Screeching -- Can it be stopped?

[helloyo53]

Well Finnigan has started to screech really loud. It doesn't bother me too much (unless it is prolonged) but he always seems to screech when y dads taking a nap or we're trying to watch TV and it kind of bugs them. Now is there any possible way to stop this, or is it just budgie behavior that can't be stopped. Thanks!!

[SpickyDavies]

calling for another bird!:)

[ozzie]

Distract him, drop a spoon or something, but don't pay attention to him when he does that, it shows him that if he is loud he gets attention, so just drop a somthing or rustle some papers till he calms down

[Robin's Nest]

Aah.... why is it they seem to do that when someone is napping or sleeping in on a weekend?:rolleyes:

As you point out, a certain amount of it is budgie behavior and comes with the territory. There are also some things you can do to diminish and curb some of it.

So, we can talk about some proactive things you can do. Often it is a variety of things that you will want to try, as the same 'trick' may not work every time. So it is best to get a whole bag of tricks, and then try several things when the behavior occurs.

Like a baby that cries - because it is hungry, tired, wants to be held, has a dirty diaper, etc., I find that most often a bird is loudly vocalizing because it perceives a need is unmet. It may want some of our time; it may need some food, maybe would like some music, or a change of environment. Bear in mind, there are birds that just enjoy hearing themselves (or so it seems) or are being 'set off' by something such as an outdoor bird, vacuum cleaner, time for bed when they 'call the flock to roost', etc. So I'll throw out some things, so you can start to develop your own bag of tricks:

1) A wet bird that is busy fixing and zipping its wet feathers usually does not have much time for loud vocalizations. If your bird enjoys a bath, or likes a bunch of veggies to bathe in, then dad's nap time becomes birdie's bath time. ;) Add a spray bottle to assist the bathing (if it does not scare your budgie), make sure his room is nice and warm, and then let him spend the rest of dad's nap time zipping his wet feathers and doing the usual preening activities that they do after bathing. It will be a win-win; dad gets a nap, and your bird enjoys a healthy bath.

2) If your bird does clicker or millet training, then dad's nap time is the time you want to do that training. You have the bird's attention; it is getting positively reinforced and rewarded for the training session, it is learning and having fun, you are enjoying your time together, and again we have a win-win situation. Especially since once dad gets a nice, quiet nap that he deserves, he'll be a happy camper too. ;)

3) Sometimes turning on some soothing music is nice and calming, but I find that nature cd's usually get my birds going, so I avoid those if I don't want them to 'call back' to the birds on the cd. Sitting next to your birds cage, playing music, singing or reading to the bird will get him interested.

4) If there is a toy that your bird LOVES, I would let that toy be only for dad's nap time. Because the bird only sees it once a day or a few days a week, it will be new, unique, and even more interesting. A birdie playing with a toy it loves is less likely to be loudly vocalizing. But once nap time is over, the toy gets put back away. It is like having toys at grandma's house that the kids only get when they visit her. Those toys are then more special.

5) Sometimes a change of environment does wonders to stop screeching because it provides intellectual stimulation. (That change probably shouldn't be to the room where dad is napping!):laughing: If for nap time a bird is moved t a new room, and has a new window to look out or other things to see that are unusual and different, that sometimes can keep them just busy enough that it 'interrupts' their screeching behavior. The same can sometimes work for the adding of a new toy, rearranging of a cage, etc.

6) My last choice is to cover a noisy bird. The reason for this is that in behavioral terms, the application/addition of something (a cover) that reduces an undesirable behavior (screeching), is known as 'positive punishment'. This does not mean you are 'punishing' your bird in the sense we think of punishment, but just that this is how it is described in the science of behavior known as 'Applied Behavioral Analysis'. I'm not saying it might not work, but there are other ways, as described above, to work on modifying the behavior that are less intrusive.

Instead of thinking of it as how to make the bird 'screech less', I like to think of it as how to get the bird to play quietly. ;) So if you are working on one of the options above, and your bird is responding, we need to do plenty of positive reinforcement. YOU are probably a big positive in your bird's life. You are, most likely a reward. So your presence will be rewarding.

[aka.pody]

Robin, that was great.
I always figured it's just like a spoiled kid that wants attention. If not from people from another bird. My male usually does that when his girlfriend is ignoring him. Poor thing.
I just get them both together with a treat on top of the cage. Celery or lettuce usually does it.
Kids huh?

[Robin's Nest]

Robin, that was great.
I always figured it's just like a spoiled kid that wants attention. If not from people from another bird. My male usually does that when his girlfriend is ignoring him. Poor thing.
I just get them both together with a treat on top of the cage. Celery or lettuce usually does it.
Kids huh?

Exactly! You are re-directing their behavior into something you find acceptable, and then rewarding them for the behavior you desire! ;) It must be the natural mother coming out in you! :D

[helloyo53]

You know what, I've decided that I will not try to stop this. Two reasons: I don't mind it, and dad makes the squawking noise, and Finnigan will think it is Kay to do it. So actually it's my dad's fault. He's the one that teaches Finnigan bad habits, so he can deal with the consequences. I know, kind of evil, but his fault!! Muahahahaha!!

[aka.pody]

Exactly! You are re-directing their behavior into something you find acceptable, and then rewarding them for the behavior you desire! ;) It must be the natural mother coming out in you! :D

You crack me up. :giggle: