Lonely bird

1187 Views 5 Replies 3 Participants Last post by Aly, Sep 15, 2007

nar1122

Discussion Starter · Sep 14, 2007

I can't believe it has taken me this long to sit down and take the time to bring up an important topic...

My cockatiel, Birdie is around 9 years old.

He is a very sweet bird, says pretty bird, whistles, and always finds a way to get to me if I am in his eye view.
When he gets to me he likes to just stare and talk to me or preen himself while comfortably sitting on my shoulder or arm.
All is fine and dandy, until it is time for me to leave the room.
When I leave the room at any time, he will start this constant obnoxious scream until it gets completely silent in the house, or until I come back.

After he has quieted down, and later on if he hears any noise, he will start screaming for an hour or until it gets silent again.

When I come home from my long day, he screams when he hears me open the front door, and is so excited to see me when I get into the bedroom (actually its my office).

He is completely fine otherwise.

What can I do to stop this screaming?
Is it because he doesn't want to be alone?
I have read that flock members will call to each other when they are not in sight, to make sure they are safe.
One person (that has this same problem) has told me that if he replies from across the house with a chirp, the bird will stop and be fine.
I have tried that with birdie, and it hasn't worked.

What should I do??

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Bea

· #2 · Sep 14, 2007

My Cookie used to scream CONSTANTLY!! It's awful. What time does Birdie go to bed? For me bringing in a routine completely stopped the problem. Same bed time every night.

It seems like it's because he wants to be with his flock (you). My two will scream for me if they know i'm in the house, and i find that calling to them makes it worse because it conforms to them that i'm here but ignoring them.

But calling back to Birdie might work for you.

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Aly

· #3 · Sep 14, 2007

Hey Nick- Bea gave some good advice. First thing first, make sure you don't go straight to Birdie when you get home- I found that eliminated the screaming. I just blow her a kiss (our special call- ) she does it back and that's it. If she's screaming for attention I do call back to her if I am in another room and out of sight. If I am in the same room I do not answer. That pretty much took care of it. Also, either too much time with them or too little can cause this. It depends on your situation. Also, like Bea said, a regular 12hrs of dark sleeping time. Goodluck!

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nar1122

Discussion Starter · #4 · Sep 14, 2007

Okay. I ususally give him 12 hours of sleep, because he is in a room with the other birds, which is my office. And if I go to bed at a usual time (11) I cover him at 8 pm, and wake up at 7-8 am.

Sometimes I forget to cover him, but I will be sure to do it from now on.

If the problem is spending too little or too much time with him, it would have to be too much time.
He is with me for almost every minute that I am home, and awake.
But when I am cooking or something, I have to leave him in the room, and that's when the screaming starts.

Usually when I get home I greet him and talk a lot to him as soon as I walk into my office, which he immediately stops screming when I am in his prescence.
Im assuming that I am rewarding his screaming by "obeying" him and coming.

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Bea

· #5 · Sep 15, 2007

nar1122 said:
Im assuming that I am rewarding his screaming by "obeying" him and coming.

Pretty much!

The biggest piece of advice i was given was to completely ignore a screaming bird. Don't look at them or talk to them. As soon as they're quiet then it's time for LOTS of cuddles.

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Aly

· #6 · Sep 15, 2007

Bea said:
Pretty much! The biggest piece of advice i was given was to completely ignore a screaming bird. Don't look at them or talk to them. As soon as they're quiet then it's time for LOTS of cuddles.

I agree. Reward the good, ignore the bad.

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