Screaming

it has been about 3 hours since we got two new re home black headed caiques. We went out to let them settle in for a while and when we came back there was screaming i would not say constant but very minute for 10 mins, i have just put a towel over them to stop it and it has. have you got any more tips to stop the screaming?




Note ; i understand this is very confusing for them, but just carious for the future

Can you figure out why they are screaming, then try and ensure that all needs are met to avoid them feeling the need to scream? I know you just got them, but that also make it much more important to figure it out!


Covering the cage is not a viable option, but if they are feeling scared and insecure, then a quiet room with a way to "hide" from humans may help.

MonicaMc said:

Can you figure out why they are screaming, then try and ensure that all needs are met to avoid them feeling the need to scream? I know you just got them, but that also make it much more important to figure it out!


Covering the cage is not a viable option, but if they are feeling scared and insecure, then a quiet room with a way to "hide" from humans may help.

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I am not sure why they are screaming, im am sure they are just scared

This will likely take time. I wouldn't cover them like that though (just me).


Have you rehomed birds before these two?

noodles123 said:

This will likely take time. I wouldn't cover them like that though (just me).


Have you rehomed birds before these two?

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no these are my first

Do parrots get used to routine? like i have four other parrots who come out before them. Do you think overtime the screaming will lessen as they get used to routine.

Or trying to distract them if they do start screaming with a toy or forging toy?

Probably, unless they do it for fun ...
(there are some caique-owners here, maybe they will chime in with some usefull tips)

Reward the silent times, and ignore, ignore, ignore ...

(or try redirection: activity instead of screaming, but you make really, really sure it is by no means vieuwed a reward for the screaming. Because then you will be reinforcing it. I would go with "ignore the cr@p out of it")

(One of the reasons I stil get macaw screams in my ear once in a while: she loves to see me cringe. The weeks I focus and ignore it - no problem, but the moment I get complacent/ preoccupied ... end of eardrum!)

My new Caique does scream/cry out - namely for attention or love. Breeder advised to ignore that communication if you didn't want to promote it and reinforce 'good' communication from the bird when he/she does something you prefer. that will train your bird the way you like. Good Luck.

To fix any behavior, you have to know WHY it is happening. If this happens daily, then what are you doing when they scream?

Agreed, do not cover them to stop any behavior, that's not the answer, nor is it going to help them settle-in to their new home, nor start feeling secure and safe, as covering them is just going to isolate them from their new surroundings, and you can actually make the screaming worse as soon as you remove the cover. That's not a cycle you want them to get started on, because you'll get to the point that you'll never be able to have them uncovered...Just remove the cover, leave them uncovered, and going to have to deal with the screaming for a while. Usually when it's due to a new home, new surroundings, new people, etc., it will stop within 24 hours, but covering them will only set that back. They need to see their new surroundings, people, etc.

***Where do you have their cage/cages located? Are they in a "back room" or "spare room", or in a place away from the "action" in the house? This could very well be the cause of their screaming, especially if they are in a place where they can HEAR YOU, but NOT SEE YOU! This is one of the main causes of screaming birds, they want to be among people. It's one thing if you're not home, but if you are home then they know that you're there, that there are people in the house, they can both sense it and hear you, but if they can hear you but not see you, this often causes chronic screaming.

Try, at least for the first month or so, moving their cage to whatever room of your house is the room where the people of the house spend most of their time when they're home. Usually this is the living room, family room, TV room, etc. Even if you're not going to be paying them "direct" attention, just being in the same room as you while you're watching TV, reading, talking, playing games/video games, eating meals, etc. will not only make them feel comfortable, secure, and safe, it also makes them feel like they are a part of the "flock"; realize they are flock animals, and want to be with the rest of the "flock". Also, they are going to be much more likely to want to entertain themselves while inside of their cages, playing with their toys and foraging activities while in your presence. If they are put off into a spare bedroom or a bird room or something away from where the people are, they tend to be distracted by not being a part of your "flock", and they often totally ignore the toys and such inside of their cages.