Hahns Vocalizations

[KrazyFarm]

A month ago, I took in an abandoned Hahns. He is about two years old, and has been bounced through at least 3 other homes prior to coming to live with me.

He has some fear based aggression issues, and is terrified of hands and sudden movements. He was terribly "cage aggressive", and would bite anyone and anything if given the chance. He did quite a bit of damage to a co-worker's hand, among other things, and would give no warning signs prior to biting.

He's come a long way in the last two months: He at a seed-only diet when he first came to me, and has since been switched over to a high quality pellet, mash, and fresh food diet. He's come to trust me enough to let me scritch his face and head while perched on my hand, though he won't allow anyone else anywhere near him, and he's finally playing with toys.

The problem I'm now facing is what seems to be excessive vocalization. Being that I have very little hands-on experience with this particular species, I'm basing this entirely on what I've been told by others.

I expect all birds to vocalize a bit first thing in the morning, just before bed, and here and there throughout the day, but he makes a high-pitched whiney/crying sound for hours on end throughout the day - he does it while he's eating, he does it while he's preening, he does it while he's playing with a toy; in the cage, out of the cage, and on the play stands. He does it when I'm prepping meals, when the dogs are out, when I'm out of sight and sometimes when I'm in his field of vision. He does it more when my significant other is in the room and I am not, but still does it even when my SO isn't there. He doesn't do it constantly, but it's pretty close to it. The only time he doesn't do it is when he's talking to me, the dogs, or the other bird, or when he's playing in a towel or blanket, in which case he's babbling to himself.

Now, I'm not so much concerned about how to stop this behavior if it is, indeed, excessive vocalization. I'm more concerned with whether or not it actually is excessive, and if it is, with why he's doing it. He is absolutely NOT reinforced for this behavior - we ignore him completely when he's doing it, as does our other bird and the other animals in the house. He will offer a whistle as a contact call if I whistle first, and since he does it whether I'm in the room or not, I don't think it's a contact call thing.

Is this normal for a Hahns, or is this just something he's learned to do to amuse himself?

[Vikki]

Hahn's are very vocal birds. I have two. Pickle is 15 and Ecko is 25. Hahn's in general are very high strung, have unlimited energy and huge Napolean complexes. They are also known to have unbreakable bonding, which may be the reason behind his vocalizations. Our Pickle belongs to my partner Bryan, who has had him since he was weened, so most of his 15 years. They have a very solid connection and very few people aside from Bryan can hold or touch him without him attacking.

Considering that your little guy has been passed around so much in his short life, he most likely has separation anxiety and fear running through him. He most certainly bonded with his last several humans and now you come along and he probably doesn't know who to trust or bond with. Since you have worked with him the most, he sounds as if he is trusting you but still wary that you may one day leave him like his other owners. Hahn's are very jealous birds as well and whether you are in their line of sight or not, if they know you are near they will call you to make sure you aren't cheating on them and will want to know what you are doing and why you aren't with them, giving them attention.

Try changing up his toys and give him interesting items to preoccupy his mind. Our Hahns love boxes and in fact Pickle is very protective of his (which we closed completely and just made a hole big enough for him to go in and out of. Its his own little safe haven. We put some tissue and paper in the box and he made it his own little dwelling and sometimes goes there to sleep. We used to call it the "bitch box" because when he was angry he would stomp inside and start babbling loudly and we could only imagine he was complaining about his stupid humans. Hahn's also love bells. Get one thats a little bigger than his head and hang it from the side of the cage so he can stick his head inside. They love this and it will entertain him for hours.

But otherwise, you will have to deal. The only time ours are truly quiet are when they eat or when they sleep. But we love them anyway.

[Mr.Darcy]

I have a Hahns who is 9 month old. He is soo much fun but can be assertive!! He does not scream much at all but he does talk alot in the morning. He is alot like a dog in personality. The most important thing is to reward him when he is quiet. I put a stool by the cage in the beginning and would talk softly, if he was quiet, I let him out, he is fully flighted so it is a huge reward to get out to fly. Sometimes I use the clicker training to reward quiet times or nice sounds or words. And sometimes we all scream with him cause he needs to do it!!

Good luck,
They are awesome little/big birds!!

[Vikki]

First of all... your baby Hahns is SOOOOO cute! What a little peanut!

Yes, Hahns do have their quiet times, in fact, when things are quiet in the house, they tend to just preen or play and amuse themselves. At night, after the lights go out, anytime I pass Pickles cage, he will talk to me, but in a whisper. That's something that Bryan taught him, so it can be done.