Another 6-hour screechfest!

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What is your response to him when he screams like this? Have you considered that he may not be feeling well? It is strange that he is suddenly screaming so much if that is not the norm for him, although birds can act completely different in different homes.

I think you've hit the nail on the head. It sounds like he is already mate bonding with you, biting when other people come close, screaming when you leave, sounds like he really loves you! I know it can be trying but do not reward him screaming under any circumstances. Leave the room if you have to just don't give him any attention for screaming. Birds learn really quickly what helps them get their way and it won't take him long to realize that screaming brings you back to him if you give in. Developing a contact call is a great tool for these situations, do your whistle whenever he does and whenever you leave the room. Try taking just a step out of the door to the room he is in and do your whistle and then come right back. it shouldn't take him long to realize that is your way of telling him where you are. I do it with all of our birds, as soon as I leave their sight I do our call, they do it back and then they know that I am not actually leaving, just away from where they can see me.

Conures can be bossy little guys, it can be hard but you have to reinforce to them that they aren't running the show. And maybe in the meantime, invest in a pair of earplugs or headphones

Conures are moody sometimes, that's the fact ^^ but the most important thing is to show your bird that screaming doesn't bring anything good. And there is no great strategy, you just have to ignore it. Louis used to scream alot when he felt comfortable in my house. Right now, he screams but only if he is mad or scared. Sometimes he calls me when he can hear that I am at home but not in the room with him. Be patient.

Great advice to you fro IcyWolf.

Keep up the whistle communication because he seems to be grasping the meaning.

Pritti has had his "moods" of screechy periods on and off (many times over the past 20 years with me). My "whistle" thing with him is that I get close, look him in the eye and say "be right back" "be right back". he gets it. but if i'm not going to be right back, i don't do it with him - or he'll be confused.

when i leave for a while, like out the house, i will get him to go inside the cage and then tell him he's a good bird, give him a distraction or treat, and i go on my way. (it relieves of me of the guilt (lol) and he's entertained with his special ball, or snack, or a new toy roated in. also, i alternate leaving the radio and tv on for him when i leave for more than just a short time. (tv on station not obnoxious, like PBS or education channel or book tv, something without scary blasting loud commercials).

pritti has a a big bell that he rings when he wants someone to come over. but there are times he'll flock call too. but the bell works great, but i make sure to respond verbally or in person whenever i hear it, since he doesn't seem to abuse it. i think it is pretty much the same as when he whistles for you.

you mention he screeches in your ear a lot -- how many hours a day do you think you are in physical contact with him? when you have guests over, like your mom, maybe you can try keeping him in the same area as you all, but not on you. that way he'll be part of the flock - example, a tabletop perch on a coffee table or little folding table equal distance from you and guest. if you have a freestanding happy hut, you could bring that for him too. Pritti loves being part of the group when company is over, and is happy to just be included but not take over and be king. he either hangs on a portable playgym or perch on a table, or sometimes just snuggled up to my bare foot.

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Hi, I have a pair of sun conures that I got from a breeder, she only bred them so they were not tame at all when I got them, they stayed in a small cage and they were never let out. I brought them home, put them in a bigger cage and just talked to them but didnt try to touch them, I did leave the cage door open so they could get out if they wanted. They would draw blood when we tried to pet them. They screamed all the time, now after a month or month in a half, I can take the male out, he sits on my shoulder, the female likes my fiance more, she wouldnt let me touch her at all, and the male doesn't like my fiance. now he gives me kisses and the female is starting to let me hold and pet her, but now he will go after her and attack her if she comes near me. The breeder said they would never make good pets because they are wild. But I really believe, with time they will be awesome. They do still scream alot of time, so I'll try those steps you meantioned!! thanks

Wow, lunging is scary. Personally, I wouldn't let my guests try handling Charlie if he has been biting that hard and even lunging at you. I would let them try to talk with him, slowly approaching him but not within reach, saying soothing things, helllloooooo charlie, even singing something that maybe you know he likes. Possibly even giving him a treat that they can lay down somewhere that he'll see and go over to get.

Wondering, what was Charlie's living situation before you adopted? Was he in a good situation and close to his housemates, or was he left alone alot? It sounds like he is jealous and thinks of you as HIS and only HIS. If he is having a day on your shoulder for combined 5 or 6 hours with him being center of attention and then someone else shows up, he's getting ticked off.

Here's one of the ways I got Pritti used to my mom when we went to visit her for a couple of months -- She started to be the one to give him treats daily. She started to visit him while on top of cage and say Helloooooooo, Pretty Bird. He would lunge at her, but she wouldn't react since he couldn't reach her anyway. Eventually, I would hold my hand over hers like I was holding a ball and I would use my finger to rub his beak with my knuckle, then eventually i would switch with her finger, and eventually after several weeks, I would let her continue with her hand by taking mine away when he was all cozy and comfie with the rubs.

So I think slowly but surely techniques of building trust little by little is a good thing to try.

Whats different about the previous home vs your home? Do you think that the lack of flock mates (i.e. other birds) could have anything to do with it?


Sometimes, ignoring the screaming is only making it worse. Your bird screams for 5 minutes. The bird calms down for 1 minute. You go in and reward the bird. The next time the bird screams, it might scream for 8 minutes. After the bird calms down, you go in and reward. The time after that, the bird screams for 15 minutes. After the bird clams down, you go in and reward. What are you teaching the bird to do? Scream.


I've posted this before, so I'll post it again... please, read it!
Living With Parrots Cage Free: Does Ignoring Really Work?



I'm just saying that ignoring it doesn't always work!



What I do suggest is allowing Charlie to fly. If he's clipped, then see if he'd be willing to allow you to run him around the house encouraging him to fly or teaching him to hop to you on command. Maybe swing him around! [My] Charlie loves it when I swing him! I don't have a video of it, but I know another mitred conure who also loves it! Except Ditto seems to get into it much more than Charlie does!


[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZfE2m1w2oDE"]Playful Mitred Conure - YouTube[/ame]



Get [your] Charlie a harness! Take him outside on short 20-30 minute walks! Maybe when he's out there, encourage him to scream! That way, it's not quite so painful in your ear or anyone elses and it'll help him get rid of some pent up energy!


[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=13XmlniLKd4]Charlie Flying Outside - YouTube[/ame]

My sun conure screeches when she's tired or wants me. As long as she is swinging on her swing watching the wild birds or riding on my shoulder she's happy. When she won't calm down I tuck her into my shirt and she calms down making little peeping noises. I hold her like that for about 10 minutes and then she's as happy as can be and plays nice.

See if you can keep up with 'exercising' him then! And if he'll accept treats, to reward him!

I do think the change of homes may have unsettled him, but given time, he can calm down! I do wonder though, if he was flighted, would he choose to be with you guys or would he be more interested in going elsewhere?

I've had better luck with my flighted birds choosing to be with me than birds who had no choice. I know it varies though on each individual case!

If he's readily seeking you out, then he'd probably fly to you as well!