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Conference 7.286::pet_birds

Title:Captive Breeding for Conservation--and FUN!
Notice:INTROS 6.X / FOR SALE 13.X / Buying a Bird 900.*
Moderator:VIDEO::PULSIFER
Created:Mon Oct 10 1988
Last Modified:Tue Jun 03 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:942
Total number of notes:6016

828.0. "HELP...BAD BIRD" by CSLALL::MDOYLE () Wed Oct 06 1993 21:44

    Hi,
        I am in desperate need of help in controlling the screaming of my 
    Jenday Conure...I have tried almost everything....It is getting way
    too much to handle over the past three months...I love my bird but I 
    have been in tears over this lately..I have been getting so angry that
    I honestly have to walk away in fear that I will grab him and
    accidentally grab him too hard or something..He has plenty of toys, a
    big cage, the cage is only closed when I go to work..he gets the best
    of foods and there is NO reason for this behavior problem.....He
    screams if I turn around, if I go to the bathroom, if I shower, cook,
    etc,.....What can I do??? I have seven other birds and he is the one 
    who starts them all.... I live in an apt. so I can only let him scream
    so long...I cover his cage and put him in the other room and he still
    screams for at least 45 minutes...and by then I have to hold do what it
    takes to keep him quiet out of respect for other tennants....Is there
    hope??? He is 1 year old plus a month or two...is it because he is
    maturing??? please help me........mary
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828.1JABBERING JENDAYABACUS::BOURGAULTThu Oct 07 1993 15:1041
    Mary,
    
    Conures in general are very LOUD birds.  Jendays, Nandays and Suns rank
    in the top as being the loudest unfortunately.  There are few
    exceptions.  Yours sounds like it is spoiled and wants your undivided
    attention.  I have a Moluccan Cockatoo that is very similar as far
    as noise and being dependent on me for her entertainment.
    
    My Cockatoo started to "run my life" her cage was located in the
    kitchen area (our house is a contemporary -open concept) so she
    was right in the middle of the busiest area.  She wasn't happy
    unless she was out of her cage and sitting on my shoulder.  She
    is a very large bird and it was awfully awkard doing things with
    her propped up there.  She would scream to come out the minute
    I got home.  And when she seemed content in her cage, she would
    scream if I so much as left the area for another room.  She had
    to have me in full view at all times.  I would have to wheel her
    cage into the dining room and close the door (thank God she would
    shut up when she was put in there).  It finally got too much for
    me and I read an article where it said that you have to put the
    bird on a schedule.  So I immediately put her into the bird room
    downstairs, and she now comes out for a couple of hours a night
    and I take her upstairs (on my shoulder of course).  She is fine
    and rarely makes any noise....unless I change her schedule.  Then
    it takes about 2-3 days to get her back on it.
    
    What I suggest you do is try to put your Jenday on a schedule. 
    First you should move him to another room where he can't see 
    you all of the time.  Then teach him by conditioning, that he
    can have you on Your terms.   I don't know how your apartment
    is situated or if you can do this.  I would probably put another
    bird in with him for company (one that is much quieter), so that
    he is not totally isolated.  Take him out the same time each
    day so that he gets used to "his time with you".  Perhaps someone
    else has some suggestions, but that's all that I can think of
    to help out, short of getting rid of him.  As I said, they are
    one of the noisiest birds!
    
    Best of Luck!!  Keep us posted
    
    Denise
828.2Don't Give Up!SPARKL::COMPTONThu Oct 07 1993 18:4934
    Hi Mary,
    
    I agree with Denise that jendays are among the noisiest conures!  Your
    bird is the right age to be going through a major molt, which can
    sometimes add to their aggravation level, which can result in extra
    screaming and general fussing about things that didn't used to bother
    them, then to *your* general aggravation level going up about the 
    increase in noise.  If you can handle the bird, see if there are a lot
    of pin feathers around the head, face, and neck, where the bird can't
    reach.  If you could combine the individually scheduled time with the
    bird and some 'preening' of the pin feathers, this sometimes will calm
    the bird down over a few days time.  Also, if your bird likes/will
    tolerate a spray bath or uses a floor bath in the cage, be sure he/she
    has the opportunity to do this often during the molting process.  Also
    increase the protein and vitamins and minerals in the diet during this
    time.  If any of this sounds useful and you need more information on
    any of the different suggestions, including molting diet, pls. let me
    know.  Denise is right on about the regularity of scheduling! 
    Establish a time period you can live with, even if it is only 15-20 
    minutes in the evening of direct contact, and/or sitting right next to
    the cage with the bird out on top or on a play pen while you read but
    don't hold the bird.....lots of possibilities depending on you and your
    bird.  Regularly scheduled time he/she can count on is the most
    important factor.  If you have to skip a morning or evening or go away
    for a few days, give extra food treats and/or extra, new, different
    toys...something to distract from the fact that you are not available
    as usual.  Your bird still might revert to insecurity, as Denise
    described with her cockatoo.  My husband's blue front Amazon can be
    counted on to be nasty for at least two days after every business
    trip!!
    
    Good luck...and don't give up yet!
    
    Linda C.
828.3bad birdCSLALL::MDOYLEThu Oct 07 1993 22:1314
    Hi Linda,
               Thank you for the advice.......about the pinfeathers- he
    gets them all....bathes-he has one dish for drinking water and one for 
    baths which is a regular thing..as with all three conures....I have
    moved, changed shifts twice ....2nd -1st and 1st -2nd and in about a
    month back to first for good. I know it may be my fault too but I
    didn't realize they needed such a strict schedule....they were fine
    until I moved.....this place is identical in set-up as owned by the
    same people...only difference...much brighter....they are all in the 
    same room with me but they won't let me leave the room not even fro a 
    minute....I will try to set a schedule...I will do my best because I
    want my bird and I want him to grow up to be a good bird.....
    
    any other info is greatly appreciated......Mary
828.4Bird Talk? Let em sing!HERIAM::CARRIEMon Nov 22 1993 13:3118
    I have a Padagonian Conure and she too is a screamer...she would
    scream if the floor cracked when the dog walked by, when our alarm
    clock went off in the morning, or whenever we were not in the room with
    her.  Although she is in the room with three other birds, this did not
    seem to matter...she wanted human company only.  So, I tried something.
    
    I took my radio and set it up on the floor near her cage, put it on
    one of my favorite radio stations and she became passive!  She began
    to bob up and down and dance...her pupils dialated and she began to
    humm with the tunes!  I was amazed!!
    
    The radio has proven not only to be a de-screamer for us...it has
    also taught Paddy some new words/phrases from songs.  She is also
    the only one in the family that has taken a liking to Country and
    Opera music.
    
    /Carrie
    
828.5bad birdMTWASH::DOYLEWed Nov 24 1993 14:2710
    go figure, right? I have even tried that. My birds don't like the
    stereo on even if it is low and I listen to country and a semi-light
    rock...not as light as WSSH but not hard rock either....the only time
    they like it is if I am in the room with them and singing along....
    (they must be tone deaf) or the only person they chill out to is Cat
    Stevens.....my Jenday seems to be in remission of his tantrums at the
    present time but if it starts up again I'm not sure I will survive....
    
    
                                                     mary