Alexandrine screaming

[Dannynoscar]

Hi, i was wondering if i could get advice? Oscar is about 10-11 weeks old, we've had him a few weeks, and from the time he came home, whenever he can see me he would bob his head and squawk continuosly. As i was feeding him plenty and he would not take any kind of food from me, i assumed it was from wanting to be close to me, so i have endured the bursting ear drums and carried him around almost all day everyday. The thing is, not only has it not stopped, but he's now shrieking instead of just squawking and its worse! If im moving or speaking, he's screaming, and its getting unbearable! If i sit perfectly still, he MAY fall asleep on my hand, but otherwise he's screaming!! Ive started trying to put him in his cage when he really gets going, and go to bring him out when he's quiet again, but when he gets out he starts right back up again. He wont take any food from my hand, and doesnt seem interested in any of the fruit or nuts or seeds i offer anyway. Im perservering, but my eardrums are suffering, and im starting to wonder if im doing it right? I visited his brother and he doesnt do this, so im assuming i somehow started the behaviour, im just wondering if you had any thoughts?

[chadsnyder]

Wish I had some good advice. Was he with his brother before you got him? He may be screaming because he is waiting for a call back from his brother. What does he do if you talk to him or whistle when he screams? Do you notice it's worse when you walk out of the room?

[Dannynoscar]

He was with his brother and sister, we brought him home and our friend got his brother. It started out quiet, and i thought it was to be fed, but its getting worse and he just spits out his hand feeds after a spoon or 2. He's not trying to get me to put him down i dont think, cos when i do he either flys back to me or when i close his cage he tries to get out till i open it again, and then comes to straight to me. He hasnt bitten me at all, but does growl occassionally, and if i talk to him, make eye contact or move he screams louder and starts furiously bobbing his head. Im at a loss. He only does it at me, if im out of sight it stops. It really looks like a baby bird begging for a feed, but he runs back from the spoon and syringe after a mouthful, and if i force it he spits it out and starts getting cranky. How do i encourage him to do something more quiet if he's not interested in toys or food?

[liz]

Chad may be right. He may be trying to call his nest mates.

[Dannynoscar]

Well thats a little relief, i thought he was reeeally hungry and i wasnt feeding him right. Why is it only at me though? He looks straight at my face and does it, or if he's about to go to sleep and i make eye contact, he starts again. Lol. Sorry. I feel like i should squawk back, like he wants a chat, but i dont want to encourage it.

[liz]

If you have had him to the vet and he checked out okay I would chalk it up to emotional.

You have had him 2 weeks but he was with them for all his life before you.

Drawing at straws here - when he makes eye contact and screaches - try whispering to him. Sometimes they stop to listen.

[chadsnyder]

I like the whispering idea. The worst thing you can do right now is react in a way that solidifies a negative relationship. He probably is trying to figure out what happened to his flock and now your there and they aren't. Just be patient and collected with him and I think he will respond positively. My Parrotlet is very defensive with my wife and it's all because she reacted when he got territorial with her. Birds pick up on your body language and voice and even your facial expressions. It's frustrating sometimes but it's also what makes it rewarding.

[Dannynoscar]

Thanks guys, i think maybe ive encouraged it by talking to him when he did it in the beginning, so ive been trying to ignore and not respond in any way, do u think that would help or hurt the situation? Today i sat in a chair close to him with no eye contact until he stopped screaming, then stood and talked to him. When he started again i sat down, again no eye contact, until he stopped, and then stood and talked to him again. He starts again the minute i move, but i do think for the rest of the arv he was a smidge quieter.. Not sure if he really was or i was just feeling optimistic i'll keep at it, he really hasnt shown any signs of aggression or territorialism, he begs to be let out of his cage and practically jumps onto my arm, or will fly to the floor and come searching for me when im busy. I love him to bits, pity my ears dont agree!

[alexandrine]

I have the same problem with my 4 mpnths male alexandrine , he never stops calling me and only me hhe loves my daughter but he calls only me even when he is on mu shoulders , I used to put cotton in my ears to protect them , I wish somone find a solution for that to help me

[marie83]

Hate to say it but from what I've heard alexandrines are naturally loud birds, it may just be you wasn't expecting it to be as bad as your finding it.

Ignoring is the best thing I think as then there is no danger of accidently reinforcing the screams but I do have no experience with excessively noisy birds. i have heard of people using other methods with varying degrees of success though like whispering or replacing the noise by encouraging the bird to make better sounds.
Failing that get some earplugs lol.