Apologies for this being so long.
Hi, some of you already know about Torrie tiel and my quest to lower the amount of screaming. I have been partially successful over the past 6 weeks, and for that I am happy and grateful. Now let's look at a couple specific cases...
BAck story: Torrie lost her mate about a year ago. She began screaming *some* at that point. Then I gave away Torrie and my other (quiet) female cockatiel when we were about to move to a condo. We didn't move, the guy brought them back when he had family problems. Both tiels who I had since babies and who used to be quiet, very tame/friendly birds are now kind of wild. They scream, well it is mostly Torrie, and Spirit follows her. They've taught the baby caique to scream too. It's a scream fest!
I have been doing some clicker training, some reading to them, and a whole lot of hanging out in the bird room. It has been a partial success. The screaming is a lot less, and although they'd prefer to stay on top of a high-up cage, they do occasionally come down for pets. Spirit more than Torrie. I took Spirit into the other cage, in another room, and she trembled the whole time and watched the dog. So I don't think they'll enjoy that. Plus she bit me. I think something happened with dogs while they were gone -- the guy has 8.
Both enjoyed the clicker training the couple times I got them onto the perch. A year ago they'd step up. Now they really won't, if I open the cage door in the morning and pet them, then ask for a step up, they bob their heads back down for more pets and ignore me. Spirit will run away and even hiss -- often not letting me touch her at all. If Torrie were a bull, she would be ramming me with her horns the way she insists on pets. She has only stepped up twice VERY BRIEFLY since she's been home.
Anyway: They scream whenever the door slams (when people are going in and out through the garage). I try to say hello and whistle, but I get that one and it's acceptable if there is no way to change it. The door slams about, oh, 40 times a day.
They scream when I walk out the door to the bird room, or even look like I might walk out. I go in and out a lot, especially when changing water or other chores. I used to say "I'll be back." I've decided I'm sort of reinforcing by saying that, so I need to stop. What else can I do to change this? As I said they are on top of a cage most of the time, I can't give a treat if they do happen to be quiet. Which they never have.
When I am in the room adn the screaming starts, Torrie is usually up high and wants to come down to me, but she can't make herself fly down. She will do this for 1/2 hour. If I climb up she runs away. Sometimes she will climb down that cage, turn and look at me, and climb back up and continue the scream.
Flock calling does happen and that is fine with me. I am talking about loud, repetitive screaming.
Hi, some of you already know about Torrie tiel and my quest to lower the amount of screaming. I have been partially successful over the past 6 weeks, and for that I am happy and grateful. Now let's look at a couple specific cases...
BAck story: Torrie lost her mate about a year ago. She began screaming *some* at that point. Then I gave away Torrie and my other (quiet) female cockatiel when we were about to move to a condo. We didn't move, the guy brought them back when he had family problems. Both tiels who I had since babies and who used to be quiet, very tame/friendly birds are now kind of wild. They scream, well it is mostly Torrie, and Spirit follows her. They've taught the baby caique to scream too. It's a scream fest!
I have been doing some clicker training, some reading to them, and a whole lot of hanging out in the bird room. It has been a partial success. The screaming is a lot less, and although they'd prefer to stay on top of a high-up cage, they do occasionally come down for pets. Spirit more than Torrie. I took Spirit into the other cage, in another room, and she trembled the whole time and watched the dog. So I don't think they'll enjoy that. Plus she bit me. I think something happened with dogs while they were gone -- the guy has 8.
Both enjoyed the clicker training the couple times I got them onto the perch. A year ago they'd step up. Now they really won't, if I open the cage door in the morning and pet them, then ask for a step up, they bob their heads back down for more pets and ignore me. Spirit will run away and even hiss -- often not letting me touch her at all. If Torrie were a bull, she would be ramming me with her horns the way she insists on pets. She has only stepped up twice VERY BRIEFLY since she's been home.
Anyway: They scream whenever the door slams (when people are going in and out through the garage). I try to say hello and whistle, but I get that one and it's acceptable if there is no way to change it. The door slams about, oh, 40 times a day.
They scream when I walk out the door to the bird room, or even look like I might walk out. I go in and out a lot, especially when changing water or other chores. I used to say "I'll be back." I've decided I'm sort of reinforcing by saying that, so I need to stop. What else can I do to change this? As I said they are on top of a cage most of the time, I can't give a treat if they do happen to be quiet. Which they never have.
When I am in the room adn the screaming starts, Torrie is usually up high and wants to come down to me, but she can't make herself fly down. She will do this for 1/2 hour. If I climb up she runs away. Sometimes she will climb down that cage, turn and look at me, and climb back up and continue the scream.
Flock calling does happen and that is fine with me. I am talking about loud, repetitive screaming.
This one is popular here because they can see through it from afar 