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Post by easttex on Nov 8, 2015 4:01:12 GMT -5
With Peppy, I think he has learned the difference between my being out of sight and my being really gone from home. He will make some contact calls to my husband, but does not do that demanding, get-me-outta-here-now thing. But although they like each other, my husband does not handle him, and I don't know how much difference that makes. I know that's not especially helpful. I think a well socialized parrot who can count on getting quality time is less likely to develop a screaming problem. A radio or tv left on for him may provide a sense of comfort to him.
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Post by beccilouise on Nov 8, 2015 4:11:07 GMT -5
Thanks, that's really helpful  He's such a lovely friendly bird. I work part time and am doing an MA, and next year I will be working as a poet in Residence 3 or 4 days a week, so he is with me in the evenings and weekends. Whenever I am home, he is on my shoulder. We chat to each other and I want to learn to train him properly so he's a happy boy. He's a fast learner and is already beginning to realize that screaming means we leave the room, so hopefully he will learn to be part of our little family nice and quick and be a happy, healthy boy.
He really went for it this morning though. I did everything you all suggested, ignored him, walked out of the room when he got really loud, only walked back in when he was quiet, offered him an alternative sound, turned my back and walked away if he screamed again. I love him so much, his demanding shrieks are really stressing me out because I really don't want to have to get rid of him because of our neighbours.  he's quietened down a bit now and is sat preening on my shoulder. |
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Post by beccilouise on Nov 8, 2015 9:59:42 GMT -5
Ok, so after a massive squawking fit this morning, Byron began to learn how to make kiss noises instead of scream. I left the room, made tongue click noises at him from the hall and he copied me. I rushed in and showered him with praise and attention. This happened a couple of times. I know it will take time but he IS learning. Singing to him while I walk about the house is also helping him learn to be quiet. I also took him to meet the lady downstairs, who said she thought he was lovely and his noise really didn't bother her, about which I am SO relieved. I'm sorry to keep posting, I feel like a new mum whose brought home her first child and has no idea what she's doing. I think I just need a bit of moral support! Thanks so much for all your help and advice already.
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Post by easttex on Nov 8, 2015 10:27:57 GMT -5
Don't worry about over-posting. I think it's safe to say that all of us here enjoy reading about each others' birds, and the progress they make, or the problems they encounter. Also, I don't think there is anyone here who thinks they know it all, and you're helping to grow the body of knowledge when you update. |
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Post by beccilouise on Nov 8, 2015 13:22:33 GMT -5
Thank you. He's had quite a good afternoon. He got quite sleepy about 4pm, and all three of us had a nap. Now he's sat on top of his cage. He's making little noises, but nothing big. I know he's a parrot and so will scream sometimes, I'm just keen for him to learn the difference between good and bad behavior before my partner marches us both back to the shop! |
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Post by julianna on Nov 8, 2015 14:50:03 GMT -5
I love reading new posts louise... everyone learns something from each others posts so you are helping new moms as they come on-line as well.
I still do everything I can to find out what my QP Oscar wants when he is screaming and to make him stop... I give it to him... lol lol Yes... I am his slave but I love it.
99% of the time all he really wants is my attention.
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Post by beccilouise on Nov 8, 2015 15:02:39 GMT -5
Hahaha, yes! I think that may be the problem. He's such a little terror. He's been very good this evening. We sat at the coffee table and he played with his new ball and started learning to play fetch. The screaming was less insane earlier and he made kiss noises more quickly. So there is hope!
I want to make sure my bird has what he needs and gets his play time, but my partner and I are still able to do the things we like doing. I am a poet and so need time to write. I can do that with Byron on my shoulder, so long as he'll let me, and then we can have devoted playtime as well. Also my partner is being REALLY patient, as he is always wont to do. I'm really anxious about ruining our relationship, as it is definitely by far the most positive and affirming I've had. He really likes Byron but is understandably put off by the noise. Byron is not his bird, so I don't feel he should have to contribute to training, though he is being really, really good so far. I just want my bird, my bunny and my boyfriend to be happy and content with each other, as they're my little family and I love them dearly. |
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Post by rickygonzalez on Nov 9, 2015 1:20:15 GMT -5
Sounds like you're doing everything very well. The others have given you excellent advice. I live with my folks, who don't really care to handle Sonic hands on, but ever since he has started talking they have really come around to loving him. At times I think they like him more than they like me.... Lol I'm sure your boyfriend will come around. Just be consistent, Sonic was not hand fed as he was supposed to be a breeder bird. He was a screaming machine when I first got him, now, he mostly talks to get my attention. Which is much better, but still gets a bit old when I'm trying to sleep and he wants out of his cage. He knows about 50 different words and sounds, but will say whatcha doing and be a good boy now over and over until I let him out. He screams very rarely anymore. Hang in there, it will get better as long as you're consistent. Good luck, I hope you can post a bigger picture of his, he looks amazing.
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Post by beccilouise on Nov 9, 2015 5:11:10 GMT -5
Thank you This is great. It sounds like, in comparison to a few others, Byron has actually had a very good start. He's learning really quickly. He screamed for about two minutes when I left the room earlier, but stopped pretty fast. I think a lot of the time, he just wants to know where I am, so if I sing to him, or take him with me on walks around the house, he's quieter. It's quite difficult for me to establish a routine with him, unfortunately, because some evenings I have seminars and some mornings I work, but I'm hoping he'll learn to talk and use that to get my attention instead of shrieking. I know he won't stop screaming altogether, and will sometimes have a crazy 10 minutes, I just want to establish that that's 'bad' behavior and talking and kissing is 'good' behavior. I'll try and get him to be still enough to take a decent pic! |
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Post by beccilouise on Nov 9, 2015 6:46:08 GMT -5
So he's starting holding onto his perch with his claws and flapping his wings really hard. This is often accompanies by a very loud squawk. When I bought him, he had one wing clipped. Is this a sign it's growing out? He normally stops if I pick him up and stroke him a bit. What does this behavior show?
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Post by rickygonzalez on Nov 9, 2015 11:25:24 GMT -5
That is perfectly normal, he is just exercising his wings. Why they scream while doing it, I have no clue. I have noticed that Sonic doesn't do that anymore since his flight feathers grew in. I let him out in the morning and he flies around in my bedroom. Anyway, nothing to worry about. Keep on posting questions.... you're doing awesome!!!!
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Post by easttex on Nov 9, 2015 13:26:59 GMT -5
He may just be exercising, and it also might be a signal that he'd like something to bathe in. If he doesn't already have access to a "tub", you can try giving him a sturdy, low sided container with an inch or so of water.
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Post by julianna on Nov 9, 2015 15:55:25 GMT -5
Oscar loves to come with me all around the house. When I get the laundry... he loves to jump on top of the pile of clean clothes and searches for the bounty sheet. When I dump the clothes on the bed for folding... he is right on top of it all having fun. He is on my shoulder when I cook and even while I am here on the computer.
With him being with you... will definitely keep him content and quiet. Every night he flaps his wings to exercise. I am not sure if you are going to continue to keep his wings clipped or not. That really is a personal choice. It works for me and Oscar. If you think one side is shorter than the other then this could cause imbalance for the bird and should be taken care of.
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Post by aaron on Nov 9, 2015 19:20:36 GMT -5
Sounds like things are going really well with Byron! The others have given you great advice. The wing flapping is probably just a form of exercise. Why does he have only one wing clipped? It's best to keep them at least roughly even in length. Cupcake will scream only when she thinks she's being ignored. Fortunately, or unfortunately, depending on how you look at it, we live in an apartment where we are all in the same room or can basically see each other from where we sit the vast majority of the time. If Cupcake feels she has been left in a room where we are not, she will scream, but since she can either see us or choose to follow us, this basically never happens. When she stays with my parents when we go on vacation, however, in their single-family home, she screams all the time, because they don't let her leave the kitchen/family-room area, so she is often caged while they are in other parts of the house. They're always telling me how loud she is, which is so foreign to us, because she's a really quiet bird at home. |
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Post by beccilouise on Nov 10, 2015 4:55:12 GMT -5
Thanks so much for all your advice. Byron is doing really well. He only had a five minute tantrum yesterday, and my partner said that he was mostly really good while I was at my seminar. Yesterday, he let me have a bath without screaming and also let me have a nap without screaming. I take him on walks around the house with me wherever it is safe for him to go (so not while I'm cooking) and he's been a good boy. I'm going to buy him a birdie bath today. I think I'll take him to the vet as soon as his wing grows out and see what they advise. I don't really want to take all his flying ability away from him, I just don't want him to hurt himself against windows and things. I've been having a lot of anxiety attacks over the last three days, I don't think they're related to Byron, but it's making it difficult for me to eat properly, which is stressful. I've lost five pounds over the last four days and I think he can tell I'm struggling, he's been very affectionate. he's a quick learner, I'm sure we'll all be fine |
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He's such a lovely friendly bird. I work part time and am doing an MA, and next year I will be working as a poet in Residence 3 or 4 days a week, so he is with me in the evenings and weekends. Whenever I am home, he is on my shoulder. We chat to each other and I want to learn to train him properly so he's a happy boy. He's a fast learner and is already beginning to realize that screaming means we leave the room, so hopefully he will learn to be part of our little family nice and quick and be a happy, healthy boy.
he's quietened down a bit now and is sat preening on my shoulder.
