My parrot has recently started a high pitched scream when ever my husband or my self head for the door. I understand why he does it. Einstein doesn't want us to leave. And for the most part one of us is always home. We give him plenty of attention. He is very loved. How do I teach him not to scream? He is very smart. Will this pass? Or do I need to teach him his screaming is a bad behavior.
2006-11-07 00:20:29 · 10 answers · asked by Lisa G 1 in Pets ➔ Birds
This screaming is a flock call - he's calling for you and your husband. I have a few birds who do this the entire time I'm away from home - and sometimes when I'm just out of the room longer than they want me to be. It's especially common in young birds or in birds who have only been with you a short period of time (a couple of months or so). You can equate it to "Hey - where are you?" or "Hey, take me with you." It's not bad behavior or abnormal behavior for a bird.
That said, I agree that it's less than desirable. But, it's not a behavior that you can stop. I have a 5 year old bird who's done it from the day I got him and still will call for me today. Instead, you should try to replace the screaming with a different sound. I've taught most of my birds to whistle instead of scream. You can do this by responding to your bird's screams, from a location he can't see you, with a whistle. You should also try to whistle from time to time when you're not where he can see you so he knows you're there. Eventually, when you leave the house and are gone for a period of time he'll whistle for you more often than scream.
The very first bird I owned calls for me by saying "where are you?" and then my response (which he often adds on his own) is "Mommy's in the other room". You can be creative in what you'd want your call to be. African Greys are extremely good talkers so you won't be limited to a whistle. Other birds like Amazons, Cockatoos, etc. can't speak as well so whistles are easier. Try to teach him a call that you won't mind the sound of and that will be easy for both of you to use all of the time.
You should also make sure you're not doing anything to contribute to the screaming either. When he screams, ignore him. Do NOT go to him, talk to him, take him out of the cage, etc. This teaches him that screaming is rewarded with attention. If he gets too noisy and you can't take any more, cover his cage with a dark sheet as a time out. Leave him covered for 5 minutes or until the screaming stops, whichever is later. If he continues the screaming after being uncovered, you'll have to cover him up again so he sees that screaming gets him time to himself which is exactly opposite of what he's looking for. Also, make sure that as you make progress you reward him. And, as for punishment, covering your bird up or moving his location to a quiet room/cage is the most you should ever do - otherwise you'll teach your bird to not trust you or that whatever you are punishing him with is bad (I've had birds come to me who hate water because whenever they would scream they'd be sprayed - not a good idea since they do need baths from time to time even if it's just a quick mist).
Remember that even though it's bad behavior to you, he just wants to know where you are and be with you. You can't and shouldn't teach him that it's bad behavior - you should try to replace the mode of behavior with something more acceptable.
Good luck!
2006-11-07 00:38:59 · answer #1 · answered by nicoleharres 2 · 4⤊ 0⤋
Hopefully you can teach him that it is unacceptable behaviour for him to scream when you leave.
I'd suggest giving him a treat or something to distract him just before you are due to leave & also that you put the radio on to keep him company. Noticed that one of the website links suggests taking him for a walk around the house to distract him from leaving - whilst another suggests clicker training. Hmm.
My only concern is, that because African Grey's are so intelligent, he'll realise straight away just what you are up to.
Ours didn't used to scream - oh he'd make that growling noise at the hoover - his most irritating habit was making a high pitch 'H' noise when he felt he was not getting enough attention.
We got Rip in Ghana when I was five & when we moved back to England, Rip of course came too. I was devastated when he died 35 years later - I was hoping he would live at least until I was over 70. However, we don't really know how old he actually was as my father bought him when someone came around selling parrots door to door. (They also used to sell monkeys door to door ... unfortunately I couldn't persuade Dad to buy one of those ... probably just as well, lol)
I used to do my homework sitting near him & he'd start, with that awful piercing 'H'. Shouting at him didn't work, poking him with my ruler didn't work (I don't recommend that - I can only mitigate my actions by saying that I was very young at the time & also very irritated by the noise).
About the only thing to quiet him was to either stop what I was doing & have a chat with him, or give him a rich tea biscuit or piece of apple, or to cover his cage. I think he preferred the biscuit. lol.
I have the feeling that HE was training me though.
Anyway, I'd try giving him a special treat to eat & turning on the radio for him just before you leave.
Or to cover him up - though that's no fun for him if you're going to be out for a while.
But if you could train him not to, then that would be brilliant. Hope some of the links provide useful help. Good luck.
2006-11-07 00:39:04 · answer #2 · answered by Solow 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The only way to stop this behavior is to totally ignore it.
If you acknowledge it in any way it reinforces the behavior and he will do it all the more. It is just a cry for attention.
He does not want to be left alone and thinks you are abandoning him when you go out of the room.
If you tell him to be quiet when he does this he has won and got the attention he wants.
As I said you have to totally ignore any unwanted behavior and reward good behavior.
If you leave the room and he screams wait untill he has stopped and is quiet then go back in and reward him with a titbit of his favourite fruit and a cuddle.
If he does it again keep repeating the ignoring and only reward him when he is quiet.
Reinforce positive behaviour wth rewards.
2006-11-07 00:40:38 · answer #3 · answered by stevehart53 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Awwww! This screaming is happiness! It's a real annoying sound but it does mean that your bird is excited! He could be reacting to you leaving in a kinda panicky way. I say Shh! and carry on. Now my Grey tells the Macaw to Shhh! when he screams!!
I have an African Grey and a Macaw....you should hear the Macaw to his sunset screaming!!!
2006-11-07 01:09:46 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Scream Back
2006-11-07 00:29:58 · answer #5 · answered by Mickey 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Parrots live in huge flocks and you're asking a lot for him to be left alone and like it. Can't you get him some company, a mirror and a radio at least? And make a video for him.
2006-11-07 00:25:31 · answer #6 · answered by sarah c 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
He wants company...if you get another bird, you will lose this one to that one! Leave a TV on or at least a radio.
They are very intelligent birds, & need a lot of interaction.
2006-11-07 08:25:45 · answer #7 · answered by fairly smart 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My Lutino Ringneck does exactly the same! I've not tried to teach him to stop it, I think it's kind of cute he's getting hysterical that I'm leaving the house!!
2006-11-07 00:36:18 · answer #8 · answered by eamonandmegan 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
have you tried leaving the radio or tv on for him
2006-11-07 00:23:50 · answer #9 · answered by mannit m 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
he's beginning to find his vocal chords... do the kids scream a lot?
That is all it is... he may be hearing something that you cannot hear!
2006-11-07 00:33:12 · answer #10 · answered by 360Vindicator 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋