NEW MEMBER Morning Crying - Desperate

katiediane317

New member
Apr 17, 2020
3
0
Illinois Western Suburbs
Parrots
Pineapple Green Cheek Conure
Hi all,

First off I just want to say I've been using this site for a while and it has helped tons! I am now at a point where I feel my problem has not already been answered in terms of my specific bird and situation.

I have had a female GCC since about July of last year. She turned a year old yesterday (happy birthday my baby Flora). We just moved last week but this behavior has been maintaining for almost two months now. Flora sleeps in my room with me and likes to go to bed early. Since she has been complaining about the light from my TV I cover her at night with a light bed sheet. This part is fine.

The mornings have been absolutely awful. Flora wakes up early and begins to cry and whine instantly. It's loud and becomes screaming kind of intermittently. At first I tried kind of making the same sound I make for bites (which has been successful for bites) but then that didn't seem to work for this situation. I contacted the place I got her from and they said to ignore the crying until there's about a 30 second break in crying and then uncover her and let her out of the cage.

I might just be being impatient because this is driving me crazy, but she does this for at least a straight hour every morning before I've ignored her long enough for her to be quiet for 30 seconds and be let out of her cage. I'm losing sleep and I'm just ANGRY at her in the morning.

Is there any advice you guys can give me in terms of this situation? I've never had a bird before Flora and I don't really know what to do. Any and all advice is appreciated.
 

Mariar

Well-known member
May 9, 2014
1,021
169
Clearwater Florida but grew up in Wisconsin
Parrots
Doolie,Yellow nape amazon(r.i.p.03/10/15)
Sissy,severe macaw(rescued on 03-16-15) chirpy,sparrow(beak less) jack,Jill,chase,fiona,finch, and tiger,sulfer crested(rescued 04/15/20
can you figure out if its a toy in the cage she doesn't like or the position of the cage? sounds like she just wants out. maybe change up your routine like feed her earlier or later, im not sure what to say maybe someone will chime in. those things have worked for my bird sissy.keep me updated i know right now with being isolated things seem worse than they are just hang in there
 

Jen5200

Well-known member
Mar 27, 2017
1,874
Media
23
Albums
2
249
Washington State
Parrots
Baby - Sun Conure;
Tango - GCC;
Bindi - Sun Conure;
Stanley - Pineapple GCC;
Screamer “Scree� - Cockatiel;
Tee - Pineapple GCC; Jimmy - Cockatiel
Welcome - glad you joined! It is so frustrating when they develop habits that disrupt our sleep - I feel for you! I’m assuming that Flora is otherwise healthy and nothing has changed on that front.

I have a few questions, hope that’s okay.... What time does she start with the crying? Is it light out at that time, or still dark? Does her sheet keep her cage dark, and have you tried different weight covers? Does she have food in her cage that she can munch on first thing in the morning? Is there any chance that you inadvertently rewarded the screaming when it started (if a behavior worked a few times, it takes some patience to convince them that it no longer works)?

My conures are all a bit different on their sleep/morning needs (I have 5 conures). Once it gets light, I have one who chatters incessantly (even though he’s covered with a lightweight sheet) - thankfully he doesn’t scream or cry but he “talks” until I uncover him. I have another that doesn’t like being covered and he’s quiet until he hears me moving around. My other 3 conures have blackout covers because they will “sing me the song of their people” as soon as the room gets the smallest amount of light (5 am or so in the summer). None of mine sleep particularly late EVER and will start noisemaking by about 7 if not uncovered. On weekends, I sometimes get up at 6 to feed them their morning chop and go back to bed for another hours or two. The food and the fact that they’ve seen me and all is well, usually gets me a couple of hours of quiet before they want to be entertained.

Hopefully other members pipe up with some of their experiences and we can help you narrow down (or give you ideas to try) :).
 

noodles123

Well-known member
Jul 11, 2018
8,145
472
Parrots
Umbrella Cockatoo- 15? years old..I think?
To me, it sounds like her persistence has been increased by hormones (based on age) and that she probably wants to be uncovered because that is their instinct after they are done sleeping for 10-12 hours...she probably has been covered too long if she is going to bed early and you are sleeping in. I never would respond to tantrum screaming after it starts (so yes, wait for it to stop before acknowledging it in certain circumstances) ...but I am not sure that is what this is--- If she has been up for like 2 hours already and is covered still, that's not fair to her (that's also is a hormonal trigger and would make anyone crazy-- especially a teenager). Think about nature-- in the wild, they would usually get 10 hours (maybe 12 in some species)...when they wake up, the sun is up...if she wakes up after 10 hours and hears things but it is still dark, that could create an issue-- especially if she hears you moving etc...but they have good internal clocks, so even if you are still asleep, when it is time for your bird to get up, your bird will often want to get up. So, yeah....she may be yelling, but..

the alternative is simple (in theory):
You wake up earlier and uncover her BEFORE the yelling starts so that you are not rewarding the yelling, while still meeting her needs, or put her to bed later.


Is this only happening in the mornings?

My bird goes to bed at 6 and wakes up at 6 (like clock-work--sometimes she wakes as early as 4, but by 6, she is ALWAYS banging around and ready to be uncovered)-- she will start making noise by slamming the seed skirt up and down if left in there too long after waking (and she also will start doing nesting type behaviors because she is in a dark space but it is time to be awake). Screaming is always for a reason, but can be amplified by hormones and a bird being covered too long 1) wants to be uncovered and 2) may become even more hormonal having been in the dark after waking for too long.

You don't want to uncover when the screaming starts or you teach the bird that screaming makes the cover come off. That is why you need to get up before your bird screams and uncover her (in my opinion) because she is simply doing what her natural clock dictates.


You need to figure out her pattern and try not to push it much past an hour or you will likely get what you are getting now. Imagine if you had to sit in a dark room for hours when everything in your body was telling you that it was time to get up and that darkness was not normal.
 
Last edited:

fiddlejen

Well-known member
Mar 28, 2019
1,232
Media
11
1,156
New England
Parrots
Sunny the Sun Conure (sept '18, gotcha 3/'19). Mr Jefferson Budgie & Mrs Calliope Budgie (albino) (nov'18 & jan'19). Summer 2021 Baby Budgies: Riker (Green); Patchouli, Keye, & Tiny (blue greywings).
You mention that the cover is a Light bed sheet. IF it was me, the First thing I'd try is using a blackout curtain for the cover, or something of that sort to block more of the light.

(My birds usually stay quiet until my first alarm. I'm a heavy sleeper & IF I don't wake soon enough after the alarm they get progressively Louder.)

Again IF it was me, if that didn't work, the next thing I'd try is to keep her up a bit later at night to see if that will help her sleep later. IF so you can push her bedtime later by a little bit every day until she's adjusted. Of course, you want to make sure her sleep-time stays within a reasonable number of hours.
 

fiddlejen

Well-known member
Mar 28, 2019
1,232
Media
11
1,156
New England
Parrots
Sunny the Sun Conure (sept '18, gotcha 3/'19). Mr Jefferson Budgie & Mrs Calliope Budgie (albino) (nov'18 & jan'19). Summer 2021 Baby Budgies: Riker (Green); Patchouli, Keye, & Tiny (blue greywings).
THIRDLY IF it was me. If Either using a darker cover or shifting to later bedtime didn't work, here is what I would do:

FIRST. 30-seconds. What??? That is Like FOREVER. No. Just wait for a Momentary Pause. Lift the curtain/sheet. Then she goes back to making noise - drop the curtain. Wait for another momentary pause, do it again.

Do this only a few times. The leave curtain open. IF she keeps making noise turn your back. As SOON AS you get a moment of quiet -- OR even of a More-Pleasant, Quieter sound -- turn towards her. IF she again makes aggravating noise turn away, or else do a "freeze" in your bird-ward turn. Make this a game, starting with your back to her from a few feet away, you are attempting to get to her to let her out (or to give her whatever it is she wants, but each time you get the unpleasant noise), so any slight break in the UN-pleasant noise you will attempt to move toward her. However every aggravating noise causes you to Freeze, then to turn away if continues, or even Step Away if persistent.

Bird should understand this pretty quickly. She Might want to make a game of it, but even so, this is a game that will reinforce her in being quieter so it's still a good game.

(AS long as you don't use it all the time, it is not good to try to enforce quiet-always. When I went to work-at-home, I did this 2 days and my Sunny figured out the quiet times right away.)
 

noodles123

Well-known member
Jul 11, 2018
8,145
472
Parrots
Umbrella Cockatoo- 15? years old..I think?
THIRDLY IF it was me. If Either using a darker cover or shifting to later bedtime didn't work, here is what I would do:

FIRST. 30-seconds. What??? That is Like FOREVER. No. Just wait for a Momentary Pause. Lift the curtain/sheet. Then she goes back to making noise - drop the curtain. Wait for another momentary pause, do it again.

Do this only a few times. The leave curtain open. IF she keeps making noise turn your back. As SOON AS you get a moment of quiet -- OR even of a More-Pleasant, Quieter sound -- turn towards her. IF she again makes aggravating noise turn away, or else do a "freeze" in your bird-ward turn. Make this a game, starting with your back to her from a few feet away, you are attempting to get to her to let her out (or to give her whatever it is she wants, but each time you get the unpleasant noise), so any slight break in the UN-pleasant noise you will attempt to move toward her. However every aggravating noise causes you to Freeze, then to turn away if continues, or even Step Away if persistent.

Bird should understand this pretty quickly. She Might want to make a game of it, but even so, this is a game that will reinforce her in being quieter so it's still a good game.

(AS long as you don't use it all the time, it is not good to try to enforce quiet-always. When I went to work-at-home, I did this 2 days and my Sunny figured out the quiet times right away.)

I really don't think lifting the sheet and closing it again is a good idea in this case because I see this as sensory and not attention seeking. Yes, in an attention seeking behavior, 30 s would be a lot to start with, but I also wouldn't make my presence known and withdraw like that by lifting and covering (even if it was an attention behavior)--- If a bird screams for attention-- start w/ 5-10 seconds silence before returning to the room (restarting w/ ever sound). Don't just guess...really count-- when quiet for that period of time then you would reward-- not with a peekaboo, but with full attention. I really don't see this as an attention seeking behavior though-- I mean, in an indirect way, yes, the bird may know that making noise causes you to uncover the cage, but a kid in a dungeon would also cry and scream if no one were around for miles....

POINT IS--- THIS IS NOT A TANTRUM in my mind-- this is a bird who is following its instincts and feels insecure/ unnatural in a cage with a sheet over it when it knows it is time to get up (instinctively)

I want to reiterate that I do not think this problem is rooted in attention-seeking--- the bird needs to be uncovered after 10-12 hours and that is likely the cause of the issue.
 
Last edited:

Jottlebot

Member
Aug 29, 2012
507
14
Shropshire, UK
Parrots
Orange-winged Amazon - RIP Charlie,
Spock - Common Mynah,
McCoy - Alexandrine
I would try the darker cage cover as suggested above, but honestly I wouldn't have her in your room to sleep. You already said she was disturbed by the light from your TV so presumably it still makes noise, which means she won't be sleeping as well as she could. Do you have a dark, quiet room where she could get a good 12 or so hours of uninterrupted sleep? Even a smaller sleep cage away from her main day cage would do.
 

fiddlejen

Well-known member
Mar 28, 2019
1,232
Media
11
1,156
New England
Parrots
Sunny the Sun Conure (sept '18, gotcha 3/'19). Mr Jefferson Budgie & Mrs Calliope Budgie (albino) (nov'18 & jan'19). Summer 2021 Baby Budgies: Riker (Green); Patchouli, Keye, & Tiny (blue greywings).
THIRDLY IF it was me. If Either using a darker cover or shifting to later bedtime didn't work, here is what I would do:

FIRST. 30-seconds. What??? That is Like FOREVER. No. Just wait for a Momentary Pause. Lift the curtain/sheet. Then she goes back to making noise - drop the curtain. Wait for another momentary pause, do it again.

Do this only a few times. Then leave curtain open. IF she keeps making noise turn your back. As SOON AS you get a moment of quiet -- OR even of a More-Pleasant, Quieter sound -- turn towards her. ...

I really don't think lifting the sheet and closing it again is a good idea in this case because I see this as sensory and not attention seeking. .....

...POINT IS--- THIS IS NOT A TANTRUM in my mind-- this is a bird who is following its instincts and feels insecure/ unnatural in a cage with a sheet over it when it knows it is time to get up (instinctively)

I actually only intend to suggest that this be done only Few times Ever. Maybe even only once or twice. Only as a sort of telling Birdie - look, something is changing, what did you do to cause that change? Definitely NOT intended as doing it multiple times. The second part, in full view of the birdie, a Game of Turn Away at un-pleasant / too loud noises but Turn Toward & Move-Toward at quieter or more-pleasant sounds, as a sort of Learning Game, can be done much more. It works really quickly for me with a few repetitions, which is why I suggest it but NOT as first alternative.

I'm not very good at target-training (Sunny will out-train ME before she ever gets bored or moves one), but one of the principles when I was reading about it, is to reward to slightest move toward the desired behaviour. Thats why I think 30-Seconds is Way Too Long to wait for quietness, especially if she just isn't stopping.

But I only meant to suggest the Lifting & Dropping Curtain again as only Few times. Maybe only once- or twice- ever thing. Just to get her attention that you're gonna be doing something different. Also as possibly a way to generate a Moment of Quiet which you can then reward.

Also, I meant to add in that I certainly agree, If this bird is being made to sleep Too Long, that is certainly the first problem to correct before trying anything else.
 
Last edited:

Laurasea

Well-known member
Aug 2, 2018
12,593
10,702
USA
Parrots
Full house
All I can say is the sun comes up and my birds are loud. It's a natural time for birds to make noise. They make sure all survived the night, and renew bonds. In nature parrots are extremely loud in the morning!!

Birds like routine. You need to have a same get up time, for you and your bird. When you get up you can't keep the bird covered.

This is a relationship, so you need to get up a little earlier, and try and have your bird sleep a little later. So yes blocking out light will help. 10 hours of sleep time, you can't leave them covered.

So give and take. I'd like to sleep till 8, my birds would like to get up at 6, we've settled on 730. ;)
At 730 all heck breaks loose, now if I had a way to make it work bungs darker I might sneak in an extra half hour. And I feel ya, that scream in the morning is no fun.
 

noodles123

Well-known member
Jul 11, 2018
8,145
472
Parrots
Umbrella Cockatoo- 15? years old..I think?
Don't try to cover the cage with a heaver fabric that isn't breathable FYI--- A comforter or something could smother your bird, so do buy or make a black-out cover with breathable fabric.
 

Birdman666

Well-known member
Sep 18, 2013
9,904
258
San Antonio, TX
Parrots
Presently have six Greenwing Macaw (17 yo), Red Fronted Macaw (12 yo), Red Lored Amazon (17 y.o.), Lilac Crowned Amazon (about 43 y.o.) and a Congo African Grey (11 y.o.)
Panama Amazon (1 Y.O.)
Cover the cage when you put the bird to bed. Should solve the problem. Uncover in the morning.
 
OP
K

katiediane317

New member
Apr 17, 2020
3
0
Illinois Western Suburbs
Parrots
Pineapple Green Cheek Conure
  • Thread Starter
  • Thread starter
  • #13
Wow I never thought of just waking myself up earlier to feed her before she gets upset and then going back to sleep. That's something I will have to try. Thank you!
 
OP
K

katiediane317

New member
Apr 17, 2020
3
0
Illinois Western Suburbs
Parrots
Pineapple Green Cheek Conure
  • Thread Starter
  • Thread starter
  • #14
Thank you all for these replies!

Sorry I am still learning the how to post here so I think I'm doing an overall reply right now.

I have tried the blackout sheets and it FREAKS her out so I'd rather not go down that road.

I would love to have her sleep in a separate room that would be quiet at night for her but it's me and a roommate in a small two-bedroom apartment. Life will get better when I get a house and can put her in an office for sleep time ��.

I think after looking at everyone's suggestions this is a matter of me meeting my birb halfway and trying to have her maybe stay up a LITTLE later at night and have me wake up earlier so she still gets her 10 hours but isn't put too far off her routine. And if it gets hard for me to do this I think I'm going to try what a few suggested with waking up solely to uncover her and feed her and then letting myself go back to bed. She's really not noisy at all when she's just hanging out.

And can I just say WOW this forum is AMAZING and people on here are so helpful and supportive. Thank you all so much!
 

Jen5200

Well-known member
Mar 27, 2017
1,874
Media
23
Albums
2
249
Washington State
Parrots
Baby - Sun Conure;
Tango - GCC;
Bindi - Sun Conure;
Stanley - Pineapple GCC;
Screamer “Scree� - Cockatiel;
Tee - Pineapple GCC; Jimmy - Cockatiel
Let us know how it goes! Everyone here is always learning from each other :).
 

noodles123

Well-known member
Jul 11, 2018
8,145
472
Parrots
Umbrella Cockatoo- 15? years old..I think?
I can affirm that life is MUCH easier in a house--- I was in a 1br for a bit and while I didn't have a roommate, it did make things more difficult when boyfriend came over etc-- because bird went to bed early etc. Generally, I have to wake up early for work, so I never sleep in anyway, but there is something to be said about having a house.
 

Most Reactions

Top