11 year old eclectus screaming getting worse.

[c3honey84]

Hi all,

For those that don't know, Roxy is a female eclectus that I rescued when she was only 3 years old. We have been through a lot. Biting, screaming, toe-tapping, plucking, eggs, regurgitation. Everything an eclectus could possibly have, she has had!

It has been a long time since I have posted on here. I am looking for other suggestions on how to stop her screaming which is getting worse. I have done everything I can think of. I DO NOT and have never responded to her screams. I DO respond to any other noise. I feel like I have a toddler. I cannot leave the room to do laundry or use the bathroom or just to go get something from another room without her screaming for me. It doesn't matter if my husband is in the room right next to her. I try to wait it out in another room until I hear another sound from her, but sometimes that's impossible because she will scream for an hour or more! I tried giving her a treat anytime she talked instead of screamed, but she got wise to that and started talking non-stop expecting treats every time. Her screaming is especially difficult during this time because I cannot have web meetings or phone calls in my office without her screaming. I do bring her with me into the office sometimes, but I don't want to spoil her too much for when I go back to working during the day.

Because I know you will ask, I feed Roxy only fresh fruit and veggies, and supplement her with all natural organic no-vitamin or-color added pellets. She has a giant macaw sized cage and lots of toys.

Any suggestions appreciated!

 

[chris-md]

Welcome back!

Hormones, my friend. It’s hormones; it’s that time of year. This year has been Unbearably KILLER for most of us.

Cut the fruits. Sugar of any kind - even from fruits - can trigger or exacerbate hormones. It’s not really new news, but if you want to get an idea of just how much of a trigger they can be, look up the very recent eclectus thread Puberty is Official started by charmedbyanekkie. Her boy Cairo is going through puberty and hormones right now, and the effects of fruit on Cairo are frankly shocking.

I’m assuming you aren’t petting her in anyway?

Shift her diet to mostly grains, pulses/sprouts, and assorted vegetables. That can help things significantly if you are overfeeding fruits right now. Fruits can come back more mid summer once things have settled.

Also cut rice. Starch (it’s carbs, generally, not just sugars) can trigger hormones. Replace rice with diced cauliflower and broccoli.

The quarantine may not be helping things either. Some people are hypothesizing part of the reason we’re having issues is because we’re are all around a LOT more.

Keep a regular 12-14 hour sleep/wake schedule (this was crucial for my piece of mind Parker used to have 11pm bedtime, but with his acting up 9pm gave me 2-3 hours of needed peace).

And hold in there. I know you’ve been around the block with your girl over the last 11 years with hormones. You know this too will pass, I know you’re certainly in good company with the rest of us suffering as well. I personally, along with a couple amazon owners here, have seen continuous hormones since fall. Usually there’s a lull during winter, but not this time. I had maybe 2 weeks off if I was lucky before spring hormones kicked in.

 

[MonicaMc]

Does she forage at all?

Does she get any flight to help get rid of pent up energy?

 

[Jottlebot]

What happens if you call back to her when you're not in the room? Would she be quiet to listen for you?

 

[itzjbean]

Great advice already given!

-Cut out fruits and sugar.

Give her foraging activities to do on her own.

Flight recall can help shed excess energy. Even around the house or harness training her to be outside she may appreciate that fresh air. Or even bringing her outside in a travel carrier and letting her be outside with the fresh air (don't leave her unattended) and let her enjoy the sunshine.

 

[noodles123]

Does she have access to any dark or shadowy spaces in or around the cage?
IF you are petting her, head and neck only..

 

[c3honey84]

Does she forage at all?

Does she get any flight to help get rid of pent up energy?

She will forage a bit if I hide treats in things...but she is so damn smart it's hard to hide things! Lol After she finds the treat she gives up. I have even seen her feel for treats first with her beak and if she doesn't feel any she just ignores the toy.

As far as flying, her wings were never clipped but she does not ever try to fly. She will flap on the bottom of her cage and also on her tree stand sometimes, but doesn't take off. Sometimes I let her walk around the house instead (she's my only pet and I watch her carefully) to get some exercise. Most of the time she's a typical female eclectus. Kind of lazy and just likes to watch me all day.

 

[c3honey84]

Welcome back!

Hormones, my friend. It’s hormones; it’s that time of year. This year has been Unbearably KILLER for most of us.

Cut the fruits. Sugar of any kind - even from fruits - can trigger or exacerbate hormones. It’s not really new news, but if you want to get an idea of just how much of a trigger they can be, look up the very recent eclectus thread Puberty is Official started by charmedbyanekkie. Her boy Cairo is going through puberty and hormones right now, and the effects of fruit on Cairo are frankly shocking.

I’m assuming you aren’t petting her in anyway?

Shift her diet to mostly grains, pulses/sprouts, and assorted vegetables. That can help things significantly if you are overfeeding fruits right now. Fruits can come back more mid summer once things have settled.

Also cut rice. Starch (it’s carbs, generally, not just sugars) can trigger hormones. Replace rice with diced cauliflower and broccoli.

The quarantine may not be helping things either. Some people are hypothesizing part of the reason we’re having issues is because we’re are all around a LOT more.

Keep a regular 12-14 hour sleep/wake schedule (this was crucial for my piece of mind Parker used to have 11pm bedtime, but with his acting up 9pm gave me 2-3 hours of needed peace).

And hold in there. I know you’ve been around the block with your girl over the last 11 years with hormones. You know this too will pass, I know you’re certainly in good company with the rest of us suffering as well. I personally, along with a couple amazon owners here, have seen continuous hormones since fall. Usually there’s a lull during winter, but not this time. I had maybe 2 weeks off if I was lucky before spring hormones kicked in.

Very interesting about the fruits! I don't give Roxy carbs really ever, but she definitely gets fruit. I will try cutting down on that and see what happens.

On another note regarding hormones...I know that the rule is always to keep females off the bottom of the cage and have no hiding places. Roxy does have a plastic ball on the bottom of the cage that she loves to throw around and flap at it. I am not sure if this is a good thing or bad thing. She expends a lot of energy doing it, but also spends more time on the bottom of the cage. What are your thoughts?

 

[c3honey84]

Does she have access to any dark or shadowy spaces in or around the cage?
IF you are petting her, head and neck only..

No dark places at all, and I only pet her on the head. I have learned to be careful petting her anyway because she was a biter when I adopted her.

 

[c3honey84]

What happens if you call back to her when you're not in the room? Would she be quiet to listen for you?

Yes, she would, and then 5 minutes later will scream again. Her scream is definitely a "call" rather than a constant squawk. It's one loud ear piercing scream that she lets out, then waits 1-5 minutes, then does it again. I don't answer though because I don't want to reinforce it.

 

[c3honey84]

Great advice already given!

-Cut out fruits and sugar.

Give her foraging activities to do on her own.

Flight recall can help shed excess energy. Even around the house or harness training her to be outside she may appreciate that fresh air. Or even bringing her outside in a travel carrier and letting her be outside with the fresh air (don't leave her unattended) and let her enjoy the sunshine.

I wish I could bring her outside more often. I got her into a harness once or twice but she really hates it and will try to bite me when I put it on. I did bring her outside in her carrier once or twice. I will try to do that more often.

Do you have any suggestions on more difficult foraging activities? I hide treats in things but she finds the treat and then ignores the toy. Her favorite thing to do right now is flap her wings really hard at the bottom of the cage until the newspaper flies up enough for her to grab it and chew on it! Lol

 

[chris-md]

It’s just avoiding hiding spots. I’ve never heard bottom of the cage...doesn’t really make sense. The ball should be fine.

Do you have foraging toys? There are plenty of them out there. My boy likes the wheel and one other tower type. Both readily available on amazon. Also encourage shredding toys. A busy beak is a quiet beak.

Reiterating the training. Recall flight can be done indoors, and is fabulous for helping expend energy. Also do incompatible behaviors: can’t scream if she’s using her beak, So stuff like targeting is helpful distraction as well. Waving, spreading wrings. Any. Training to engage the mind is helpful too.