Advice on my Plum Head parakeets.

Chappyzilla

New member
Mar 15, 2015
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0
Australia
Parrots
1 x Male green Cheeked Conure - Max
Hey :) I'm new to these forums and figured I would take advantage of the experienced people here. I have a male Plum Head parrot named Sammy he is little over 1 year now and bits of red are starting to come though. Hes an affectionate parrot that spends all of his time out of the cage.

I attended a course recently to help me find a job and he started getting really stressed out making loud high pitched screeching noises while running around the top of the cage ( i know this because my father was home at the time). Then he developed the habit of screeching like that whenever I leave him alone even if Im just going to the toilet.

So i thought the best thing to do would be to get him a companion while I'm away, this didn't work out very well. I got a female plum head named Korra that is about 7+months old and there relationship hasn't helped the matter. She takes his food, kicks him of his perches, attacks him and has made him more clingy then before.

They have separate cages that sit next to each other because oddly enough when I separate them they seem to look for each other but when they are together Sammy seems to want to avoid her at all costs and spends all day on my shoulder. It also hasn't stopped the screeching at all.

I was thinking of maybe getting him male companion but I dont want to if it wont help the issue. What can I do to stop the loud screeching when I leave him alone?
 

weco

New member
Nov 24, 2010
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USA
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Nanday, suns, parrotlet, Patagonian
Sounds like Sammy might have a case of separation anxiety.....but from the way you described his cage mate, missing you may well be the least of his problems.....

Many of our feathered friends may wear different feathers but training them is usually by using the same methods.....here's a link that's a couple of years old, but there is relevant information there and maybe several of the posters from that thread are still around.....http://www.parrotforums.com/questions-answers/31909-plum-headed-parakeet-advice-needed.html

There are also a number of good training videos on YouTube about how to train birds not to scream.....the best way will be to take Sammy to another room, to work with him.....

Good luck...for both you and Sammy.....
 

Mekaisto

New member
Jan 8, 2014
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Melbourne, Australia
Parrots
Zookeeper who has worked with many bird species, and owner of a cheeky red-tailed black cockatoo (Ash)
Have you tried leaving a radio on for Sammy while you're away? The problem here is that he's missing you, not company. Try to introduce him to toys he can play with while you're away, creative foraging that takes time to compete, just stuff that he can do while he's waiting for you to come back. If he doesn't understand independant play, you'll need to help him understand it.

Good luck :)
 
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Chappyzilla

Chappyzilla

New member
Mar 15, 2015
15
0
Australia
Parrots
1 x Male green Cheeked Conure - Max
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The tv is constantly left on at my house and it doesn't seem to faze him. Ill be getting a larger cage this week so I can put a better variety of toys in it so I'll see if that helps.

Also how would I create a foraging challenge?
 

Mekaisto

New member
Jan 8, 2014
503
0
Melbourne, Australia
Parrots
Zookeeper who has worked with many bird species, and owner of a cheeky red-tailed black cockatoo (Ash)
If he understands how to open them, some of the forging puzzles (such as the "Creative foraging systems" range can be good - the smaller, easier ones might be more suitable).

Or just to start him off, finding a small cardboard box (such as a box you might buy biscuits or toothpaste in) and stuffing it with newspaper, with a few nuts or seeds wrapped up inside.
He might not understand it at first (you may need to show him how to do it), and you might need to use treats that don't fall through the bottom grate of his cage.

You might also want to try feeding him food that takes a little longer to eat than his pellets, like corn on the cob, chunks of carrot, orange, etc., if you don't already.
 

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