Angie's Screaming Log

[Jeanie]

Is this right Larry??

[Jeanie]

Angie has been going strong now for about an hour, maybe longer. Strictly attention seeking. Very loud and very persistant! My husband and I are both in the room but ignoring completely this behavior. Need a tylenol!!!

[birdie]

do you have ear plugs???

[Julie]

Jeanie,

I know you said you recently moved her closer/into the living room area, and you took out the mirror. Have there been any other changes to her environment?

Sorry if you all ready answered this.

[Evelyn]

Angie has been going strong now for about an hour, maybe longer. Strictly attention seeking. Very loud and very persistant! My husband and I are both in the room but ignoring completely this behavior. Need a tylenol!!!


Can you just leave the room when she screams and come back when she is quite. This worked with my U2.

As long as you are in there, Angie knows you can hear her. I think she would eventually figure out that you disappear when she screams.

Evelyn

[Jeanie]

Evelyn you may be onto something because that is just what we did out of desperation! However, they way our house is built, it's really very open and today we went outside in the tundra to get away from her! Not always feasable. No other changes to environment. She finally quieted down enough that she is somewhat peacefully eating broccoli and sugar snaps. Soon...time for bed!
I need, I feel to apologize to a few of you at least, I have had little time to read other posts about more enjoyable subjects than Angie's screaming but I haven't had time to coment etc between her and learning how to use my camera. I feel like I am acting rather egocentric and I'm sorry, it's just that this had reached a critical situation by the time I got here and I'm sort of decompressing as well as trying to learn all I can from all you very informed bird lovers. Plus, I don't feel like I have much to offer you...I just need you! Well, back to screaming!

[Julie]

Jeanie,

We have all had those days where the birds just get under our skin, and turn into little white monsters clawing on the chalk board all day. We are here to help, and quite often all the rest of us need is a cute little story or pick me up. I'm sure when things calm down, and you all get back into a "healthier" routine, you will be full of fun stories and pictures to share with the rest of us. We will also call upon you, once we have concured Angie, to help our our next member that comes along with screaming issues. We are all a family, and although you may not feel like you are contributing, you are.... Her screaming will calm down, but it might take a little time. You will have a stronger closer relationship from it too....

Big huggs, and support!

[Chrissy and Flock]

Jeanie you are definately contributing, I for one am picking up on the advice. Although Cassie not a bad screamer but she does every now and then, guess who used to run to her every time. Yea I did but not any more. I thought it was normal behavior for a U2.

[too&me]

We all learn something new each time we reach out to help one another weather it be a bird or a people problem. There is no hard and fast right way it differs a bit for each of us & our birds. Having said that the ignoring thing is very effective if your eardrums survive. It will take a bit but it works. I had to leave the room every time Harry started up & I wouldn't return to his view until he had a quiet moment or second then acknowledge him. It really wasn't too long before the quiet times got longer & longer & now he does very well.

[Evelyn]

Jeanie -

What Julie and the rest of them said. (No need to repeat what they said very well.)

Nobody's counting. Right now, you are in somewhat crises mode. I guarantee it will another one of us who needs help before too long.

Besides, hearing how you are handling Angie is contributing.

Good luck and keep us posted.

Evelyn

[Jeanie]

Once again to you all:luvu:. Thankyou for your support and information sharing. For now...she's asleep...and I look kinda like this guy :rofl:. She's actually screamed after I covered her and she never has done that before but I imagine this is one of those things that gets worse before it gets better huh?

[birdscomefirst]

Hi Jeanie,

Just keep in mind that we are here for you:-) You've made a discovery that can be of use to you.

Here is an example with Max, one of my toos that will still sometimes scream a littel now and then for no good reason:-)

He never screams when I am out of the house:-) I guess he doesn't see the purpose in it. I've discovered that if he wants to do an occasional scream session that if i tell him "OK, I'm going out now" , "I'll be right back" and then open and close the front door so that he can hear it( even though I am not leaving) , as long as he can't see me, he gets quiet almost immediately.

He has equated the fact that I am not there (even though I am) to the fact that he will get no attention because he thinks I'm not home:-)

I am never sure if he trained me or if I outsmarted him, but it works:-)

Try it. Make it sound like you are leaving through one door or another then don't let him see you. Then see if he gets quiet:-)

Bill

[too&me]

Like working with toddlers at nap time. How is she doing today?

[Jeanie]

Thanks Bill, I'll give the "leaving" thing a try. I've been MIA due to taxes! Angie has reall been somewhat better but I did realize during a particularlly stressful period of my husband and myself attempting to translate what in the heck the IRS meant in a particular section...and finding out we can't deduct over $9000 in mortgage interest...nedless to say stressful!!!!!! Angie seemed to immediately pick up on our irritability and began tapping and bouncing on her food bowl...makes a bunch of noise! Anyway...I think we may be starting to make some progress. Will find the correct place to post a link to a short video I took today....what a mess! Will have to be tomorrow, got to go cook!

[FoxersArtist]

Jeanie,
I think you are doing a wonderful job. Walking out on your bird or ignoring him is the best you can do right now. I want you to know that I understand where you are at. Here is a post that I wrote a very short time ago:
http://www.happybirdy.com/mainforum_happybirdy_com/showthread.php?t=543
-Anna

[Jeanie]

Thanks Anna-read your post. She is doing better and I'm doing better. I realized something that I am embarrased to admit (again) but I realized that we rescue and have rescued a lot of animals. Our little mixed breed dog "Rudy" was left out in 15 degres to freeze at 5 weeks old (we went & got her 8 years ago) Our lab/chow "Mattie" was hit by a car at 6 weeks had a broken pelvis and front leg and was in serious shock. A nice man found her, took her to my vet but couldn't keep her (we got her 7 years ago) and our latest is "Barney" a chocolate lab mix. These are just the dogs. I wont go into the cats we've rescued so...my birdie point is....in 13 years, sometimes I think Angie has not gotten the needed attention & lovin' cause I'm spread somewhat thin. I'm ashamed because since I have done just three things 1. removed mirror per Bills instruction 2. ignored screaming, tapping, and bouncing for attention and 3. (I believe in Angie's case maybe the most important) I have been giving her bunches of positive reinforcement and just plain lovin'! She is once again amazing me with her perception and intelligence and the attempts to get attention with negative behavior has significantly decreased. I have ben ill in the last year, had serious orthopedic surgery (couldn't do anything but scream myself or cry for about 3 mos!) better now! She went through that also. I have been taking her with to do household chores and she loves it! Thanks for all of you! and Bill, keep those suggestions coming! Jeanie:clapping:

[Jeanie]

http://http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh122/angie111_2008/th_100_0214.jpg (http://s255.photobucket.com/albums/hh122/angie111_2008/?action=view&current=100_0214.flv)

[Jeanie]

Sorry, tried to post LINK! Also video is incorrectly named.

[birdscomefirst]

Hi Jeanie,

We have a lot in common. I also rescued a collie as well as a pair of cats that were brothers that were just inseperable. They still are, when they lay down, they look like one cat with two heads and two tails:-)

The collie , Jesse, was left in a kennel at a puppy mill to starve to death because he was epileptic and blind. He was 6 months old and 35 lbs underweight. On meds, he hasn't had a seizure in about 2 years and my vets can barely detect any traces of blindness as I was able to, by good nutrition get his eyes back:-)

You've also had your hands full with furries and feathers. I know I wouldn't have it any other way.

As far as Angie, you made another JACKPOT statement for me. Cockatoos are notorious for picking up on our stresses and then reacting accordingly. All parrots pick up on stress and it really hypes them up.

I think it literally has to do with our actions and with other physical aspects and we pass that stress on to our birds.

Even though the IRS sucks wind, can I say that here:-) try to take a deep breath when you are around Angie and be as smooth and calm as you can. If you ramp up the energy, so will Angie.

I'm gonna try to play the video now:-)

Thanks,
Bill

[birdscomefirst]

My first comment on Angie and her oats is: That's how Max, one of my Umbies eats:-)

I have a tray under his food bowl so after he's done flinging the food, which by the way many parrots do, I can place his food back in his bowl a second, third or fourth time.

Behaviorally, many but not all toos will do that. In nature they are predominantly birds that like to feed from the ground. It is not uncommon for them to dump food and eat it from a lower vantage point.

Casper, another of my toos takes her food carefully and gingerly out of her bowl and still carries it to a lower corner of her cage or a low spot on the playgym and eats it there.

It's a normal too behavior. Believe it or not, cockatiels and budgies also prefer to eat from food sources that are lower in the cage.

[birdscomefirst]

Two observations on the the other videos.

First, Angie tapping the stick could be the beginning of a great bit of fun. I am a choir director and the first thing that went through my "little pea brain" is that it looks like Angie is getting the attention of a choir or orchestra with a baton:-)

Believe it or not, if you go to the next step and stand in front of Angie with something similar, you can wave it without doing the tapping and she will learn to add that to her repertoire:-)

As an example, I taught Max, the Too and Harry, a cockatiel to direct music the way I do. i use my hand and not a baton. Max will even sing while he directs.

If you play some music for Angie that is vocal it might help. I am a tenor and in my opinion, toos are better tenors than sopranos:-) so if you can sing, sing in a lower range, if you can't, play some Pavarotti:-) It can replace Angie's screaming with a more acceptable sound.


The next thing I noticed and I could be wrong. I focus in on sound. I can hear any one of my birds just make a little sound and tell which one it was. I can hear it when Jesse makes the slightest sound.

In the tape with the two dogs, and please correct me if I'm wrong, I think that I hear Angie doing the same tapping that I saw in the other video.

It may be related to anxiety that she feels based upon the two dogs "rough housing" with each other. The little snarls and growls that we don't pay much attention to might be making Angie edgy. Maybe you can consider that possibility and see how it might enter into the mix.

Great videos:-)

Thanks,
Bill

[bonnie]

Oh Bill! What a great point about the music!
I've found that sometimes when Chicken is screaming and we are in the kitchen where his cage is (radio is always on) I'll go over without a word or look his direction and turn it up and start singing. That changes the entire direction of the scream. You can almost see the birds entire mood change.

[FoxersArtist]

Oh Bill! What a great point about the music!
I've found that sometimes when Chicken is screaming and we are in the kitchen where his cage is (radio is always on) I'll go over without a word or look his direction and turn it up and start singing. That changes the entire direction of the scream. You can almost see the birds entire mood change.
Wanda had commented that they were trying to get Dolly to make softer noises instead of screaming for attention, so when she came to our house we tried to focus on her whistling. We made a huge fuss about her whistling and I sung to her and the other birds a lot. After the first week or so, she mostly just whistled when she wanted attention. It's a great alternative.
-Anna

[Chrissy and Flock]

It's a normal too behavior. Believe it or not, cockatiels and budgies also prefer to eat from food sources that are lower in the cage.

I never knew that about Cockatiels, but it does explain why Kila gets ticked at me if I forget and put her food where the food bowls are supposed to be. She likes them at the bottom of the cage. :)

[Evelyn]

First, Angie tapping the stick could be the beginning of a great bit of fun. I am a choir director and the first thing that went through my "little pea brain" is that it looks like Angie is getting the attention of a choir or orchestra with a baton:-)


My E-2 Plato does this also, not because he's stressed but because he just likes doing it. I've wondered if I could do something with it. Thanks for the idea.

Evelyn

[Jeanie]

You are so right Evelyn...she looks just like she is conducting an orchestra! Sometimes I sing marching tunes while (can't think of the name of them) and she sems to enjoy that. If I stop, she stops and just gives me this look like.."OK what's the deal with the music?" It's so funny.

[Jeanie]

Hello everyone...I have ben reading but haven't had much time to post. Angie and I have had a somewhat rocky four days but I think some of the behavior (screaming and tapping constantly) has had to do with egg laying. She laid an egg Sat and another during the night last night. Never in all the years I've had her has this happened. Only one egg, typically 2 or more months apart. The other issue I finally came to grips with is that she can't be in the room I am most of the time. She watches me constantly and if she misreads me and i.e. she got the idea I was headed for her but insted I went to the back door...Oh my...she'd have a big fit! I am spending more time with her but we did move her cage today, just around the corner (close to where she had been). She can see me frequently while in the kitchen etc. Also I think the TV bothered her. She took a long time to settle down after covered at night. Very restless, bouncing on her food bowls and tapping. Went to sleep just fine tonight. Was wondering, should I be concerned about the eggs so close together? Eating very well, lots of fruits and veggies. Thanks
PS- Have really enjoyed reading all your posts and looking at so many beautiful birds. Do any of you get Kim Komando's "cool site" of the day? Today it is a free classified site as such...looked on their under birds and didn't like what I saw. People begging for "free" birds and people with "too many birds" trying to sell them, I got the feeling to just about anyone who would take them and pics that made me sad. :sad:

[Uncle]

Jeanie,

Go here --- there is an entire thread dedicated to Umbie egg laying.

http://www.happybirdy.com/mainforum_happybirdy_com/showthread.php?t=859

[Jeanie]

Thanks so much "Uncle" for the link. I don't know how I missed it with all the reading I've ben doing. Angie sems fine. Eggs is cracked so I will remove it when she is out of the cage, she doesn't pay any attention to it so far. One egg, one time she seemed to become very attached to, actually rubbed her cheek against it and when I removed it, she hung on the cage wall for hours, refused to eat etc. Took her to my regular vet, He said she looked great, not to worry and after we got home, she was back to normal.
One funny note, a few months ago she laid an egg and as I typically do, I left it in her cage for a day or two (typically they have a crack). I got Angie out for some play/affection time, I left that cage door open and when we returned, the egg was gone! Guilty party was our Lab...she found it and had a snack! Luckily, Angie never seemed to notice! :rofl:

[Larry, Baby and Me]

That is so funny... so your lab had a good breakfast compliments of Angie.

[Jeanie]

Hi everyone who stops by! First real sunshine here in what seems like weeks :dancered: Had a really good day with Angie. She was very "sweet". It's the way she always is after she lays an egg...before it's hell! Today she had one of those days where she seemed content to sit in her swing and "jabber". I love the sound of that! She sounds like she is having a very punctuated conversation yet it's not that loud, irritable, screaming stuff. She seems very content. I was washing dishes within her sight and she told me all kinds of things. It was so cute. All the help I received here has been a Godsend! I'd probably have lost her by now...now I don't believe I ever will...if I get old and infirmed, I will hire someone to help me care for her. We are together for the long haul. Thankyou again! :bowdown:

[Chrissy and Flock]

Hey Jeanie don't you wish you could understand what all the jabbering is, Cassie and AngelBaby do it and it just sounds so intense just like they are telling me this saga of a story... I love it its so cute...:D

[Uncle]

Jeanie,

I don't have the words to say how glad I am to hear that. You have made me speechless. Thank you.

[Evelyn]

Jeanie -

I'm so glad to hear that things are better.

Evelyn

[birdscomefirst]

Needless to say, but I'll say it anyhow....I am thrilled that things are on an upswing and that you are having such wonderful and positive experiences with her now:-)

That Jabbering is a riot. When toos do that, I call it having a "Close encounter of the "bird" kind:-) It's a lot of fun and I am so happy that you and Angie are a team!!!

It really warms my heart and I'm sitting here grinning from ear to ear!

Nice job Jeanie!

Bill

[too&me]

Good work, anyone who can put Larry at a loss for words is amazing! :rofl: We are proud of your progress, she may backslide once in a while be prepared!

[birdie]

Jeanie, I'm SO happy for you and Angie and that your relationship is better! :dancered: Sometimes we just don't understand what they are telling us.

[Jeanie]

Thanks you all so much! We are still have those days at times but...they are less and farther in between. They are truely amazing creatures. I have as I have said, many animals...love 'em all, but I have to say, the dogs are the ones I depend on for unconditional love but Angie has the greater range of displayed emotions. Her intelect is also something to marvel at. She is not a talker though, but I never taught her to talk. I always heard that toos wern't good talkers so I really never tried. If she would talk like she yells....glad I didn't :)

[Evelyn]

Thanks you all so much! We are still have those days at times but...they are less and farther in between. They are truely amazing creatures. I have as I have said, many animals...love 'em all, but I have to say, the dogs are the ones I depend on for unconditional love but Angie has the greater range of displayed emotions. Her intelect is also something to marvel at. She is not a talker though, but I never taught her to talk. I always heard that toos wern't good talkers so I really never tried. If she would talk like she yells....glad I didn't :)


Jeanie -

My E2 and U2 talk up a storm; my LSC only says three things. I haven't really tried to teach mine anything. They just pick up what they hear. I'm sure that Gyro (U2) knows what he is saying; not sure about the E2.

Evelyn

[Patty, Linus and Co.]

I'm so glad things are better, but there will still be those days where, and I forget who said this, you 'show them the chicken in the freezer'.
Linus is a great jabberer. He really gets into it and he starts gesturing with his head. It's an absolute riot. I really believe he thinks he is conversing. He has so much enthusiasm for what he's saying.

[birdscomefirst]

I melt when Casper, one of my umbrellas cockatoos says " Hi Dad, Are you OK? ....then after I tell her that I'm fine and everything is OK...she says...."I love you". They can talk and It's never too late to talk to them and see if they will pick things up:-)

When Angie jabbers, it can be that she is trying to work out some sounds and words. Talk to her in sentences and see what happens:-) She may just surprise you one day....

Have Fun,
Bill

[too&me]

If you sit & listen very carefully or record & play back slowly some of her jibber jabber may contain words. I know Harry often mutters away practicing I think before he says words clearly.

[Birdlover]

Hey Jeanie, hope everything is going okay with you and Angie. Havent seen you on in awhile... everything okay?

[birdie]

I sent her an email a couple of days ago and she hasn't responded. I was wondering the same thing.

[Jeanie]

Hi guys, we are still around just haven't had much time to be on the computer lately. We moved Angie back out of the living room ( we moved her in there maybe a month or so before I found all of you) I had hoped her being able to see us might help cut down on the screaming, it really didn't and I think it made it worse....'cept for today!! Awful!! Dark and dreary...her favorite weather! Anyway, when she was in the living room, she watched me constantly seemingly to see if I was paying any attention to her, or headed her way etc. etc. It actually made me nervous....I felt like I was being stalked by a too! :hyst:I also had some computor problems, did not get your email...sorry, I would have responded. Is there any "best" placement suggestions ? With regard to windows, yourself etc. Angie has really had a bad day today, She has an outside cage and actually was able to go out a day or two and she loves it! Her real love is to "draw" on the wall beside her (she's under an eve) which is brick with a peanut. We have a huge red-tail hawk around though and he will get her if she's out plus she's in flight feather and if she became frightened she might take off!
The girl that originially wanted her called again last week out of the blue, wants to come and see her, just to see "if we get along".

[Chrissy and Flock]

I don't have any input for you Jeanie, just wanted to say it's good to see you back....

[birdie]

Hi guys, we are still around just haven't had much time to be on the computer lately. We moved Angie back out of the living room ( we moved her in there maybe a month or so before I found all of you) I had hoped her being able to see us might help cut down on the screaming, it really didn't and I think it made it worse....'cept for today!! Awful!! Dark and dreary...her favorite weather! Anyway, when she was in the living room, she watched me constantly seemingly to see if I was paying any attention to her, or headed her way etc. etc. It actually made me nervous....I felt like I was being stalked by a too! :hyst:I also had some computor problems, did not get your email...sorry, I would have responded. Is there any "best" placement suggestions ? With regard to windows, yourself etc. Angie has really had a bad day today, She has an outside cage and actually was able to go out a day or two and she loves it! Her real love is to "draw" on the wall beside her (she's under an eve) which is brick with a peanut. We have a huge red-tail hawk around though and he will get her if she's out plus she's in flight feather and if she became frightened she might take off!
The girl that originially wanted her called again last week out of the blue, wants to come and see her, just to see "if we get along".

placement... don't put her directly infront of a window, I put some cages by the window so they can see out if they want, but so no one can look in a window as they drive by and see that there's a bird. Don't "put her on display" for the world to see. in a main room, but not in the busiest part of the room.

[bonnie]

In my experience, you want her by a window so she can see out, but most of her cage should be away from the window. I have Chicken on a wall and to his right he can see a window but there is a corner between him and the window. I have heard to put them in a corner, but our set up works well for us. Angie ALWAYS needs a place to hide even if it's just a sheet draped over the corner. If you need pics of my cage placement please ask. I would be happy to take some and post for you.

[Birdlover]

I have tried my Too in several different spots. I think each bird will have its own preferences on where they want to be. For Lance (who has been going through a 2 year long phobic phase), its better to be away from windows, and away from the main action. She is in the same room as three other birds but does best with the calmest one next to her.

[Jeanie]

Again, thanks so much! From what you have all said, Angie's placement is pretty good now. Our living room and dining room are one huge room...I mean huge! It's 30'X40' and the only thing that separates the two rooms is a very large stone fireplace. Right now, she is in the dining room, back of the cage is against the stone back of the fireplace and she has a window to her right. We are out in the country so no one better walk by the window because they'd be up to no good! Back "yard" is fenced and we have a "beware of dog" sign. The only thing that I had never heard before was about the place to hide. I didn't know that and I'm not sure what you mean...would love to see your set up! Today, suns out (in fact she's outside) and she hasn't made a peep, contrary to yesterday's screechfest:rofl: She's eaten broccoli, apple, strawberry, banana, and a grape tomato along with a couple of almonds! I should eat so well!:haha:

[Chrissy and Flock]

We all should eat so well Jeanie... I cook more for the birds than I do for myself...:D

[too&me]

Good to see you back-My experience has been that it isn't a quick process there will be quiet days , then backslide to some loud ones. Be patient & keep the ignoring thing going it will work out. For Harry it has helped for me to occasionally do the unpredictable jump up & down or start singing when he is not looking for me to do so. It makes him think a bit. Maybe the singing is just that bad!

[bonnie]

We have a much smaller space to work with. I snapped a few pics for you. His cage is on a wall in our kitchen that has a corner to the right of the cage and the entry to the kitchen from the living room is to the left of the cage. The wall adjacent to the corner has a window with 2 sets of blinds. I only ever open the set closest to the cage so he can get into that corner to hide.
Pic one is the side view of the cage coming into the kitchen.
http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f8/theonlybon_bon/014.jpg

Pic two is the right side of the cage with the corner. The corner is deep enough he can get into it to hide from things he sees outside. Draping a towel or sheet over a corner of the cage has the same effect.
http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f8/theonlybon_bon/015.jpg



***There is a plug in next to the cage with a radio and a space heater plugged into it. Due to the angle at which I took the pics, the outlet looks closer to the cage than it actually is. He can not reach the outlet or the cords, I check daily.

[birdscomefirst]

Hi and Welcome back:-)

I actually find that with all my guys and gals that moving the cages around fairly regularly helps to eliminate boredom. Maybe in the Dining Room for awhile, then maybe back in the living room, then back in the dining room for awhile etc. Toos seem to like the variation.

The outside situation scares me unless she stays inside the cage. You mention that she is flighted and you mentioned a hawk. Both those things can create a major catastrophe. Even in the cage, if Angie panics when a hawk flies over, which would be a pretty normal reaction, she could get hurt inside the cage.

As mentioned there will be good days and bad days. In theory though the good should ultimately outweigh the bad.

The cage should still be where she feels she is in contact with you. They scream more when they can't see you.

This is just a question??? Is she screaming when she is outside? Having her out there , if she is screaming may cushion you from the sound but it won't help to alleviate the problem in the long run. So...I just wanted to get a feel for that.

It's good to see you back:-)

Thanks,
Bill

[Jeanie]

Hi Bill...I realize that there will be ups and noisy downs, they just seem so extreme. The other day, nothing I could do or not do would help, and as I'm sure you know better than I, there are different types of screams...this was the kind where she sounded like she was going to hurt her throat!! She screamed as loudly as she could and probably got in 10 in 5 seconds!
She loves to go outside, rarely screams out there and if she does, she needs something..i.e. she has bathed in her large water bowl and emptied it or she wants some fruit. The hawk has just appeared this year. I would never leave her outside of her cage currently because of him and I don't think he would try to bother her because she is tucked into a corner, completely covered by an overhang, plus we cover the top of her cage. She appears to feel pretty safe and happy out there but she wants to get out and "draw" on the brick sometimes with her peanut! I will let her for a few minutes when I am there to get her and bring her in or something but never alone. She has been great the last couple of days. She is currently p[lay with some strung blocks of wood...she picks them up and drops them at different levels. Plan to get her out to "help" me with housework soon.:)

[Chrissy and Flock]

Plan to get her out to "help" me with housework soon.:)

Mine help me by making sure there is lots of stuff to clean up :rofl::rofl::rofl:

[EasySpirit]

Hi Bill...I realize that there will be ups and noisy downs, they just seem so extreme. The other day, nothing I could do or not do would help, and as I'm sure you know better than I, there are different types of screams...this was the kind where she sounded like she was going to hurt her throat!! She screamed as loudly as she could and probably got in 10 in 5 seconds!
She loves to go outside, rarely screams out there and if she does, she needs something..i.e. she has bathed in her large water bowl and emptied it or she wants some fruit. The hawk has just appeared this year. I would never leave her outside of her cage currently because of him and I don't think he would try to bother her because she is tucked into a corner, completely covered by an overhang, plus we cover the top of her cage. She appears to feel pretty safe and happy out there but she wants to get out and "draw" on the brick sometimes with her peanut! I will let her for a few minutes when I am there to get her and bring her in or something but never alone. She has been great the last couple of days. She is currently p[lay with some strung blocks of wood...she picks them up and drops them at different levels. Plan to get her out to "help" me with housework soon.:)

Regarding the hawk. They do fly under awnings and one poster had one poke a hole in a screan to pull her bird out. In a cage, even in a corner a Hawlk can reach in and grab a bird out. Those of us that use a cage for outdoor time for our birds will stay out with them. If left for a time without someone with them an aviary setting works better as the bird can perch more inside of the enclosure rather than at the edge.

Contact calls. You mention that when outside your bird rarely screams unless she needs something. To me that is a contact call for one reason or another. It is possible to substitute another sound other than a scream for a contact call. I fostered some sun conures. A pair can get loud and sound like fingernails on a chalk board...YIKES :eek: This pair also knew the microwave beep. I then started beeping at them. The beep became the contact call. When they wanted me or something they would beep and I would immediately respond to this reinforcing learning of a different contact call. Much nicer than screeching. Have you ever heard a blue crown conure screech a warning. JUst as bad. He also learned a contact call and that is What does the duck say and I must respond quack quack then ask the question to him so he can quack. Most of the birds in my house know how to quack. Two of the cockatoos have payed attention to the dogs and what they do when alerted....bark. Kind of cute hearing the birds barking. The dogs here this and immediately run out to check out what is going on. Once the dogs are on the job the birds stop their alert call. My Goffin does a quiet barking along with beak grinding as part of his night time going to sleep ritual.

Your bird screams for a variety of reasons from what I can tell from your posts. Each means something different. One area that can make a difference is to switch over to contact calls. She screaches you substitute a sound or word that is more pleasing. I know it takes time but it can be done. Good luck.

me :hihihi:

[Chrissy and Flock]

Cassie screeches when she is calling me... (she is not a screamer) how would I teach her to do something more pleasant to the ears...

[EasySpirit]

Cassie screeches when she is calling me... (she is not a screamer) how would I teach her to do something more pleasant to the ears...


Does she talk? make a sound you like? These can be the way to start a contact call. An example: My CAG rarely talks and when he does it is just a few words. CAGs natural calls though are a whistle. I respond to his whistle with hello. I respond to the whistle always as it is pleasant and I really don't want what he says to be a contact call (go potty).

When I first got my B&G Sadie she would let out a screech. I wasn't nearby and she couldn't see me so I interpretted that as a contact call. I would ALWAYS respond Hello in a variety of ways. I did this also with a few of my other birds. Consistancy is important. ONce she learned the contact call she occasionall tried a screech a few times. NO RESPONSE from me. I would hear silence then a sweet sexy Hellllloooooooooo. she knew the difference but was checking to see if the rules are still in place.

My military is still a baby and will turn one this month. I am sorry to say but I do talk baby talk to her some and will say things like awwwww when she is swet and does something cute. She knows how to say this also. Whenever she says this I immediately say it back to her. Aw has become our contact call. No response for a screech....aw back to her when she uses it.

Now Ava my handicapped cag is a fabulous talker and uses everyones contact call and can say everything the rest of the birds say. Her favorite....Ava pretty girl and Hi Ava! Right now she is watching the MM and telling Irish Awww, and good bird. Ava also will warn me if someone will bite by saying no bite before it happens. Now this is another way to learn to read birdy body language....by the warning from a another bird.

Hope I answered your question. Let me know if you have more.

me :hihihi:

[Chrissy and Flock]

Thank you and yes she does say a few things every now and then she will call MAMA I do respond to that every time I hear her say it. My question is when she screeches (I know I should ignore that) when she is quiet should I call mama to her? And will the other birds perhaps learn with her?

[EasySpirit]

Thank you and yes she does say a few things every now and then she will call MAMA I do respond to that every time I hear her say it. My question is when she screeches (I know I should ignore that) when she is quiet should I call mama to her? And will the other birds perhaps learn with her?


Hi Chrissy,
This may not be right but it is how I handled it. I ignore on going continuous screaming. I will leave a room if it starts up.

I classify contact calling a little different. It may be screaching but more in the order of calling out trying to find you. (more like a call than a screaming tantrum). When I initially train them I approach in two ways. When your bird calls momma, I would call momma. Continue to reinforce this. If she screaches and you think she is contact calling, respond by saying momma. Once she starts saying momma, continue with responding to a screach for a while. Once she can repeat this routinely then stop responding to a screach. She will test you LOL but stick to the plan. You have now just replaced an unacceptable habit with an acceptable behavior.

[Chrissy and Flock]

Thats what I have been doing and its working she called a while ago with her sweet voice, I didn't just answer her I went and talked to her.... she doesn't screech a lot just every now and then... cept in the evening when she is ready to go to bed the whole neighborhood knows she is ready... so I am hoping that we can extend this mama thing to the evenings also...

[EasySpirit]

Thats what I have been doing and its working she called a while ago with her sweet voice, I didn't just answer her I went and talked to her.... she doesn't screech a lot just every now and then... cept in the evening when she is ready to go to bed the whole neighborhood knows she is ready... so I am hoping that we can extend this mama thing to the evenings also...

I like that..."her sweet voice". Let me caution you though. Just because she calls does not mean you need to go to her each time as this may become the expectation. If you want to go to her, do so but not because of a contact call. Contact call is only a way to keep track of "the flock". Tooz would like us there ALL the time. They need to have their own time also.

Ah, night time. All the flocks through out the world are saying good night. You won't stop this but you might be able to help some. Move the time up a little earlier and maybe have singing/dancing time. Music a little louder and lights bright. Gradually turn down the music and lights then off to bed. It won't be stopped, just modified. :smiles:

[Chrissy and Flock]

Yea I realise this on the not going to her every time... she sounded so sweet I couldn't resist this time... as for moving her bed time up ... she already goes to bed as soon as the sun is starting to go down... (her choice) she lets me know she is ready to be covered and go to sleep... I'm thinking she needs to have 12 to 13 hours of sleep... she has always let me know its bed time.. since her first day here....

[EasySpirit]

Yea I realise this on the not going to her every time... she sounded so sweet I couldn't resist this time... as for moving her bed time up ... she already goes to bed as soon as the sun is starting to go down... (her choice) she lets me know she is ready to be covered and go to sleep... I'm thinking she needs to have 12 to 13 hours of sleep... she has always let me know its bed time.. since her first day here....



LOL, I know I make suggestions but it is hard not to go to that sweetness and thanks for telling us and clarifying.

YOu are so right about the sleep. Sounds like your routine is fine. For those that might have neighbors who are not as kind to us, moving the time up a little earlier might help keep it down from disturbing the neighbors.

If you routine works for you, that is great Chrissy. sounds like a very loving bird.

[Chrissy and Flock]

my neighbors are okay with her (thank God) ... since she doesn't scream for prolonged periods ... when I fist got her they thought it was a child in my house having a temper tantrum or in extreme pain .... :rofl: