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Post by Mcdanielaj on Apr 21, 2016 23:41:31 GMT -5
I need help. I've recently adopted my Baby Jake because his owner had health issues that prevented her from keeping him. Its been a long way coming for us and we are finally comfortable and feeling like a good family, but recently he has started screetching if someone leaves the room. If I leave he won't stop. I'm trying to ignore it and not give him attention for bad behavior but my housemates aren't so patient. Does anyone have anyother suggestions?
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Post by zim on Apr 22, 2016 1:37:40 GMT -5
It could be what's called a contact call. For my little Yoshi, his contact calls are short, loud screeches. Since Quakers are very social, they want to be in constant contact with their flock at all times (if they can't see them). So when you leave the room, Jake could be calling out to you, expecting you to call back. You can respond by saying anything, but I think it's probably best to choose a word or phrase and stick with that for each time you call back.
If it's not a contact call, and instead just flat out screaming, I'm afraid I don't personally have much advice to offer there.
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Post by beccilouise on Apr 22, 2016 12:02:35 GMT -5
Hi and welcome! Zim is right, a contact call is normal calling behaviour, just call back to let him know where you are. If it is actual SCREAMING, the best thing to do is stay out of the room until he stops screaming (which may take some time) and only return when he stops, praising him softly. You could also offer him an alternative noise, like a whistle, a click or a word, to encourage him to use that instead. Key advice is DO NOT respond to the screaming AT ALL, or you will end up reinforcing the behaviour. Ignore the scream, praise the quiet.
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Post by easttex on Apr 22, 2016 12:04:56 GMT -5
Zim makes a good point. Contact calling is in their nature, and you're probably not going to stop that. You can try to teach him to use a different call, like a whistle perhaps. Like Zim says, you'll need to be very consistent, and you probably won't succeed if he gets yelled at by others. He will see every person within his sphere as being flock mates, even if they want nothing to do with him. If you can enlist them in your training effort, it will go much easier.
If it is truly screaming, there are things you can do.
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