My umbrella cockatoo has become really noisy lately!?

Question

I've had him for 2 years; he came from another family and is a teenager in bird years. The last couple of weeks he has taken to intermittent screaming - sometimes when an unfamiliar man has been in the house, but sometimes for no apparent reason. There's no pattern. Anyone know what's setting him off - and how to shut him up?

Boo: I use a water bottle to give him a shower so it won't work as a punishment. He loves showers!

Wollam: he gets plenty of attention though he is unwilling to come out when a stranger is in the room. He does come out regularly and has lots of toys which I rotate periodically to keep him stimulated. There has been no change in the routine. Skippy is definitely a HE: he has bonded with me and tries to do the nasty on my hand.
I have 3 other hookbills including a conure who is my screaming watchdog, so the noise doesn't bother me - except that when someone is in the house, it's impossible to have a conversation lately! Could he be jealous?

Answer 1

You said you've had him 2 years...How old is he? He must have just come of breeding age.
I have the same problem and have already done the research on it. He is definitely jealous.

Mine also screams whenever I'm in the room if he wants out. It took a couple of months, but I go to his cage, tell him to shush and turn my back on him. At first he'd keep screaming, but finally got the idea.
After I tell him to shush now, he talks sweetly and softly to me. I tell him he's a good boy and keep doing what I'm doing until I'm ready to take him out.
He's also jealous when I take the other pair of cockatoos out instead of him.
Warning...If he can he'll bite your men friends. Mine calls them over and when they get close he nails them.
Be careful about letting him sit on your shoulder when you have company. Male parrots will sometimes bite their female to drive them back away from others. You are his female.
One more thing I've found that distracts and quiets him is to put a treat in his food dish.

Answer 2

There probably is a pattern, you just don't see it yet. Cockatoos are very demanding in terms of attention. If he's not getting enough, or if you ignore him when "a strange man" is in the house, he may be reacting to that. Does he get out of the cage to exercise? Does he have appropriate, safe and interesting toys to play with and chew on? Keeping him busy with something interesting should help reduce the screaming. Has he recently had a change in routine? Sometimes the stress of change can make him anxious and thereby noisier. He should settle down once he gets used to the new routine. When you say a teenager in bird years, do you mean he's just coming into sexual maturity? If so, he may be a she and is reacting to human males because she doesn't have the opportunity to be with cockatoo males. You can try covering the cage when he screams so that it's not being rewarded. You might even try clicker training (there are books on clicker training you could use).
Finally, the fact is that in the wild, these birds scream sometimes! It's one reason so many parrot-type birds are abandoned or passed on to new homes. You may have to learn to live with it if you want to keep the bird.

Answer 3

You don't say how old your umbie is, only that you've had him for two years. My friend's male umbie currently has "ants in his pants" because it's now springtime in Oz: breeding season. You need to determinine a more precise age of the animal - for more clues. Birds may APPEAR to be screaming for "no apparent reason" but there IS ALWAYS A REASON (it's just not apparent). There is a pattern there, rest assured: you just haven't found it yet.

How to shut him up? You'll just have to learn to live with some screaming if hormones are indeed to blame. My friend tries to divert his attention once her guy gets going - with limited sucess. Punishing him for a completely natural behaviour is irrational, cruel, and will ultimately BACKFIRE on you by alienating the bird.

Answer 4

despite you do, do no longer launch it. it particularly is a merciless meal to feed a hawk or eagle. Why is she calling? She needs you?? maximum probable. a dismal cover might help yet no longer for long. supply her some thing to do. it particularly is her nature to call - think of you may replace her nature? There are extra cockatoo rescues than anyother parrot. guess why? they p.c. a flock to call to and from. stable success.

Answer 5

get a new spray bottle an d put water in there.everytime it screams spray some of it and that will shut them up.i had a cockatoo and thats how we used to shut her up..try that and u wont regret it..