Screaming cockatiel!!! Help!!!!

TheBirdWhisperer · May 15, 2013

I bought my cockatiel a few weeks ago at the pet store and he has been really quiet and calm. I've been working with him a lot to get him used to being handled and he never bites and always enjoys a scritch every now and then. But then all of the sudden, something I guess snapped in him?? I've noticed lately he has been going absolutely crazy. I mean, seriously crazy. It started with crazy repetitive screaming every evening around 6:30. It gets so bad I have to take him out and hold him on my finger for an hour until he got tired. Then it was random episodes through out the day. Every time he sees me in the room or even if the dog happens to pass by, he goes into hysteria and does this EAR PIERCING scream and throws himself against the cage. He doesn't even come up for air

. It is getting worse and worse every day. I even tried covering his cage, but that only makes him turn suicidal... throwing himself around and flopping all over the place. I love him to death and would do anything to keep him happy, but I have no idea why he is screaming repetitively. I give him TONS of attention through out the day but I can't be by his side 24/7. I don't want to have to give him away because we all love him so much, any suggestions on how to discourage this behavior?? Ignoring is hopeless, it only makes him scream louder. Any suggestions are greatly appreciated

ShellyBorg · May 15, 2013

I wonder if he hears something you don't at that time a day that upsets him? When it happens at certain time like that its a trigger. Did the pet store close at 6:30 maybe the cleaning crew picked on him? Or he thinks every one is leaving?

AS to what to do....try giving him a shower a little before that time. Or pick him up and start dancing around the house with the music up Any thing you can to block the noise or the time trigger he has.

SandyBee · May 15, 2013

I agree with Shelley
Start a new routine just before that time, anything that distracts him and changes the situation.
Shower, new toys, feeding time, treat time etc.....
sometimes the best way to change a behaviour is to prevent.

TheBirdWhisperer · May 15, 2013

Rhino hates showers... but I will try to play some music and dance with him. He is quiet when I'm holding him, but the second I put him down he goes ballistic. Thanks for your replies though

lotosha · May 15, 2013

Maybe at 18:30 he becomes tired and wants to go to bed? My usually well behaved CAG starts making some noise and be impatient when she is tired. From the literature about parrots I can tell that after 18:00 it's a good time for them to go to sleep.

ct92404 · May 15, 2013

I agree that it seems like there could be something in his environment that is upsetting him. He doesn't like his cage for some reason and feels constantly stressed out and scared while he is in there...that's why he calms down when you pick him up. Where do you have his cage? Is it near a window? Could he be seeing something outside that is scaring him...maybe larger wild birds, or trucks that go by the house or something?

It is also possible, like others suggested, that someone at the pet shop had been teasing him and so he panics at a certain time everyday. But that seems unlikely. I'm betting more that there is something near his cage that is bothering him, but you just don't know about it yet. Something is causing him to have a birdie panic attack.

Try moving his cage. It also might not be a bad idea to take him to a vet for a checkup. I don't know if it can happen with birds, but I know that if people are deficient in certain vitamins and minerals, it can actually cause some psychological problems as well as physical. If he's lacking something, maybe that could be causing anxiety?

MikeyTN · May 16, 2013

TheBirdWhisperer said:
I bought my cockatiel a few weeks ago at the pet store and he has been really quiet and calm. I've been working with him a lot to get him used to being handled and he never bites and always enjoys a scritch every now and then. But then all of the sudden, something I guess snapped in him?? I've noticed lately he has been going absolutely crazy. I mean, seriously crazy. It started with crazy repetitive screaming every evening around 6:30. It gets so bad I have to take him out and hold him on my finger for an hour until he got tired. Then it was random episodes through out the day. Every time he sees me in the room or even if the dog happens to pass by, he goes into hysteria and does this EAR PIERCING scream and throws himself against the cage. He doesn't even come up for air . It is getting worse and worse every day. I even tried covering his cage, but that only makes him turn suicidal... throwing himself around and flopping all over the place. I love him to death and would do anything to keep him happy, but I have no idea why he is screaming repetitively. I give him TONS of attention through out the day but I can't be by his side 24/7. I don't want to have to give him away because we all love him so much, any suggestions on how to discourage this behavior?? Ignoring is hopeless, it only makes him scream louder. Any suggestions are greatly appreciated

Ok here's the thing about Cockatiels, they freak easily! IF your about to get into the room where he is speak first, call his name, say hello, whatever. Just make your presence known. Avoid the dog going in by his cage without you. As long as he knows your coming in along with the dog, he will be less likely to freak out. But since he probably never been around a dog, he will freak with a dog's presence as well. A bird's schedule can change, it's NOT set in stones!!!! When they do their screech they're calling for other Cockatiels or flock mates. Which it may be you or he is missing his cage mates he had before. They will do that, it just takes time for him to get over that. Cockatiels gets night fright easily, either leave on a night light or cover his cage, I prefer night light. You just have to be patient with him during this period until he's more used to you. He will be fine with the dog eventually too but it just takes time!

TheBirdWhisperer · May 16, 2013

Thank you all for your replies. I believe he might just miss his old cage mate. I will definitely consider buying him one. Although I think his screaming is because he wants me to give him my undivided attention. Its like a repetitive call of one note. Oh well, he seems to be getting worse but I hope he learns that I can't be with him all day lol.

MikeyTN · May 16, 2013

If you get another make sure you keep them in separate cages so they can get used to one another. Depending on the sex of your cockatiels, if you ended up with a male and female, the male can go wild pretty easily with a mate!

crimson · May 16, 2013

he'll settle down, don't worry. I know it can be stressful, but it sounds like he wants attention, or like everyone mentioned maybe something is spooking him.
either way, it has to be on your terms if he wants attention.
when he does start screaming, you can talk to him in a quiet voice, even feed him a treat that he likes, maybe some apple, or millet etc... he should learn how to be happy in his cage either way....or at the very least quiet.

I have the same problem right now, but with my gold cap conure. one day he decided to start screaming constantly, cause he wanted out. I ignored him for a bit, then calmly and quietly talked to him in a low voice, gave him a grape, and he was good for another few hours.
then I let him out, it is still a work in progress but he is much much better.
it just takes time for them to become comfortable

TheBirdWhisperer · May 19, 2013

I think he is becoming one of those "velcro birds". He never got much attention at the pet shop, and now that I constantly take him out and play with him, he never wants to be away from me lol. Although when I scritch his cheeks for a few minutes, he's quiet for an hour or so (I only give him scritches when he's quiet).

AngelicaandBandit · May 19, 2013

Eek! Velcro birds are never good, they develop behaviour problems quickly. First off, I'd say change his environment, house him somewhere else, change his toys etc etc Is he harness trained, if so you can take hime to outings so he gets introduced to new people, or invite people over so he gets used to new people. Introduce him to new things constantly, not just people but toys or places.

Keep us posted

TheBirdWhisperer · May 21, 2013

I gave him a shower and he wound up falling asleep lol. I think that actually calmed him down because he allows me to leave the room and only squawks once or twice before chattering with himself or just relaxing, even into the next day

I guess he just needed quality time with me and a hot shower haha. I am also going to come up with a playtime schedule to take him out. Thank you all again for your help.

Screaming cockatiel!!! Help!!!!

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