Steps to Stop Birds from Screaming
Training your Parrot ... Resolving Behavioral Problems ... Foraging
The following information has been provided by Dr. Jill M. Patt, DVM practicing in Mesa, Arizona. She has been keeping and raising exotic birds for years, providing her a unique knowledge and understanding that goes beyond that of a regular vet who does not have the benefit of daily interaction with birds / parrots.
- Realize that some screaming is normal for birds and cannot be totally eliminated. Most birds will vocalize at dusk and dawn and an occasional vocalization should be accepted as a part of a healthy well-adjusted bird's normal behavior. We just want to eliminate the inappropriate behaviors only.
- Do not reward excessive screaming with attention and drama. Always ignore the sounds that you don't like, such as excessive screaming. This means do not talk to them, don't look at them and certainly don't go to their cage. I recommend leaving the room if the bird starts to scream inappositely.
- Teach your bird to whisper: Screamers are made and not born. Birds quickly learn that we respond when they yell which results in one of the most common behavior problems - the bird that screams incessantly. The best way to deal with this is to use your birds intelligence to your advantage. Teach the parrot a contradictory sound, such as whistling or whispering.
- Reward the bird for good behavior. Pick a vocalization that your bird already makes and encourage it. Most birds have a variety of vocalizations that they make throughout the day even if they don't actually speak. Pick one of these and EVERY time the bird repeats this vocalization in your presence reward the bird. Rewards can vary depending on the individual, but common ones include food rewards, toy rewards and the best is to be taken out of the cage for a cuddle. lways reinforce good noises with lavish praise and attention.
- Look for patterns in screaming episodes, then look for ways to prevent the pattern from starting.
- Teach the bird a redirected activity, such as foraging for treats.
If you would like to add to or correct any of the above information, or would like to share with web visitors your own experiences, please e-mail the webmaster.
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