Screaming cockatoo

[nagelsan]

Unfortunally the previous owner of our white cockatoo has tought him to scream.
He screams for attention and when he sees food.
The food thing i can manage, by giving him something nice before i start preparing food during the day and when i prepare supper, i bring him to his cage before i start, giving him a treat.
Only the screaming for attention part is getting out of control.
During the day it's mostly allright, he plays a lot and i interact with him.
But when my husband gets home, he'll start screaming right a way for his attention.
But when he gets home, he can not always give him the attention right a way.
Even if he does, give him attention at first, our cockatoo will start again when he has stopped.
He really wants my husbands attention, but he has a lot on his mind and can't give him enough at the moment.
And he always comes home when i am ready for diner, so the cockatoo can't be downstairs at that moment.
We always get him down again after diner.
Ignoring him is not an option, because he will go on and on and on and my husband can't handle that right now.
Eventhough he loves him very much, he's getting tired of the screaming at this moment.
He doesn't mind petting him, but won't interact with him by training or something like that.
He's mostly very tired at night, working very hard during the day.

Who can give me advice about how to stop the cockatoo from screaming.
Maybe, if i find something that will work, i can try it during the day more and more and than try it at night also.
Right now the birds go to sleep very early, instead of being with us at night, and i don't like that, because they will see me as their owner more and more and not my husband, wich is'nt good.

So please, give me some good advice i can try out!
And thanks already!

[coolhady13]

first of all there is no problem about them seeing you more as there owner as your husband at work . i would you first start with clicker conditioning him so that he would know that the click is a good think . then go for target training ,just so that he doesnt understand that he gets treats for doing nothing . after you done with clicker conditioning and target training . the only way to stop making him screaming is ignoring him and when he finally stops ,click and give him a treat . even if it took him hours to stop screaming . just w8 until he stops .then click and give him a treat( work with him hard for a few days will solve the screaming problem ) also you said he screams for your husband attention . then when he stops screaming after you click and give him a treat. tell your husband to take him out of cage and play with him . you know , just to teach the bird that when he stops screaming he get your husband attention and that screaming would get him nothing . cockatoos are very very smart so he would learn fast. Good Luck .

[nagelsan]

Thanks very much for the advice.
I just bought a clicker and going to work on that.
I already learned him, that he stays in his cage most of the morning and then i will come and get him, but sometimes it's all different and i get him out on a strange time.
This way, he almost doesn't scream in his cage anymore!
Now it's just working on the screaming for attention when he is downstairs and learn him not to scream for food.
I already started this, get myself something to eat en when he is just behaving a bit busy, trying to get my attention, but on a nice way, without screaming, he'll get some.
If he screams, i ignore this.
But with the clicker and you're advice, i can teach him better, so thank you very much.

[coolhady13]

you are welcome , i really hope that the clicker thing works with you but there is 2 things you should i keep in mind , first i never had the screaming problem so i might be wrong , second you should read this 2 topics people here are talking about cockatoo screaming and feather plucking

viewtopic.php?f=12&t=6290

viewtopic.php?f=12&t=6340

[nagelsan]

I will read them right away
first i have to say, we know a cockatoo can start to scream easily and it's not simple to have them stop doing so.
We knew what we were getting ourselfs in to and we never ever want to loose him, because he is great, funny and extreamly friendly.
It's not even a big problem yet, but i want to avoided it becauming one and stop this right now, before it gets bigger.
Every bird (almost) has his screaming periods, like every dog will bark.
Luckily i know why, so i can do something about it.

thanks again, i will start reading now haha

[nagelsan]

the site mytoos.com, i already read a view times, and i know it can be true.
Thats why i asked for help now, and not when it would really be an issue.
I don't want him to get into a shelter or anything like that.
It has increased big time since he is staying with us, because his previous owners gave him attention all day long, and he would scream if he didn't got any.
i've learned him that he would only get some, when he hasn't been screaming, so i can keep him in his cage allmost all day if i want to.
must say, that i change his toys everyweek, and give them something special to make sure they enjoy thereselfs if needed.
I won't allow him to get bored.
i also keep looking for things for him to play with, like baby toys, witch he is crazy about.
They keep you busy, but i can still do my own things without my neighbours complaining at the door.