Nanday Conure Training - HELP?

[Abomination]

Alright so for a few months I've had a Nanday Conure, he's very playful and very trusting, but he is VERY loud, and I've been reading many different articles and have been trying the "Bathroom Timeout" trick. Basically closing the toilet, setting him on his perch, shutting off the light whenever he squawks, He only does it when I or my friend walks out of the room, or if his dad walks past or he's alone in the room but hears us..

He's only about 10-11 months old, and very smart and outgoing, or was.

Basically I'm running out of options, I've been working for about 4-5 days on this trick and now he seems very resentful to me now, he won't want to step up, he won't talk at all anymore, and he doesn't seem to even want to bond with me anymore.

I love taking him for walks and I know he loves them, now it's the only time he just mumbles things (not fully talkative either). He doesn't seem to respond to "treats" as a reward for the most part.

I need some professional or at least experienced tips or something that might help a bit better, I was saving asking myself for last but i'm not finding anything that works now.

I'd appreciate if actual Nanday owners commented as well, it may be more assuring with first hand experience.

 

[Abomination]

Anyone's reply would be very helpful!

 

[GW.Joe]

Welcome to the forum, are there specific times or specific actions that make him loud?

What kind of "treats" are you using?

I'm sure somebody with more experience will be stopping by to comment on this soon!!

Joe

 

[Abomination]

Welcome to the forum, are there specific times or specific actions that make him loud?

What kind of "treats" are you using?

I'm sure somebody with more experience will be stopping by to comment on this soon!!

Joe

Yes, normally when I get up, he immediately assumes I'm going to leave the room. I give him MORE than enough attention, which there's a possibility that might be a reason. But I'm not 100% positive.

He's now adjusted to my friend as well which will scream to the same things, when we leave the room.

The treats I have I've tried many different things, one of my ex coworkers found these seed covered popcorn treats that he loves, i've tried the yogurt covered seeds, he's not very fond of those. I've read that Nandays are naturally loud, but i've also read that it's able to be tamed. (to an extent?)

 

[EnglishMuffin]

It's possible that being overly-coddling of him has made him unable to entertain himself, in which case you'll need to work on teaching him to play by himself. Does he play with his toys or do they remain untouched? Do you change them frequently? How many toys does he have available to him? How big is his cage? These are all important factors to consider. Nandays are loud conures, but excessive screaming is usually down to unhappiness in some way.

I'd also strongly suggest you knock off punishing him by locking him in a dark room. A) it's more than likely that he's not making the association between 'screaming' and 'scary dark room'. By the time you've returned to the room, got him, moved him into the bathroom, etc etc, his mind has already moved on from 'scream because daddy left' to 'daddy is here!'. What you're doing is associating your return with him being punished. Which is probably why he's acting out towards you B) if a noise or something freaks him out and he panics and takes flight trying to find you he could seriously injure himself.

Punishment generally doesn't work well with these birds. Instead focus on rewarding him when he behaves appropriately. Think about when you're training: you reward when he starts to copy what you're doing. Once he realizes lifting his foot when you say 'wave' results in a treat he'll do it every time.

When my conure was screaming, I got around it by working with her quietly. I'd hold her close and whisper quietly. When she started mumbling back quietly, I'd tell her she was a good girl and reward her. She learns that quiet chirps and whistles and beeps get her attention. Screams go ignored and unrewarded.

You can also focus on rewarding one particular noise, like a wolf whistle, which can act as a contact call. When you leave the room he'll whistle instead of screaming, you whistle back. That acts as a reward and keeps down the irritating scream.

You have to accept, though, that he's a bird and he's going to scream sometimes. You just have to identify 'noisy play time' so that he knows when it's appropriate. When it's daytime, no one is trying to sleep or work, you can play some music and sing and let him shout and get his energy out that way. And sometimes, he's just going to scream because that's what they do. But working on rewarding the softer noises will curb the uncontrolled screaming and redirect it into a more acceptable noise!

 

[Chelle]

I have 2 Sun Conures which are loud as well. I have been working on getting them to "whisper". When they start screaming I whisper to them after a while they are starting to catch on. However, It's not perfect yet. I am assuming it will never be perfect. After all they are like toddlers...

 

[witchbaby]

Why you can't punish a parrot

If the noise is only an issue when you leave the room, that's a contact call. That's not something I would discourage. This is how parrots in the wild communicate with their flock. He's basically saying "Hey, where are you? Are you okay?" You should try answering him. Tell him "It's okay, ____. I'm over here." Or you can whistle back to him. If you reassure him that you're okay and you'll be right back, there's a good chance he won't feel the need to keep screaming.

 

[Abomination]

I really appreciate all the tips!

Witchbaby; if I were to respond back I feel as if he just gets louder and more repetitive so I normally don't respond, I understand what you do mean though, if he hears activity outside the room, he gets interested and also will squawk more. I am trying to work with him now to at least learn a different call that isn't something unbarable, haha.

 

[witchbaby]

I really appreciate all the tips!

Witchbaby; if I were to respond back I feel as if he just gets louder and more repetitive so I normally don't respond, I understand what you do mean though, if he hears activity outside the room, he gets interested and also will squawk more. I am trying to work with him now to at least learn a different call that isn't something unbarable, haha.

Is it possible to include him in the activity going on in the other room? Maybe change the location of his cage or provide a playstand in the other room? Parrots love to be where the action is. You're his flock after all. It makes sense that he wants to be with you.

 

[Abomination]

I really appreciate all the tips!

Witchbaby; if I were to respond back I feel as if he just gets louder and more repetitive so I normally don't respond, I understand what you do mean though, if he hears activity outside the room, he gets interested and also will squawk more. I am trying to work with him now to at least learn a different call that isn't something unbarable, haha.

Is it possible to include him in the activity going on in the other room? Maybe change the location of his cage or provide a playstand in the other room? Parrots love to be where the action is. You're his flock after all. It makes sense that he wants to be with you.

Understandable. I'm usually not gone for long if I am out there. He squawks immediately. Even if I'm in the room and my friends dad opens the door from outside, and that being said, would that contradict the post as far as "over-coddling" him? I'm hoping to find the exact reason for it, it may clear up how to fix things. Hopefully.

 

[GW.Joe]

if I were to respond back I feel as if he just gets louder and more repetitive

Yes, that can happen and responding back may not always be a solution
But WitchBaby does make a good point "Maybe change the location of his cage"

Where is his cage?


Joe

 

[Abomination]

The location isn't very changeable due to the fact that I'm staying with my friend since I got out of the hospital. Its in 'our' room. And as we speak he's squawking because my friends dad came home, my friend left to talk to him I closed the door, and Now he can hear them, but he keeps doing it, there's gotta be a specific reason.

 

[Chelle]

The specific reason is that your friends dad came home. Plain and simple there is no other reason. Our birds do that too and until they are "greeted" they will continue to call.

 

[Abomination]

The specific reason is that your friends dad came home. Plain and simple there is no other reason. Our birds do that too and until they are "greeted" they will continue to call.

It makes sense but this isn't only when he comes home, its if I run to the fridge to get a soda, or go to the bathroom. Same with my friend since were usually in the same room I assume he's quite acquainted with him.

 

[GW.Joe]

The specific reason is that your friends dad came home. Plain and simple there is no other reason. Our birds do that too and until they are "greeted" they will continue to call.

It makes sense but this isn't only when he comes home, its if I run to the fridge to get a soda, or go to the bathroom. Same with my friend since were usually in the same room I assume he's quite acquainted with him.

would that contradict the post as far as "over-coddling" him?

Well the thing is, if you can't keep the bird in the "central" location (where the action is as WitchBaby said) maybe you can't fix the problem as well right now and keeping the bird on your shoulder would calm him

Just a thought but maybe the bird is not "comfortable" where you are living yet, how long have you been there with him?

 

[witchbaby]

It sounds like normal bird behavior. My conure is flighted and will follow me around the house. She doesn't have to worry about being left behind. My cockatiel, on the other hand, has clipped wings and if I leave the room for any reason, he'll call for me. You could take him with you when you leave the room or if someone new enters the house you could take him out to greet the person.

 

[Abomination]

Good news on the other hand! I've been intensively working with him to begin bonding with me again after the whole "bathroom trick". He's even beginning to say a couple more sounds/words as well as clearer!

Also he's gotten used to the "hold upside down" trick I've been vigorously working with him and he's enjoying it!

I think it's only fair to post him as well.

His/her name is nox, I currently don't know the gender yet, I hope to soon. (the roman goddess of darkness; who has a black hood, with a leave gown which color pattern fits perfectly, I believe)

 

[GW.Joe]

Good news on the other hand! I've been intensively working with him to begin bonding with me again after the whole "bathroom trick". He's even beginning to say a couple more sounds/words as well as clearer!

Also he's gotten used to the "hold upside down" trick I've been vigorously working with him and he's enjoying it!

I think it's only fair to post him as well.

His/her name is nox, I currently don't know the gender yet, I hope to soon. (the roman goddess of darkness; who has a black hood, with a leave gown which color pattern fits perfectly, I believe)

Thank You So Much for sharin, GREAT Pic!! Awesome Name, Love it !!

Quick question, how long have you been living there with him?

 

[Abomination]

Good news on the other hand! I've been intensively working with him to begin bonding with me again after the whole "bathroom trick". He's even beginning to say a couple more sounds/words as well as clearer!

Also he's gotten used to the "hold upside down" trick I've been vigorously working with him and he's enjoying it!

I think it's only fair to post him as well.

His/her name is nox, I currently don't know the gender yet, I hope to soon. (the roman goddess of darkness; who has a black hood, with a leave gown which color pattern fits perfectly, I believe)

Thank You So Much for sharin, GREAT Pic!! Awesome Name, Love it !!

Quick question, how long have you been living there with him?

It has been close to around 2 weeks now since i've been out of the hospital, he's always been VERY good with adjusting (i've read nandays in particularly are.) So I should still give it some time to adjust, i guess expectations aren't the best for his position or even mine, but he's doing great as far as outside of the cage and with others as usual!

 

[witchbaby]

So cute! Nox is a fantastic name!