What to do??? Screaming behaviour which results in being locked away by housemates.

emily92

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Sep 7, 2014
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I have been researching and researching about what to do in regards to my male alexandrines behaviour problems and am looking for advice!

He is 2 and a half and has his ring around his neck, very tame, chats with us all the time, and was handraised. However he has started in the last 6 months developing a screaming behaviour and anxiety(i think)? He has been screaming and panicking when he doesnt have attention from my partner or myself, and sometimes will even do this behaviour even when with us giving him attention- it like he doesnt know what he wants. All his other needs are being met- showers, toys, time on play stand, fresh food(pellets,seed,fruit,veg) and water, and lots of attention, chatting, and love, but still this behaviour is getting worse. We have tried for the past 6 months ignoring the screaming and rewarding good calls and behaviour but it has made no difference at all.

We have moved in with roommates a month ago due to relocating for university studies and cannot afford rent on our own in this area. Since moving he has become even worse with behaviour. He is particularly badly behaved around my housemates and if we are not home he will not stop screaming to the point where they will cover him or put him in a dark room to make him be quiet- and he has now started trying to bite them. Often i come home and he is locked in a dark room and I have no idea how long he has been in there.. it is extremely upsetting to see him get locked away and although i have told my room mates that ignoring his screaming is more productive than shutting him away, they are often doing important assignments and can't reasonably ignore screaming for several hours at a time. They are actually animal lovers and do(did) like him a lot and say they feel bad about putting him away but what else can they do? My partner and I do our best to positively reinforce his good behaviours and ignore the screaming but it feels that the negative reinforcement from my room mates is making his screaming much worse.

The option of moving house is not immediately available and I would be absolutely heartbroken to rehome him but I cannot live with myself if he is getting constantly locked away- I would love to solve the screaming problem!! My only option left that i can think of that would be solveable is that he is sexually frustrated or confusing me or my partner as his mate and is therefore upset/anxious without us, and is needing his own companion. He is always very interested in other birds and calls out to the wild birds in the area. Do you think this is the issue? Should we try find him a companion? I imagine if he had a mate he would be less likely to scream for us all the time?

At our wits end. Please offer any advice! Thank you
 

henpecked

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Dec 12, 2010
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Jake YNA 1970,Kia Panama amazon1975, both i removed from nest and left siblings, Forever Home to,Stacie (YN hen),Mickie (RLA male),Blinkie (YNA hen),Kong (Panama hen),Rescue Zons;Nitro,Echo,Rocky,Rub
Welcome to the forum. I try and keep this short and simple. If he's screaming for your attention. Have someone he doesn't like go stand beside his cage when he starts. You , the good guy need to go away or not respond when he screams. Send in the " bad guy". After a couple of days of consistent responses he should learn screaming only brings the bad guy, not you.
 

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