lady Scarlett has "moments." Usually she screams when startled or when she thinks she is being deprived - today I left w/ Lord Grayson in his carrying cage. I heard her in the drive way. Don't know how long it lasted. A month or so ago, she started what might have hormonal activity - holding on to a bar, balancing on her tail, not holding on w/ claws. That has stopped (knock on wood). I stdiusuly ignored the noise ans if she look ever so slightly like she might get in that posture, I tried distraction - talking loud and excited, giving her brazil nuts. I really don't know what made it stop. She also can get loud at supper (dusk or shortly after) I try to make sure she and Grayson have something special before we try to eat. Pasta, chicken, usually some form of our supper. Grayson used to eat at table, but I haven't found a way that works w/ 2.

Lady S screams when Arthur our foster Nanday Conure lets loose, if someone we don't know approaches the house. Haven't a clue how she can tell the difference between difernet feet and tires. She used to scream when my husband rode by on the lawn mower.

If my husband complains about parrot noise, I do my best imitation of an african grey squinty eye and he sees the light. lol

Ruth Fahrmeier
Maryland

WELL guess we know who wears the pants in that house. No but kidding aside. There are ways and we broke Bean of it. Running out of the room EVERY time he sqwuaks. We used a tennis ball as an atecedent. Every time he would scream the tennis ball went flying his way. Sounds mean but it was just in his general direction. This ucut it 85% and then we worked on it from there. Had it pretty much out and then his wings came in and he could fly to us.

He is screaming some now since we have the neurotic Moluccan screaming two hours every day. But this will change.

Grayson, right? And Grayson is still Ed's best bud, but also nice to me. Have no idea about that 2 week ostile time.

Ruth Fahrmeier
Maryland

Umm that works but it was pointed towards Chris and Ed - heh.

Anyway Chris with a Macaw I wouldn't worry about making him nervous and I would suggest one of those nerf guns that fires the foam darts. You need something to immediately break the pattern. You are at a disadvantage also in that you have a two year pattern already in place!

This type of thing is very hard to put into words. But you need to get Ed in on it too. Otherwise it could work out that you get O to not scream at you but when he knows Ed is there and you aren't he will scream at him.

I had Bean stopped in 3 months but he screamed at my wife for another year because it was too much for her to toss the tennis ball or walk out of the room. I mean this honestly she didn't want anything to do with the bird so she got the worst of it.

If a tennis ball does'nt work, a water pistol might.

Macaw's are very much like human 3 yr olds..... I know it sounds mean but the idea is too give them a bit of a shock to interupt the behaviour and then once you have their attention you say NO or NO Screaming in a firm voice.
I know it's negative reinforcement but it does work when nothing else seems to.

Water Pistol is almost a reward and some will consider it. Nerf gun would work better.

You are very right in interrupting the behavior. You hit it dead nuts. Screaming does actually work as you are grabbing the moment.

Bean knows No to the point I can calmly tell it to him across the room and he will stop picking his feet or at his feathers, etc. I did yell it when he was tearing into my leather in my truck - man you should have seen that reaction!

Negative works and then you can quickly get on to positive.

I don't think negative works so well with Too's and screaming tho!

Water sprayer works for Bebe (GSC).

Throwing things near him makes him scretch?


Murray NZ