EsJ87
Meeting neighbors
Hello @Shinobi - Thank you for your lengthy posts and explanations. Illness is ruled out at this point she had a healthy Avian Vet Visit ~2 weeks ago. Nutritional is the avenue I think we're working on the most right now. She was weaned onto an ONLY seed diet. Since she's been here with me, I've successfully gotten her to TRY many fruits, and a a few vegetables. I also made a 7 ingredient veggie chop mix for her, but she is not interested in it much yet... The consensus appears to be she is HUNGRY, so As of today upping her feeding amounts to see if that makes any change.Screaming Birds are usually caused by an underlying problem which is triggering stress in the bird. These triggers include. Illness therefore rule out a possible illness by having your bird examined by an Avian veterinarian. Nutritional problems from an inadequate diet. The bird may change the amount of vocalization or other behaviours because of a poor diet. A change in the flock makeup, such as a new flock member or the loss of a flock member. Loneliness, frustration, fear, boredom or Jealously. A change in the bird’s environment, such as a move to a new home or a new flock. Inadequate sleep due to cage location, household noise (e.g., TV), too much light, or people moving around the house.
Screaming is normal behaviour for a parrot and it’s not possible to eliminate the screaming and loud squawking altogether, but aim to reduce the screaming to a tolerable level. This can be achieved with gentle patience and consistency among all flock members. Start to rehabilitate the parrot by making sure her basic needs are being met. The triggers of the screaming could be identified and eliminated by keeping a diary of all screaming episodes. Included the time, day of the week, what is happening at the time, the moods of the people and the bird before, during, and after the episode. With this information, the triggers can hopefully be identified and addressed.
“What should I do when the bird screams?" and "What should I do when the bird is behaving properly?" are the questions you need to ask yourself.
you don’t want to inadvertently reinforce Bad behaviour, for this can make the problem worse. Look at this from the parrot's perspective, getting any attention, may be a reward and will like you to yell back since they love drama and the yelling becomes a reward. Negative punishment will only increase the stress on the bird and either make the screaming worse, or the bird will turn to another unacceptable behaviour such as feather plucking or biting.
Positive reinforcement is the best way to correct a bird's behaviour. When she behaves correctly reward her with something good. This could be a special toy, a food treat, and verbal praise. Don’t use them to bribe the bird into better behaviour. These are rewards
At times, in certain circumstances the bird will exhibit bad behaviour So it’s very important to determine what “behaviour” you want the bird to do instead. By teaching the bird to talk or sing instead of screaming you’re replacing a negative behaviour with a positive one and you reward the positive behaviour and don’t reward in any way “bad Behaviour” Therefore understanding why the bird is screaming is important. You can adjust your actions depending on the circumstances.
Remember, parrots use vocalizations as warnings and as ways to find the rest of the flock when separated from it. Screaming can often be prevented from starting by simply answering the parrot when she calls to you, and letting the bird know when you are leaving and have returned. The screaming of parrots can often be resolved or minimized. But will take time and could require help from an experienced avian behaviourist, but if it allows the bird to stay in the house, it is worth it.
Ideally Short daily training sessions should begin when the bird is first brought home. Parrots respond well to facial expressions and verbal praise. This type of positive reinforcement should be used only when the appropriate response is given by the bird and no rewards given for incorrect responses There is no aggression or punishment is involved in this training.
Behavior issues started 2 days after a visiting family member (who'd been here a full week) went back home and I made some food changes that same day as well. So the inciting event is unclear - but it appears a regression in feeding was reactivated somehow. Her cage location affords her a nice balance of outside noise and relatively quiet indoor environment for the majority of the day.
LOG OF SCREAMING = Everyday for the past 20 days rain or shine.... pretty much every time I come into view and oddly particularly when either husband and I are in the kitchen doing (anything). She stops exactly as soon as she knows I am Away... As in, have left (and my husband remains), or if I am in my work office several rooms away.
As for +/- reinforcement, I am very familiar, and have very successfully trained a GCC in the past... However, it is VERY difficult to reward good (quiet) behavior with Poppy specifically, as typically even if she becomes quiet, at the point i get up to give her a treat, she immediately begins screaming again, before I can even get the treat to her beak. THAT is really how consistent the screaming is in my presence, that she will not remain quiet long enough for me to give her a treat. Frustrating is when I am sitting not he couch, she becomes quiet for an extended period of time, (10-15 mins) and I get up to reward her only to have her start again as soon as I get up from the couch, or begin to reach for a seed.....Additionally I've tried to switch to verbal praise, to which i get a LOUD screaming response back... I laugh and cry at the same time lol.