/training-course -- This web sight will teach you how to train your bird and stop bad habits. It works. Never praise your bird for screaming by feeding it. Ignore your screaming bird. Birds only learn by rewarding them such as giving them food. If you feed your bird after screaming....your bird will scream just to get a treat.
2006-10-17 11:51:19 · answer #6 · answered by ladyparadise777 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
why did you choose to buy one of the noisiest speciest of birds, then complain about the noise??????
Hahns macaws are notoriously noisy, but of course, you would have known that before your bought it when you did your research wouldn't you?
2006-10-18 03:19:43 · answer #7 · answered by fenlandfowl 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Welcome to the wonderful world of bird ownership.
Screaming is part of the package.
You can minimize screaming by only paying attention to the bird when she is quiet. If you get her food or let her out, you're reinforcing the behavior. She should only get treats and out of the cage when she is quiet.
Good Luck
2006-10-17 11:07:06 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
They look for more attention don't stay long near to hem they like to do that Lot I have 2 inside my house .
from Puerto Rico
2006-10-17 10:19:17 · answer #9 · answered by annitalaunica 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
join the bird owners club, cotten wool works wonders ( in YOUR ears!) best get used to it, its telling you that it wants all the attention on (him/her?) wants to be top dog in the pecking order
ouch, did I really say that, shame on me.
2006-10-17 11:51:45 · answer #10 · answered by bigbro 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋