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IRN screaming behavior help
I have an approximately 5yo IRN named angel. I’ve had him for about four years and I’m his third home. His first home was a breeder and his second home couldn’t keep him after several months due to a disabled child. I say this because I don’t know if this is partly why he is so attached to me.
Basically my problem is we’lol be in the same room together and within sight and he’ll scream (piercingly) when I’m not always paying him attention or when I’m about to leave the room (ie back turned/ heading to the door). I don’t expect him to always be quiet but the screams are very annoying and consistent whenever I’m not around. I spend a lot of time with him hanging out and we’ve started having training sessions to increase his mental stimulation. He knows how to speak (kisses, “I love you angel”, “come here”...). Sometimes he says “come here” to get my attention and while it’s less annoying for sure he says it just as constantly when I’m not around and I’m not sure if it’s a solution since I can’t always give him the attention when he says it and then he just screams. Whenever he screams I’ve not akbowledges him, kept my back turnednor continued to do what I am doing or walk out of the room. But often he just flies over to me from his cage and I feel like that makes it hard to discipline him. I’ve trimmed his wings once to help with this but he will still just fly to my shoulder. I love my bird and I’m really just struggling on how to best reinforce his behavior to benefit us both. Last edited by Weiblichervorname; 12-26-2018 at 09:50 AM. |
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The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to EllenD For This Useful Post: | ||
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Re: IRN screaming behavior help
Hi. I like your approach. Unfortunately, it does not work for me. I have a rescue baby, and now she is so attached to me. She doesn't stop screaming. I don't know what else to do.
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Re: IRN screaming behavior help
At some random point in the day (when he is quiet etc), politely put him in his cage and do stuff in that room (turning your back at times) or around the house in general. He will inevitably scream to be let out and/or get your attention. When he does, let him scream and don't turn back around until he has been quiet for a solid 10 seconds...Alternately, if you are in the room when he starts screaming, walk out of the room and don't return until he is quiet for 10 seconds (the 2nd is my preference, because sitting with your back turned to a screaming bird is annoying). When the bird is quiet for a solid 10 seconds (minimum), walk up to it and say "thanks for getting quiet" (using a quiet voice/whisper yourself )--then attend to the bird all you want/give a treat etc unless screaming occurs, then leave again. Once he masters 10 seconds without difficulty, then extend the time to 15 or 20, then 1 minute etc etc.
I would put him in his cage before he screams so that you don't gratify the screaming by walking over to place him into his cage after it occurs. There are plenty of times in life where he will need to be in his cage (even if you are home)---just for safety etc. I normally have my bird out all day when I am around, but she has to accept the fact that I am not going to allow her to be out and about if something like a visiting dog poses a threat to her safety...or if I have to go take a shower and she is in a place where she could get into things, I am not going to trust that she won't so I will put her in her cage. When you say he doesn't stop....how long have you waited? My cockatoo (I'm her 4th home) has screamed for upwards of 2 hours without a 10 second break...I didn't give in, and she tried that 3 times or so (much to my ears' dismay) before deciding it wasn't working. Then she would do it for 30 minutes non-stop, but with a 10 minute break, and over time, she did it less and less. She never screams at my house anymore----and if she does, it is out of excitement, not attention seeking. She does seem to revert back to screaming briefly in new environments when she wants my attention, but again, I do not indulge it (and it is a pain, but with enough consistency, you will be happier if you can be more stubborn than your bird). If I am going to be walking away and she isn't screaming, I tell her where I am going and what I am doing and I will sometimes talk to her from the other room so that she knows I am near, but the second she starts screaming or yelling (BACK BACK BACK, in her case), I stop responding and wait. I also tell everyone else in the house to avoid that room, avoid eye contact, and avoid mentioning her name, or "bird" lol! She knows when we are talking about her because she will listen. Here is something that has worked for me in desperate times (and you cannot do it every time....only use occasionally): ***IF you are in a situation where you need your bird to get quiet right away but he hasn't stopped screaming (e.g., you left your glasses in the room and can't read without the), try standing behind a door frame and WITHOUT LETTING HIM SEE YOU AT ALL, silently toss something into the bird room (NOT AT HIM, but approximately 10 feet in front of his cage, within eye-shot of our bird-e.g., a small ball, a lego, a small toy etc)...DO NOT do this if it truly terrifies your bird, as that is not the goal. With mine, it startles/distracts her enough that it causes a natural pause in the screaming...If it lasts 10 seconds, then you can come back in and praise without ruining all of your progress. I know that sounds harsh, but unless your bird is tearing out feathers etc, the screaming in and of itself isn't hurting the bird....so waiting it out is the only way to prove that it doesn't work...and it has to be ineffective every time. It is a slow process to undo a behavior that has been reinforced for so long. In my opinion, this isn't contact calling if you are in his line of sight ---sounds more like attention seeking, and while there is a bit of an overlap, birds can be taught to do less of this. Last edited by noodles123; 01-26-2019 at 08:48 AM. |
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Re: IRN screaming behavior help
Max does the same thing! If I’m not paying attention to him or leave the hall and go to my room (he can still see me there), he starts screaming. It’s gentle at first and if I continue to not respond, the louder shrieking starts. The shunning method never works with him.
What works for me (and I’m lucky) is just a response of “Maaax” in a hush hush way and he stops screaming immediately and will not repeat it. It’s like a contact call for him. Does he have a playgym area? If he is busy playing, he won’t be screaming as much. If you’re gone for longer periods (20 - 30mins) from him, you could build a portable perch thing so you can take him with you? My other bird, Honey, can be distracted for quite some time with toys. However, if no one is in the room for sometime, he chooses to fly over to whoever he sees closest rather than playing. Birds are flock creatures and constantly want attention. |
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Re: IRN screaming behavior help
The problem here is very simple and common...You immediately said "I like your approach but it doesn't work for me, because I have a rescue baby that is attached to me and he won't ever stop screaming"...The answer to this is exactly what Noodles asked you already..."How long have you waited for him to stop screaming"? An hour? Two hours? 6 hours?
Yes, I'm being serious...This approach WILL WORK FOR YOU, but at first it's going to be tough...This is a battle of wills, and so-far you've lost and your bird has won. He even has you thinking that he will NEVER stop screaming! This isn't true. The very first time that you are able to out-will him, where you just suck it up, put in some ear plugs, and you wait for the screaming to stop, and when it does you go in and reward him, you've won the battle-of-wills. But until you do this, your bird has won. This is not anything uncommon, what you're going through...I've been doing behavioral-training and modification at an Avian Rescue for 8 years, so we're talking Umbrella and Moluccan Cockatoos that can break glass with their screaming...And yes, there have been birds who have spent their first day at the Rescue screaming from the moment they woke-up in the morning at sunrise, around 6:00 a.m. or so, until sunset around 8:00 p.m. And when the sun set and the bird stopped screaming, I went right in, got them out of their cage, verbally praised them, gave them a treat, and put them to bed. And the next day they did the same thing, but not until sunset, only until 4:00 p.m., when I immediately went in and again got them out, verbally praised them, and gave the a treat...And by the end of the first week the continual hours and hours of screaming has stopped...They are intelligent and they know what's going on. So it really is a battle of wills... All i can say to you is that if nothing else you have tried has worked, then you're going to have to eventually suck it up and just outlast your bird...It's not fun, trust me I know (I don't get paid to work at the Rescue, lol)...But it works. And it's worth it, because it really doesn't take long for them to figure it out, and once they do then everything changes...But you have to be the stronger one that doesn't crack under the hours and hours of screaming...Battle of wills...
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noodles123 (01-27-2019) |
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Re: IRN screaming behavior help
I have a 6-7 year old, he screams and I ignore him, is it working? Don't know yet, its just our second day together.
Following this thread.
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New mom to Topaz the problem child Lutino IRN ![]() ![]() |
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Re: IRN screaming behavior help
Before a behavior improves, it often gets worse (it's called an extinction burst in ABA)...so if it doesn't seem to be working, the worst thing you can do is change your response...Now, if long term, it just keeps getting worse, then you may need to change your approach, but patience is key. Last edited by noodles123; 02-03-2019 at 03:59 PM. |
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RingneckLuv (02-03-2019) |
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behavior, calling, indian ringneck, screaming, training |
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