Returning to reading The Parrot wizards guide

[DanaandPod]

After all the diversion and then recently throwing myself into these forums on this site...I realize in part that i have actually been avoiding some necessary things i need to be doing. I forgot about some things and simply didn't get it the first time around. But, now that i have returned to this book...instead of purchasing some others that were recommended to me... and consulting others... I realize some things. I have to review further and go back to some of the skimmed areas... but in a nutshelll... all the while that i have been avoiding things or on here, on my parrot destroyed computer... etc.. while he roams around free (thinking this is good because everyone is saying that he should be out of his cage to be healthy which is only good i suppose if he has his own room... But, for me living in a small apartment... it meant that he was always on my floor crawling under chairs and squeeqing into small places and under tiny arches under book cases etc... and looking oh so adorable as i walk by and he zooms out and attacks me. the book reminded me that he is looking for nesting spots. and him being so hormonal right now... it is no wonder why. The other issue i had, and had the time recently again to be home... was that i developed a fear of leaving my home from everyone saying they cant be alone... well.. in a small apartment unless he has my full attention it turns into jealousy aggression non stop or bordeome attention getting. Well, i am not in a good position. i cannot up and move. i need to get creative. i am thinking this. first, go back to being more restrictive with his food especially for training. When he is out... plug off the potential nesting areas... and walk away from his mating dances...and spend more time training... maybe i can start to potty train him etc. instead of allowing so much free roam as i have. i think since i dont have the money to buy one that i will check out a local apple orchid and see if i can get branches and make a tree for him as well as an additional place that is off the floor to train him to go to. maybe a swing from my ceiling. lighting/full spectrum on solar cycle. But, lastly, i am going to also convert one of my closets into a study area for myself as an escape and out of sight from him and his cage... and will try to do my work in there while i make sure he has in cage time while i am doing this. and for now on i really need to be wearing shoes so it is less easy to react to his game of nipping my feet as i walk by. I really need to get back on all of this. LUckily i have remained very consistent over the months with regards to every single morning of doing a form of trick training. But , i am still left worrying while i am not home for a whole day on some days...about his anxiety and aloneness. I was told all over this site to get another parrot. But, they realized i am on a human schedule and not some ideal one. Someone please answer me if a cage of a couple budgies will help to entertain him besides new toys and music? or will it triggor something in him? will it make him jealous to see two together while he is alone? Lastly, when he screams at me for moving, washing dishes ...anything... how to curb that? And, when he screams when i come home as if to yell at me for leaving him... should i ignore him and his screaming... until he is quiet and then approach the cage and reward him with attention and hellos??????????????????????????????? thanks

[Wolf]

When I return home from being out my birds all scream to me, I do not come running, but I do answer them. This calling for me upon my return is a normal action on their part, but due to the sheer volume of them I have been working on getting them to whistle instead of screaming. It has helped a lot.
Even though I let my birds out for most of the time that I am home, I do not allow them to destroy everything, they are very smart and the come when I call them, they know the meaning of the word no and so forth this results in most of the time my being able to say Kiki, no, leave that alone" or "Kookooloo, go back to your house" with reasonably good results. not much different than me telling one of the cat no or telling the dogs to lay down. I don't do very much trick training, but I do teach them what they need to know to live with me without destroying everything, just like I teach my dogs and cats. Pod, would benefit with this type of training and it would also make your life easier. Learning these things are still the same as a trick to them but it helps you more because it gives you a measure of control over your life with them.

[DanaandPod]

I have been recently waiting till he is quiet before i let him out after coming home now..hoping his screaming will lessen. Unfortunately, he is learning new and newer ways to get attention... such as tossing certain nic nacs... standing on a picture frame... going behind my T.V. now where all the wires are.... And, its not like i don't give him a lot of attention when i'm home.

[Wolf]

Well, on the bright side of things, Pod is helping you to discover all of those places that he can get to ta a bird could get into trouble in, essentially telling you where you might need a little more bird proofing. Knowing these things can be helpful in the long run. On the flip side, he has probably known about all of the places for a long time, and is just testing to see what sort of reaction that he can get out of you. If he doesn't get the reaction that he is looking for then it will pass, just be patient.