Sun conure screaming and I don't know why

[Sabbath]

Trien to figure out why my sun yells so much, he seems quiet enough when he is in his cage and seems eager enough to come out of the cage as well but everytime I or anyone else try to hold him, he just constantly yells. I'm not sure why.

Any advice on how to find this out? It mostly just, you pick him up, he is happy, you put him down on your shoulder or chest or something then he begin to bob his head back and forth and occasionly (Normally like 5 second intervals) begins to make noise.

I'm thinking it attention but I don't know.

 

[Conurekidd]

He wants attention. My sun yells when I haven spent at least 2 hours with her. So she's always with me. After we hang out and cuddle a bit she's happy and content.

 

[lexx510]

Make sure you're not reinforcing the screaming in any way.

 

[merlinsmom13]

Maybe he relates you holding him to feeding??? Brush up on your handfeeding & see if you're meeting his needs.

 

[Conurekidd]

Make sure you're not reinforcing the screaming in any way.

With sun conures it's impossible. There loudest overall bird in the parrot kindom. Rating it through db, periods of day, how often, and how long There gonna scream and there gonna chew. If you don't give them attention. Trying to ignore the scream. It gets louder and more consistent. sunnys require the attention. With other birds. It's easier to not re enforce it.
Sun conures are DEFINITLY an advanced bird to care for. If you can't Handel the scream. You shoulda thought about that before the bird was bought.
My sun is notthe screamer. I give herthe attention and treats she deserves. But by all means. Never ever give treats to a sreaming bird.

 

[lexx510]

Make sure you're not reinforcing the screaming in any way.

With sun conures it's impossible. There loudest overall bird in the parrot kindom. Rating it through db, periods of day, how often, and how long There gonna scream and there gonna chew. If you don't give them attention. Trying to ignore the scream. It gets louder and more consistent. sunnys require the attention. With other birds. It's easier to not re enforce it.
Sun conures are DEFINITLY an advanced bird to care for. If you can't Handel the scream. You shoulda thought about that before the bird was bought.
My sun is notthe screamer. I give herthe attention and treats she deserves. But by all means. Never ever give treats to a sreaming bird.

As loud as they may be, they are no exception to basic behavior modification principles. You may not be able to STOP or PREVENT your bird from screaming (given its nature), but by reinforcing the behavior it will happen *more frequently*.

 

[Abzeez]

I agree, don't give in to the scream. It will only make it worse. Suns, Jendays, and Nandays are the loudest of the conures, from what I have seen and heard. I don't think they should ever be recommended to someone as a first parrot. People think they can handle the noise level, and then discover its louder than they thought.

 

[Amber]

I agree, don't give in to the scream. It will only make it worse. Suns, Jendays, and Nandays are the loudest of the conures, from what I have seen and heard. I don't think they should ever be recommended to someone as a first parrot. People think they can handle the noise level, and then discover its louder than they thought.

Agreed. Unfortunately Alex starts screaming as soon as he hears me preparing his formula (It's like him saying "FEED ME NOW") but other then that he's pretty good. He will scream if he sees someone at the door or if he gets overly excited (like the formula thing) but that's about it. He makes a good doorbell at least. Your always going to get screaming with these birds, but you don't want to encourage it by rewarding them for the behaviour.

Wouldn't trade him for the world, but boy is he loud!

 

[Conurekidd]

That's funny. Because I have a sun and by IGNORING her. It gets worse. They won't quiet down until you come. They won't. That's nature for you.
Sun conures are going to scream regaurdless of what you do.
There no quiet sun. There just is not. Jendays goldcaps and nandays are still diffrent. Suns are obnoxious and won't stop. If you want a sun conure your going to have to give it loads of attention and toys to keep entertained if you don't want them to scream.
Other that that they'll scream for YOU. What happens if you don't come. More screaming. Then what plucking. Then what mutilation. So if your gonna wait for her to quiet down before you praise attention good luck. Training is so much diffrent conures. Acually way diffrent. The only way to prevent screaming is by well not allowing to happen. Which puts us back at root one. ATTENTION. they require lots of it. Like a too.
My sun is not the screamer when I provide attention for more then 2 hours and purchase new toys every week.

 

[Abzeez]

Other that that they'll scream for YOU. What happens if you don't come. More screaming. Then what plucking. Then what mutilation. So if your gonna wait for her to quiet down before you praise attention good luck. Training is so much diffrent conures. Acually way diffrent. The only way to prevent screaming is by well not allowing to happen. Which puts us back at root one. ATTENTION. they require lots of it. Like a too.

Maybe this is true in your case, but not all cases are going to be this dramatic. I have a friend who has a sun. She only rewards good behavior. When he screams she quietly tells him he needs to hush if he wants attention. She waits until he stops and gives him a nut and tells him what a good boy he is for using his inside voice, and it works for the most part. Yes all suns will scream, its natural, but just like any other parrot, rewarding it and giving them attention while doing it only encourages. Your parrot is not going to start plucking because you try and teach him that screaming is not the way to get your attention. Right now he's being handfed, and just excited over the food. Thats natural.

 

[darkling]

I've said it before and I'll say it again.

Pi does not scream.

I expected a lot of noise from her when I got her. I actually chose a Sun because I read that they were very vocal and very cuddly. I wanted a bird that would want lots of snuggles.

Pi does have A LOT of toys though. I spent several weeks before I got her getting her cage set up and getting her a variety of toys. Then after I got her, one of my friends from work surprised me with a gift card to go and get more fun stuff for Pi.

She'll screech a few times when I first wake up and come out to see her. If I'm gone and she hears me coming up the walk she'll screech a few times. To be honest, I expected/hoped for more noise from her than what I've seen/heard so far. I still love her though. She's my little doll-face.

Try more toys, Sabbath.

Pi especially loves those shredder kabob toys and anything with a bell. She loves destroying things more than Hannibal did.

 

[Conurekidd]

YES!! That's exactly what I do!!! I'm sorry let me re phrase myself.
Don't ignore the bird if he's screaming dramatically. Still show your case and quietly in a sad voice say "quiet your hurting me" point at your ears and then wait for him to quiet down. Once he quiets and starts grunting ( my Bella says "ow" her name and "my love")
Then you praise em for quiet Behaviour. They pick up fast. Its ruitien for us. She is no screamer either. Execpt morning but thats ok. All my birds are allowed to scream hoot and holler 2 times a day. Morning and evening. It's natural for that regarudless and who are we to deny them of a lil bit of instinct.
Remember though pi will grow to a very loud voice. I really do recommend teaching cretin grunts rather than hollering. IMO.

I'm sorry if I was texting in the direction of praising the scream. That's not what I ment
I apolagize guys .

 

[Sabbath]

He is getting quieter actually, just a matter of not spending enough time with him ^_^ As for toys, he just doesn't seem interested lol, I have quite a bit of toys actually, shown him all of them, no reaction yet.

 

[teencie]

Nemo hardly makes any noise at all, the only time she screams is when we first "reunite" in the morning when we get up, and if she can hear us talking in another room (how dare we ignore her lol) or if she hears me coming up the front steps. She also screams when she hears the beep from the buttons on the phone... But other than that she just keeps saying Kiss Kiss and asking for kisses, making her smoochy noise... Or ocaissionally she does the whistle I use to call the dogs... Lol oy...

Lots of interesting toys to shred/pick apart and lots of attention--- and I barely even know we have a bird most times, let alone one of the loudest birds possible lol!

Glad to hear you're making some progress

 

[BennyIsMyBird]

The conure screech is part of having a conure. As was said above, ignore the bad behavior and reward the good. Its not easy. My Jenday's (Benny) screech pierces my brain. I swear my brain pulses with every screech. After a few weeks of patience, Benny knows he won't get anywhere with his screeching. He still does a bit in the morning, and about 3pm, and whenever anyone shows up at the house. You will never get him to stop completely. Think of your baby as a 3 year old child. I don't know if you have children but if you do, think "MOM!!! MOM!!! MOM!!!" or "DAD!!! DAD!!! DAD!!!".