Screaming fest in the morning

[Evalin100]

I have been doing all of your suggestions with baby bird, and so far I've gotten him to around 4 hours of cage time. Hopefully next week we'll hit 6 (I feel so guilty about it).

I wanted to ask you guys about screaming in the morning. I wake up, go to the bathroom and then I get him out of his cage. At this point, all hell breaks loose. I don't mean one scream or two, I mean screaming like a crazy person-bird for 10 minutes non stop. I don't know what he wants. I mean, if he was in his cage, I'd understand he wants out, but once he's out...I thank my lucky stars the neighbors have kids to wake them up at this time.

I thought he wants food (though he always has food available in his cage), I thought he wanted attention, but he screams even when he's on me. I'm clueless.

Do your ekkies do that? is it normal? I try to ignore him, but my ears are bleeding.

 

[ChrisWink]

What is his diet like? One of the symptoms of not getting the nutrition they need an Eclectus will start screaming.

 

[Evalin100]

He only screams like that in the mornings. Rest of the day he'll either chatter to himself in his cage, or an occasional scream in response if I talk to him.

He eats a variety of veggies (peppers of all colors, kale, sprouts of various kinds, celery etc), fruits (apples, papaya, banana...) and some grains (organic groats - he loves these the most), nuts and seeds.

 

[chris-md]

What time in the morning are we talking? It's natural for most birds to make some form of racket in the morning as a means of connecting with the rest of the flock. Some talk, like my ekkie, others scream.
If it's just ten minutes, I'd say suck it up. Nothing you can do about it.

 

[Christinenc2000]

I was going to ask what time of the morning. I know I get up before Sun up and if I screw around BB's cage to much Oh well to bad so sad he is going to YELL. I can change bowls , fresh water after being up and around the kitchen after about 30 min but if I walk straight to that cage and open the door its like it freaks him out.

 

[plumsmum2005]

What time in the morning are we talking? It's natural for most birds to make some form of racket in the morning as a means of connecting with the rest of the flock. Some talk, like my ekkie, others scream.
If it's just ten minutes, I'd say suck it up. Nothing you can do about it.

Yes probably just happy to tell you he's alive and where is my breakfast btw LOL

 

[Uglow]

Is he getting 12 hours of sleep? if not he might just be cranky. Uglow screamed for the first few days but he's been pretty chill since then. Also, if you have a lot noise going on, TV, radio, coffee grinder...if the "house" is loud, Uglow will raise his voice just to get above it all.

 

[Evalin100]

It's usually around 7-8am. I can't help but walk next to his cage because I live in a studio apartment, but he doesn't start the screamapallooza until he's out. The it's all about waking the neighborhood.

I don't know how long he sleeps tbh. It's night and I make sure lights go out at around the same time every night, even if I don't go to sleep yet. So I can't see anything that goes on inside his cage, but he also naps during the day.

I don't mind sucking it for 10minutes, I was just wondering what the heck is up with that intensity, since he doesn't do it any other time (even when he's cranky from hunger it's much less crazy).

 

[Doublete]

Well... A lot of birds have their morning squawk fest. It's their
Welcome to morning!

So if it is only at that time... I think your bird is expressing how happy he is to be alive another day!

 

[Birdman666]

It's normal.

It's twice as normal for a baby eckie, who is (constantly) hungry.

 

[happy410]

Whew, I'm counting my blessings. Ours doesn't make a peep until I go to their cages. If I wake them at 6 or at 9. Even when they get out they don't scream. Our newest is a blue and gold 5 months old. He's pretty quiet, becoming such a love bug. Although the sound he makes when he stretches, you would think a human is in his cage.��

 

[Evalin100]

I might have spoken too soon. He's been screaming the whole day outside of his cage. Inside he's quiet, but once I take him outside, he just won't stop (and he wants out! it's not that I take him out by force).

 

[Anansi]

There's another possibility, here. Your guy is only 4 months old. Still rather young. Was he force weaned? The vocalizing you're talking about sounds like the calling of a baby ekkie looking for some formula.

Remember that in addition to the obvious hunger component, there is also a bit of a security and comfort component to formula feeding as well. If he wasn't quite properly weaned, it might explain some of the vocalizations. Add to that the new adjustments in terms of your attempts to gradually acclimate him to more cage time in anticipation of your return to work, and you may even have an explanation for today's increased sound off.

Don't feel bad or anything. Raising a parrot is a constant work in progress. Feces happens. We adjust. One possibility here is to try giving him a comfort feeding of a warm mash. Perhaps oatmeal? Warmed baby food? Or a warmed, natural fruit smoothie? Something along the relative thickness and consistency of formula to comfort him.

 

[Evalin100]

Who knows? The guy who I got him from turned out to be super dubious I had no experience, so I made a mistake I would have otherwise avoided (I can spot rogue dog breeders/puppy mills for example). But he's here and we'll make the best of it (good thing he didn't stay with that guy, he stuck him in rabbit cage).

Thing is, that only started the past 2 days. for almost a month he's been fine, he eats solid food without any issue. You still think I should try warm food? I can get oatmeal I think and make some mash for him.

Also, it seems he screams a lot more lately when we're interacting. He will "talk over me" all the time, sit on my shoulder and preen my hair and scream etc. And holy smokes, god forbid I dare take a shower. It's new, he wasn't like this until now.

Thanks for your support and help!

 

[Anansi]

You should try warm mush as a comfort supplement. Not as a replacement for his regular chop. I might not have been too clear on that distinction in my earlier post.

Also, he happens to be around that age where ekkies just get loud for no reason. If that's what he's going through, it should eventually pass. Mostly. As others have mentioned, some vocalization here and there is to be expected. All day? Not so much.

So yes, I'd suggest trying the warm mush between regular meals as a comfort feeding just in case it's a weaning issue. If it's the screaming phase thing, it should subside after a few weeks.

Sent from my SM-N900V using Tapatalk

 

[Evalin100]

Should I present the mush when he's screaming? or just as another meal with his regular food?
(the sheer volumes he screams at me, it's insane. I have to walk away because I can't take it).
I really hope it's just a phase. I don't mind the occasional scream, it's the frequency and volume that got totally nuts these past 2 days.

What makes it really frustrating is that he could be quiet or whistle to himself, but the second I look at him, talk to him - screams. I tried doing the regular things we like doing together, but he won't stop