Pionus screaming problem

[Maltee]

I'd like some help understanding my pionus' screaming problem.

I know this problem was created by me. When I first got the pionus a few months ago, I lived in an apartment, and I was afraid to just let her scream because I didn't want to disturb the neighbors and get complaints. So when she made noise that was too loud, I'd come and move her to another darker room where she would be quiet. I'm sure that rewarded the behavior since I came running whenever she started making loud noise.

She would primarily scream whenever I left the room, to get my attention and get me to come back. If she didn't scream when I was in another room, she'd at the very least make panicked squeaking sounds and dance back and forth.

I have now moved to a house where I can let her scream without worry of disturbing the neighbors, so I am trying to correct the problem. When she screams, I just ignore her. If she screams when I leave the room, I wait until she's quiet before I come back to her. This seemed to work for a little while. When I no longer came running back to her when she screamed, she seemed to get the message that it wouldn't work anymore. She no longer makes panicked squeaking sounds every time I leave either. It seemed like she was learning that screaming would not get my attention, and the behavior was starting to die down.

However, just lately, the screaming has gotten worse than ever. She only used to scream when I left the room. Now, she will just scream her head off when I am in the room, sitting on the couch watching TV, or eating dinner. I continue to ignore her, and she keeps screaming. Nothing in particular seems to set her off, like before. She will just randomly start up again. It's hard for me to tell if she's doing it for any particular reason (like to get attention). It is confusing to me because she never used to be this loud. Yes, she would scream to get my attention, but at other times she would be pretty quiet. Now she just screams during times when she would previously be quiet. She screams probably for at least 4 hours everyday. Can anyone explain this? Is there anything else I should do to correct the problem?

[sidech]

My Ekkie used to do something similar. His cage is in my office, and when I would be working on my computer, he would make this horribly loud scream. Of course, I was startled and my heart stopped everytime.

This amused him and very soon, every time I went in my office to work, he would happily scream his head off just to have fun. Solution ? I had to move my office somewhere else, because controlling my reaction wasn't possible, and neither was living with this noise.

Maybe yours is doing it to have fun seeing you react, or out of boredom. Is there a way you can move her in a place where she would still have interaction, but not see you as much ? Maybe let her out more ? Do you have a playfround for her of somewhere she can be left to enjoy freedom ?

[Pajarita]

Parrots are highly social animals made by Nature to have company 24/7. When they don't have it, they feel scared, confused and insecure so they scream for the person who provides the company and security. It's not bad behavior, it's not because they are spoiled or because they take advantage, it's something they need to feel safe and happy. Having a companion for them makes them feel better. People say "don't get a parrot for your parrot, get a parrot because you want another one' but, in reality, it's the kind thing to do so please consider getting another one.

In the meantime, keep the parrot to a solar schedule and get good quality full spectrum as well as a source of UVA/UVB light in the room where he is kept all day long (it reduces frustration), set STRICT schedules and routines and stick to them (their been able to predict what is going to happen when makes it easier for them to accept situations they don't like -like been alone) and make it a point to interact for, at least, four hours a day every day and always at the same time (best times are after they eat breakfast and before they eat dinner). Leave a radio on when you are not in the room.

[sidech]

She already has one parrot screaming all day ! I don't think she needs to get another one right now ! Not everyone wants more than one. There are solutions to this problem and having a second bird is not a very efficient one.

[Maltee]

Thanks for the suggestions and support.

Her cage is currently in the living room, where I spend most of the day (I'm a stay at home mom with a baby). There's not really a better place to move her. If I move her upstairs to a bedroom, she would barely see me during the day. I let her out on top of her cage to play, but she sits on top of the cage and just screams. Do you think it would help to buy a separate playground?

My husband actually wants to get another small bird, like a cockatiel, to keep her company. I'm really not sure about it. If it helped her not to feel lonely, that would be great. However, I'm afraid it could possibly make the problem worse. The cockatiel might just learn the screaming from the pionus, and then I'd have two screaming parrots instead of one.

I have set a schedule for her bedtime (I move her upstairs to a sleep cage). How do I keep to a solar schedule?

[Pajarita]

If she screams for company and you are not given her any at all, the screaming is not something you taught her, it's instinctual, parrots need company and that doesn't mean just seeing somebody from far away, they need to touch. A tiel will not 'learn' to scream but it will also not provide you bird with company as she seems to be very people-bonded. Please rehome her to a home where they will pay attention to her during the day. It's the kind thing to do.

[cml]

There is a simple way of dealing with screaming, and its ignoring the screaming and giving a HUGE and IMMEDIATE response to a sound that you like, like a whistle.

I am not kidding when I say that you have to RUN to your parrot, and then shower him with praise and even treats. Its very effective though. Took us less than 2 weeks to deal with Stitch's sceraming, and its decreased Leroy's with a huge margin!

[Eurycerus]

I was going to post my own thread asking for help regarding screaming but I'll just tag along here. My parrot has gotten slightly worse than even before in regards to screaming and it's stressing me out.

She'll scream nearly nonstop when I have to leave the house for work or whatever I'm doing. She does random angry screams when I fold laundry or get my clothes out in the morning. However, those I can tolerate, but I can't tolerate her nonstop screaming which is pissing off my roommate. I'm scared I'll be evicted and very few rentals allow parrots much less emotionally disturbed parrots that scream constantly. I feel like I need to quit my job to even try and tackle this problem because I just don't have the time to work on training her to stop screaming with the tactic of, wait for silence and then reward. The task seems so daunting because her screaming is engrained from previous owners. I'm terrified and don't even know where to start. I rarely if ever respond to her screams so I don't know why she still continues. It breaks my heart too. I give her foraging toys and rotate her toys and make her forage for all her pellets but it doesn't seem to do much. I'm so lost and frustrated and losing hope! Help!