CAG screaming behaviour - in desperate need of advice

Hello all,

As the title of my post suggest, I am in desperate need of any sound advice that those of you with experience might be able to offer me.

I have a an African Grey who is 1yrs 8mo. Every single day, she screams for attention. Non-stop for hours and hours and hours. This mostly effects me on the weekends, as I am home from work for an entire day. I am really at my wits end with this, and I'm not really sure how to start to correct this behaviour. I feel like a prisoner in my own house at this point in time. I can't go anywhere to get any relief.

Unfortunately, I do know how this screaming began. It's my fault. Prior to the house that I am living in now, I lived on the middle floor of another house, with other people above and below me. As soon as she would start to get vocal, I would pay attention to her every single time because I was afraid that I would start to get complaints. I've since moved into a house of my own and don't have that same issue with anyone else in the house ... but as you can imagine, the behaviour is still there. I've been reading online about how to correct this and the answer is to ignore it, then reward her when there is silence. I have a few questions about this method, because I am a bit confused:

1. How am I supposed to ignore her when I have another parrot in the room with her? My other parrot is quiet and doesn't scream for attention. Should I go into the bird room, completely ignore my grey, and just take out my other bird?

2. She usually starts up any time she hears any kind of noise in the house. How am I supposed to ignore the behaviour, and more importantly, how is she supposed to stop making noise if she hears noise in the house?

3. How is she going to associate my ignoring her with her needing to stop screaming? I've read that negative reinforcement doesn't work because the bird doesn't associate the negative reinforcement with what they are doing "wrong." If that's true, then how would she associate her being quiet with being ignored?

4. Of course, my birds will make noise when I come home from work to greet me. That's totally fine. I get home from work around 6:30 every day and I will go up and spend a few hours with my birds before I put them to sleep for the evening. Will my cag associate my going into the bird room with her making noise and still be rewarded for making noise? Additionally, if I am supposed to wait until she quiet ... if she screams for hours, then that would take up all the time that we have together before she goes to sleep during the week.

5. Please tell me there is hope!? Is there an average amount of time ... months? Where you will start to see improvement? Anyone who has had a similar experience, can you share your story?

Sorry for the long post ... but I would really appreciate some help. Please and thanks

http://www.parrotforums.com/training/48649-screaming-behavior-mods.html

There are some good tips on here. Others with different, or enhanced points of view will chime in in time.

Thanks very much for the link, I appreciate that.

Actually, it kind of gives me a starting point to go on. I do cover my grey if she gets too loud and it does tend to quiet her down, but I definitely don't think I've been consistent enough with her.

I think my main concern is, if I'm ignoring her completely ... is it okay for me to go into the bird room and take out my other bird? I don't think that my other bird should be ignored because she's a good, quiet little baby. I'm just afraid that my grey will associate my coming into the room with her being rewarded.

I think the best way to describe her is just as the link you posted described it ... no manners .. and it's my fault! :52:

Absolutely it's fine to go into the bird room and take out the other bird....the other bird shouldn't pay the price of the screaming bird. As a matter of fact, it can also be incentive for the screaming bird to slowly modify it's behavior. Just act like he doesn't exist while his behavior is out of control, and pay attention to him when he's more quiet, or vocalizing without hollering. Of course, he's a bird and will vocalize as he wishes...as he should, but he will learn that screaming will not get attention, scratches, or praise, but being quieter will. Respond to quieter behavior and words and he'll figure it out. But it should have nothing to do with your interaction with your other bird.
Using sounds that are quieter to get your attention with him is also useful. Respond to a quieter sound he often uses, like grunts or whispery sounds.

Kalidasa said:

Absolutely it's fine to go into the bird room and take out the other bird....the other bird shouldn't pay the price of the screaming bird. As a matter of fact, it can also be incentive for the screaming bird to slowly modify it's behavior. Just act like he doesn't exist while his behavior is out of control, and pay attention to him when he's more quiet, or vocalizing without hollering. Of course, he's a bird and will vocalize as he wishes...as he should, but he will learn that screaming will not get attention, scratches, or praise, but being quieter will. Respond to quieter behavior and words and he'll figure it out. But it should have nothing to do with your interaction with your other bird.
Using sounds that are quieter to get your attention with him is also useful. Respond to a quieter sound he often uses, like grunts or whispery sounds.

Click to expand...

Thanks very much for the advice! Now I just have to be consistent about it. I can't help but feel bad for her if she's making noise. However, I know that parrots (and any animal in general) are self serving creatures.. so it is a means to an end for her.

I've read differing opinions about covering the cage ... what do you think? I have covered her in the past and it seems to get her to quiet down but I haven't seen any long term effects.

I wouldn't cover. That's a short-term solution for a long-term problem and will 100% not fix anything. Definitely pay attention to your other bird while your CAG screams, that will spark up jealousy. I would give your CAG a dirty, disappointed look when you go to get the other bird too. CAGs are very in tune with human emotions so that could help as well. When she stops screaming, give her all kinds of attention and love! Good quiet girl yay!!!

It will take time and patience, just like everything with a grey. Make sure she has lots of fun toys to play with too! Maybe it's a simple "mom I'm bored and you're right there let me out!!!" Greys love foraging toys and tearing up cardboard.

^^agreed, I don't believe in covering the cage either. Just the separation is more than enough.

Hello, I also have a really vocal Grey, so I especially understand. Sometimes he's just happy loud and sometimes he reads the stress level in the house and amps it up to a whole new level of loud in response. I also work from home.

I can tell you that covering doesn't really work for my guy. In fact, he just gets annoyed. What I have done that helps is 1) invest in an outdoor aviary that I have on my back porch. When he's being particularly loud, I usually warn him, "You're being pretty loud; do you want to go outside?" If he doesn't, he really is smart enough to tone it down. If he does, he usually keeps it up and earns a trip outside to release his exuberance and excess "sentry bird" energy. If it's really nice, he gets a shower out there and preens for hours, coming in sated and sleepy. Or, 2) identify your bird's "passion." For mine, it's paper. He cannot resist paper. So, if I need him to be especially quiet on a cold or rainy work day when I can't put him outside, I string up tons of paper scraps and empty food-safe boxes on his skewers; put in his precious bird-safe piñatas; and fill his rolling paper foraging toy. He immediately shuts up and gets down to business of paper shredding. Some birds are wood chewers, some plastic fanatics, some food junkies, some paper fiends. Find your bird's passion and be judicious about providing it when you most need peace.

Anyway, that's how I manage my loud Grey. Good luck to you!

Bandespresso said:

I wouldn't cover. That's a short-term solution for a long-term problem and will 100% not fix anything. Definitely pay attention to your other bird while your CAG screams, that will spark up jealousy. I would give your CAG a dirty, disappointed look when you go to get the other bird too. CAGs are very in tune with human emotions so that could help as well. When she stops screaming, give her all kinds of attention and love! Good quiet girl yay!!!

It will take time and patience, just like everything with a grey. Make sure she has lots of fun toys to play with too! Maybe it's a simple "mom I'm bored and you're right there let me out!!!" Greys love foraging toys and tearing up cardboard.

Click to expand...

It seems to be working!! Though she is still quite loud and screams for attention, she's getting the hang of doing a whistle to me which I respond to ... in addition to her other horrible sounds hahaha.

Funny enough, my grey hasn't shown any interest in cardboard. She loves plastic bags though, but those aren't safe for her to play with at all. Shame about the cardboard. I always try to giver her little boxes to tear up but she refuses.

OOwl said:

Hello, I also have a really vocal Grey, so I especially understand. Sometimes he's just happy loud and sometimes he reads the stress level in the house and amps it up to a whole new level of loud in response. I also work from home.

I can tell you that covering doesn't really work for my guy. In fact, he just gets annoyed. What I have done that helps is 1) invest in an outdoor aviary that I have on my back porch. When he's being particularly loud, I usually warn him, "You're being pretty loud; do you want to go outside?" If he doesn't, he really is smart enough to tone it down. If he does, he usually keeps it up and earns a trip outside to release his exuberance and excess "sentry bird" energy. If it's really nice, he gets a shower out there and preens for hours, coming in sated and sleepy. Or, 2) identify your bird's "passion." For mine, it's paper. He cannot resist paper. So, if I need him to be especially quiet on a cold or rainy work day when I can't put him outside, I string up tons of paper scraps and empty food-safe boxes on his skewers; put in his precious bird-safe piñatas; and fill his rolling paper foraging toy. He immediately shuts up and gets down to business of paper shredding. Some birds are wood chewers, some plastic fanatics, some food junkies, some paper fiends. Find your bird's passion and be judicious about providing it when you most need peace.

Anyway, that's how I manage my loud Grey. Good luck to you!

Click to expand...

Thank you for the advice! This is great ... I now have a back porch and have definitely put my grey outside if she is being too crazzzzzy some days. It is hard though sometimes, to tell the happy noises from the attention noises.

Though my grey isn't interested in cardboard, I think perhaps she would like scarps of paper (never tried that before!) and a birdy piñata! She loves to tear apart those "all natural" bird toys, so I imagine a birdy pinata would be similar and something new. I find that even though she has toys in her cage, when she knows I'm around she just wont play. She only wants me. Which she can't have .. and definitely needs to learn independent play.

I wonder if you could help me with this question - when I get home from work, my birds make noise for me. Is it okay to go right to them to say hi, or should I wait until they are quiet? I am always unsure on this one.

CassMarie
I hope this helps! About 5 or 6 years ago, my wife and I babysat for my brothers cockatiel. She made a constant high pitches squeal and our grey, Mr.Man picked it up almost instantly. Up until just recently, he would make this same noise whenever he wanted one of us to be in the boardroom with him. It was driving us crazy and we tried EVERYTHING to get him to stop. This went on for years. A few months ago I picked up a dog training "clicker" when out shopping for pet supplies.
Whenever he makes the squealing noise we just click about 10 times and he stops. Of course ne he imitates the clicker. Fine with us!
Dewfield

Hi,
I think if you do the following, it will help.
It may sound a little mean, but when your CAG starts screaming, leave the room and close the door. Try to avoid getting angry, or showing any emotions if possible.
Your CAG will probably continue screaming.
In between any screaming, if Your CAG offers a sound that is acceptable, or silence, go back into the room immediately and praise your little one (give Your CAG a treat, do something you know the bird will like, head scratch, etc). When your CAG starts screaming again, repeat the process. You will need a lot of patience for this because, as you've probably guessed, will be very frustrating for a quite a while. But in the end, you will be very happy you did this.
I wish you the best of luck! Please keep us posted and let us know how it's going.
I hope this helps!