I put a picture of her in my photo gallery for all to see - she's beautiful!

Welcome to RN 'hell! :(

Could you possibly tell me a bit more about Isis..... like how old is she, how long have you had her, and any changes in her behaviour or living arrangements that may have occurred, especially if you've had her more than 6 months.
I live with a Moustache parrot who is a screamer as well so I know what it's like to be screamed at all day! We are at present trying to change this behaviour......if not to totally cure, to at least cut down the screaming to a bearable time limit!

Debbi
NZ

Live with a conure (mine's a BCC) if you like screamers. Try ignoring her when she screams (ear plugs might help you). When she's been quiet for a while give her attention and treats. Sometimes when my conure won't stop screaming I get her to talk by saying her favorite words and phrases. When she answers me with words I give her lots of attention. This works most of the time, but not always.:-(

Isis just turned 3 on March 25. She lived in a Petstore for her first year and I've had her for 2 years now. She screamed in the Pet store too. She isn't screaming because something has changed - she's always screamed it's just that now it's louder. She's figured out that the louder she screams the more I can't just ignore her screaming. And like I said it's my voice that prompts the screaming. She wants to be with me 24/7 and of course that's not possible. I used to just deal with the screaming but now that it's gotten so loud that I can't anymore. And she doesn't seem to understand that she's getting treats or held for being quiet. When - on the rare occasion - she is quiet I'll reward her with treats or love but she screams again when I'm not making eye contact wih her. I can't have her with me if I'm not looking at her or she screams for me to look at her even if she's on my shoulder or on my hand or right beside me on the table - she demands eye contact at all times or she screams - and it's LOUD. HELP

Oh and Isis can't really talk - all she says is come on (sorrta) and makes kissy noises. She doesn't have a favorite phrase. She likes the wolf whistle and I've been trying to teach her a couple of words and the woody woodpecker whistle but she's not catching on.

Isis,

Welcome. Well your problem sounds all to familiar on both counts the screaming and the biting. I have a Lory. She prefers my husband, and would draw blood if I went anywhere close to her when she was near my husband. We have changed the way we deal with Lory ( now called LULU). My husband has all but removed himself from her daily activity and I have been the only one to handle her and feed her, play with her etc. I have gone quite a few days with out any blood. Havent actually counted but how many but it is actually working. Make sure that if he wants to handle Isis, that you are totally out of sight and sound for their time together. I think she is trying to protect you or maintain her pecking order when you are there. If you are not she feels she is in charge of your husband, he should be ok. But it is all trial and basis, but this has worked for me.

As for the screaming. She obviously wants your attention and because you give it to her ( hoping to quiet her) you are rewarding her for making all of the screaming sound. I happened to be home for one week sick so Lulu and I spent alot of time together and the moment she started up wtih her screaching, I covered her cage with a dark cloth so she could not see me at all, and only took it off when she calmed down. The moment she started up, she got covered up. I have repeated and repeated and it is becoming routine when we want her to quiet down at any point. Try that and be consistant. you have to remove yourself from her as punishment.

of course I learned all this from the wisdom of everyone here, so you have definatley come to the right place.

Just be consistant with both. I still remove my hands from lulu anytime my husband gets with in 3" of her, just in case.

Let me know how it is going!!!!!!!!

Ginger

Isis always bites my boyfiend - even if I'm not home - we both worked in the Petstore we bought her from and she even bit him there. We tried for him to be the only one to feed her and hold her etc. Of course he had to wear gloves. But she quit eating for him so I had to intervene for her healths sake. Fro day one she has demanded me. As for the covering the cage thing. I have tried that. She just figures that since she can't see me she'll scream louder. I've read books and info online and I'm so out of ideas. Most people say that covering the cage will calm her down - and it did when she was younger but she's caught on that I can't do much about her screaming and I think she really enjoys the sound of her own voice. When one of us gets up set and says "No" loudly or "quiet" loudly at her in our deep voice she just puts her hand over her mouth and laughs like I do. She thinks its funny! the important thing for us though isn't for her to stop biting my boyfriend it's more for her to stop screaming. We can deal with the fact that she only likes me - after all she is entitled to her opinion of him - lol

It sounds like she may be over opinionated!!!!! That is funny that she tries to quiet you down when you get loud. How long do you keep her covered?? It took Lulu a while to connect the fact that the screaming meant that she would be covered. She would still scream when she was covered for a bit and still does, but then she settles and after she has settled for a while I will uncover her. the moment she starts up .. i cover her up. It still takes her a few minutes... but it is working.

Usually lulu is very chattery and mumbling to herself..but today i put her smaller cage in the front window with the sun on her and she is sooooo quiet. she must really enjoy the sun!!!!!!

Isis

I understand your frustration. I had a neighbor in California that had an Amazon that loved to yell--alot.

Part of it is she has learned that screaming gets her attention. Raising your voice, be it to say No or Quite, is just you vocalizing back to her. Which is what she wants. Even if she doesn't speak well you can teach her to use softer sounds. Simply lower your own tone and volume to a very soft volume. Everytime she starts bringing her level down softly tell her that she is good. In time she should figure out that softer volume gets more attention than screaming. But you must be consistant.

You can use it in conjunction with covering her. When she is on you use the softer voice. When on or in her cage cover her. When you cover her don't talk to her--at all. If you continue to talk to her while covered she won't understand what you want. Once she does get quite, while covered, let her stay that way a min of 5 minutes. Also, when you remove the cover don't make a big fuss. Maybe just say good bird and leave it at that.

Also you might want to fix your schedule. By this I mean set aside a certian time(s) that you play with her. This is time when you can focus just on her. So say from 4pm to 5pm is you and her time--no boyfriend, no phone,ect. Then use the time to teach her tricks or talking, ect. If you are home alot then you can make several play sessions part of your day. You can make them 15-30 minutes long. Over time she'll figure out when it is her time and when she can't be with you.

This way she does get attention, but learns when. She should be able to count on it the same time everyday. You can even have your boyfriend set up his own playtime with her--that way she will have a set time for both of you. If you know that she naps at a certain time of day don't schedule anything but peace and quite for that time. Part of the screaming could be from being up when she needs a rest. Like a fussy baby that is tired but not wanting to be left out of what is going on.

I don't know if these tios will help you. They worked well on the Amazon. Good luck:)

Dana

That is really good advice. But when I cover her she can only go about 30 seconds before she starts to scream again. Its almost as if she counts. Do I have to wait for her to be quiet for 5 mins before I uncover her? Because if that is the case she may be covered for hours.

The scheduled time thing is a very good idea. But we both work shift work - does it have to be the same time everyday? one of us is usually home - she's seldom by herself. If I set it as 3-4 and I'm working can my boyfriend do it that day? or does he have to have his own schedule? And can it be 1-2 on weekdays and 6-7 on weekends? We have weird schedules but I want to make this work.

Hello,

Birds wake up "turned on" that is the normal feed/gregarious/visit with all the other birds time. They simmer down again around lunch for a little siesta, and fire back up at around 4-6 p.m. til dark for the evening get togethers.

Set a play time in the morning and stick with it, same in the evening. Then sometimes it helps to try something very different, put a radio next to her that plays cd's or a casette, and put on some soothing classical music or even one of those relaxing cd,s that plays ocean music and jungle bird calls in the background. If she doesn't like that try the oldies radio station etc.

Hang a large mirror on the outside of the cage so she can look at herself full length. And/or put a little screen T.V next to her and see which shows she gets quiet with, you may also put a MALE budgie next to her in a smaller cage, they make wonderful little budgie sounds and she may try to copy him and be so involved with him ( either trying to get to him to "KILL HIM" LOL or enjoy his company.

Too many toys hanging around can also bother a bird. Can she spread her wings out wide and flap them without hitting cage bars or toys? My ringnecks are in huge flight cages and they use every bit of the space. They are swift flyers, and love to be misted with a spray bottle.
All pets are different and you just have to keep trying new things to find the right combination for that bird. Ans last but not least try a homemade birdie hut...They usually won't go near it for 3 days to 2 weeks but eventually they usually love it. Don't give up the combination, it is there! Hope this helps.
Lorraine