Nick, would you move this to behaviors section for me? Sorry, did see the new sections when i posted. Thanks!
Discouraging loud behaviors??
So I am about to move into an apartment with roommates, and so I have been much more aware lately of the noise level my birds create, because while the roommates said the birds are fine, none of them seem to particularly be bird people, so I am thinking they may be more sensitive then me to the the noise.
For the most part both Wednesday and Zoot are pretty quiet, Wednesday, like a lot of female cockatiels, hardly makes any noise most of the time. However, she tends to want human attention whenever she can get it (the opposite of zoot, who just wants attention from Wednesday) and sometimes she will call out repeatedly until i pay attention to her. once she is on my shoulder she is silent again. I am wondering if by going to her each time she is calling out i am reinforcing this behavior, so now she thinks "if i get really loud hannah will play with me!". However, at the same time I don't want to ignor her to teach her a lesson, because that seems like it could be really hurtful.
I want to keep her trust in me, but also find the best way to deal with this, so i can assure my roommates that she won't bother anyone too much.
The apartment doesn't have super thin walls, so i am assuming it wouldn't bother people too much anyway, but i really want to make sure i am responding in the right way reguardless. Also, zoot has recently started mimicing her calls, only he's not looking for my attention when he does that, so i don't even know what to do about it! I am fine with their level of noise in general. Compared to probably almost any other type of parrots they are so low key and quiet, but when wednesday gets noisey, and then zoot is mimicing her noisy attention seeking call... i don't know what to do!
thanks for any advice guys!
P.S. Wednesday gets quiet when you handle her or take her to a dark room, but i might not always be home to do this. at a time that she may be bothering a roommate, any advice on the best thing to tell them (cover the cage/just go talk to her through the cage bars for a bit/ignor it?)
I don't want her to feel neglected, but i also don't want to teacher that being loud is good...
For the most part both Wednesday and Zoot are pretty quiet, Wednesday, like a lot of female cockatiels, hardly makes any noise most of the time. However, she tends to want human attention whenever she can get it (the opposite of zoot, who just wants attention from Wednesday) and sometimes she will call out repeatedly until i pay attention to her. once she is on my shoulder she is silent again. I am wondering if by going to her each time she is calling out i am reinforcing this behavior, so now she thinks "if i get really loud hannah will play with me!". However, at the same time I don't want to ignor her to teach her a lesson, because that seems like it could be really hurtful.
I want to keep her trust in me, but also find the best way to deal with this, so i can assure my roommates that she won't bother anyone too much.
The apartment doesn't have super thin walls, so i am assuming it wouldn't bother people too much anyway, but i really want to make sure i am responding in the right way reguardless. Also, zoot has recently started mimicing her calls, only he's not looking for my attention when he does that, so i don't even know what to do about it! I am fine with their level of noise in general. Compared to probably almost any other type of parrots they are so low key and quiet, but when wednesday gets noisey, and then zoot is mimicing her noisy attention seeking call... i don't know what to do!
thanks for any advice guys!
P.S. Wednesday gets quiet when you handle her or take her to a dark room, but i might not always be home to do this. at a time that she may be bothering a roommate, any advice on the best thing to tell them (cover the cage/just go talk to her through the cage bars for a bit/ignor it?)
I don't want her to feel neglected, but i also don't want to teacher that being loud is good...
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My birds know they need to be quiet to come out the cage. When I come home from work, they're allowed to make a fuss and call for about ten minutes, since they're obviously happy to see me and glad I'm home, but after that they have to be quiet and I won't let them out until they are. If they kept calling, I would turn my back to them, and only turn around again when they were quiet. It only took a little while for them to get used to this, and now they quiet down by themselves quite quickly and only need to be reminded occasionally. Later on, if I'm in the room and they want to come out, they'll cheep quietly once or twice, then be quiet in hopes they'll be allowed out - because they know only being quiet will get them out.
I think I will try what you do with your birds, they sound very well behaved! thanks for the response.
Here is one more question I have been trying to figure out and meaning to ask for advice on with Wednesday-
The last time i moved (only 2 months ago, I am temporarily living with my family after a break up) Wednesday didn't seem to do too well with the transistion. she seemed stressed, and her weight dove down to 71 grams, which was terrifying. luckily after a while she gained back the weight, and seems to be doing fine now, but i don't want this next move to be as stressful to her. Anyone have advice on how to minimize the stress for her? I am moving to an apartment in the same town, only about a 10 minute car ride, so that allready makes it easier (the last move was a 3 hour ride) any suggestions to help her settle in with out stress? :confused2:
Here is one more question I have been trying to figure out and meaning to ask for advice on with Wednesday-
The last time i moved (only 2 months ago, I am temporarily living with my family after a break up) Wednesday didn't seem to do too well with the transistion. she seemed stressed, and her weight dove down to 71 grams, which was terrifying. luckily after a while she gained back the weight, and seems to be doing fine now, but i don't want this next move to be as stressful to her. Anyone have advice on how to minimize the stress for her? I am moving to an apartment in the same town, only about a 10 minute car ride, so that allready makes it easier (the last move was a 3 hour ride) any suggestions to help her settle in with out stress? :confused2:
This is what I do and it has really helped curb the loud calling. Notice I didn't say eliminate. I honestly don't believe you can completely eliminate calling. It is the nature of birds.
Pick a couple of days when you have time to spend on this. The bird is calling...let her on your shoulder but for no more than 10 min. maximum. Put her back in. Leave the area for about 20 min. and come back and take her out again whether she is calling or not. Only let her stay on you for no more than 10 min. Try to do this all day for several days but lengthen the time between getting her but don't lengthen the time on your shoulder. Remember you get her out whether she is calling or not.
The point is to teach her that you will be coming back. She began to realize that she did not need to call to get my attention. But remember she is never out with you for more than 10 mins. Don't let her ride around on your shoulder for an hour at a time. 10 min. maximum. It worked for me. Maybe it will help you as well.
Pick a couple of days when you have time to spend on this. The bird is calling...let her on your shoulder but for no more than 10 min. maximum. Put her back in. Leave the area for about 20 min. and come back and take her out again whether she is calling or not. Only let her stay on you for no more than 10 min. Try to do this all day for several days but lengthen the time between getting her but don't lengthen the time on your shoulder. Remember you get her out whether she is calling or not.
The point is to teach her that you will be coming back. She began to realize that she did not need to call to get my attention. But remember she is never out with you for more than 10 mins. Don't let her ride around on your shoulder for an hour at a time. 10 min. maximum. It worked for me. Maybe it will help you as well.
Perfect idea Nancy! I love it!
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