Cockatiel screaming if he's not out of his cage

[worriedcockatielowner]

We got him a month ago, and he has his screaming sessions once in a while, but this thing has become like a routine for him. He screams in the morning, wanting to be let out and I do let him out to fly a bit around the house but sometimes I can't just do that. There is a cleaning lady in the fridays and I have lessons all week around. It's distracting me from my lessons. I've tried adding toys and it does work!... for 15 minutes. Is there a way that I can stop this behaviour?

 

[worriedcockatielowner]

And I made sure to make his cage as enjoyable as possible! He just wants to get out

 

[noodles123]

What do you do when he screams? It's possible that he learned that this behavior works in terms of getting attention (even though it's normal for birds to scream to other birds). It is instinctual for them to flock-call etc, but it may take him time to figure out that screaming to get out doesn't work...then again, he may or may not be screaming for attention.


At the same time, birds can scream when upset etc. How long is he out daily and how large is his cage? Does he know how to play with toys? He needs to be out everyday for a few hours at least...You need to teach him to play with toys if you haven't.


Get some silicone earplugs (Macke's brand works well) and try to make sure no one gives your bird any attention (including entering the room or talking to the bird) once the screaming has started. Also, make sure he is getting plenty of time out of the cage and that the toys you placed inside aren't scary (you shouldn't just plop new ones in without allowing them to adjust--if they seem nervous).


You also haven't had your bird very long at all....you need to make sure you are building trust and not frightening your bird. He could be screaming out of fear/anxiety, but it's hard to say without knowing more about your relationship and how you respond to the screams when they occur.



It's also natural for them to scream in the morning and evening....it's what they do in the wild...but you should try your best not to reward it by showing up when he does it etc.




On a semi-related note, have you taken him to an avian vet?

 

[worriedcockatielowner]

He is out of his cage atleast 5 hours a day. He hasn't shown any signs of illness thankfully. Although we haven't had him for long, he is quite attached to me. When I'm out of the room he flies to me and doesn't like to be on other people. We are working on getting him used to other people. He only screams once he wants to get out of his cage. I don't think that it's because of stress (hopefully) I usually try my best to ignore his screams, I used to cover his cage to let him know that it's not good to scream, but it doesn't work recently. And no, I haven't taken him to an avien vet yet. I just hope that he can understand that he can't be outside all the time.

 

[noodles123]

It could just be a learning curve. Don't cover him when he screams-- just wait it out and don't come back until he is quiet for a set period of time. Start low if it's really bad--- e.g., quiet for ten seconds....After screaming starts, wait for a break in the screams and start to count to 10 in your head (1 Mississippi, 2 Mississippi, 3 and so on) If your bird screams at all, the count starts over. Once you get to 10 and he hasn't screamed at all for that full 10 seconds, go in and praise him for getting quiet--- let him out etc. You don't want the screaming to be associated with any attention from you or let him think that by screaming, he gets let out (that is why the 10 seconds matters).



If you KNOW when he is about to scream, you can either let him out before he actually starts screaming, or try giving him a treat or something before the screaming starts (can't scream and eat at the same time).


It is possible that he is calling for you. Does he also scream if he is out of his cage but cannot see you? If so, same rules apply (excluding situations in which his safety would be compromised).


He will eventually figure out that screaming doesn't work to get your attention-- he's still going to do it some, but if you are consistent and wait him out every time, he's going to do it less over time. That having been said, it will likely get worse before it gets better, so make sure everyone knows that when he is screaming for attention/to get out that no one look at him/talk to him etc. Something as small as eye-contact is a form of attention and you don't want that.



Another thing you can do is practice leaving the room and returning JUST before the screaming starts, and praise for being quiet.


After a scream and ignore session, pick a key would to say about the behavior you like- e.g., thanks for getting quiet (said in a quiet voice yourself).



If he is screaming for you, another thing that can help is if you talk to him when you are out of the room (BEFORE the screaming starts--once it starts, ignore until you have 10 s of quiet).


If 10 seems impossible, you could try a shorter interval of around 6, but I wouldn't go below that. Over time, you would increase the number of quiet seconds before you return...so week one, maybe you do 6s, then week 2 maybe you do 8s and so on...I would try 10 and just expect to put up with a lot of screaming initially because he's going to make the behavior bigger before he decides it isn't working.


Macke's earplugs work better than those silly Styrofoam ones...


Also- have you taught him to play with his toys? They often have to be taught.

 

[worriedcockatielowner]

Thank you for the advice! I try my best to make the seeds and pellets in his foraging toys as appearent as possible, and encourage him to play with other toys by giving him treats. Though his favourite toys are still my glasses and phonecase. Thanks again!