cockateil problem - we've suffered for twelve years

[vetmar41]

Smokey has been with us for all of his life, he is very friendly... and he loves us.
But we can't have his cage out for more than five minutes. everything sets him off, and he begins a high-pitched scream, which does not stop even when you are right in front of him talking to him. Then my kids, now teenagers, beg me to cover him and put him in my room. What kind of life is this for him, also???
There are days when I wonder why I am cleaning a cage for nothing, and I just want to give him up. But then I become guilty, because if anything should happen to him at the age of twelve, it will be my fault. I have friends who have cockateils right in their livingroom and almost never hear the bird scream. I'm jealous of them.
I long to have a bird who can STAY in our livingroom and be tolerable. Smokey whistles tunes, and comes to the side of the cage to greet us, and be petted. But it doesn't last long. When he hears the TV, or doorbell, or dog bark it starts, and it doesn't stop. I've spent a fortune over the years combining him with other bird companions, and he has never fought with any, but also never bonded to any of them.
He was a hand fed baby when I got him, and he's never been aggressive. It's not a matter of giving him more attention, because he can be right on your shoulder when he starts to scream.
I'm so tired of moving the cage back and forth between rooms, and wonder why I don't just give up after all these years...
I'm sure that it's hopeless, but any ideas?

[IceLore]

All 'teils scream to some extent, but it sounds like your fellow is just easily excited. Before I go giving you any advice, let me ask a few questions - How long has he been like this? Do the things that set him off when he is out of the cage set him off when he is inside? Does he just scream, or try to fly away as well? Also, when you let him out, do you leave his door open so he can come and go as he chooses? And if so, does he go back into his cage, or just sit on the top and scream?

Hopefully once I know a little bit more I can think of something to tell you. I know how it feels to have an animal that feels like a burden. You kinda feel like you're living up to your end of the pet/person bargen, but they aren't. :/ Hopefully, it will get better for you though.

[vetmar41]

THANKS for your response. He is not a bird who flies away at all..he wants to be with us, but he goes into this screaming thing even when we are holding him, and seems not to respond when you try to console him. It could be anything that catches his attention, even a radio.
Because of his age, and our attachment to him, I'll probably stick it out. But next time, I think I'll go for a quieter bird, if there is one!

Thanks again

[sassy3n8fan]

He cannot continue to be covered up and be left in the dark in a bedroom. This is where hundreds of thousands of birds end up because the owners cannot tolerate their screaming. Because birds are flock animals and social creatures, and are only alone when they are sick/injured/fixin to die, as this is what the bird thinks when he is locked up in the dark. The birds that are left in the dark in a bedroom away from the family they live with end up neurotic. This does not cure the screaming, it only adds other, worse problems. It leads to feather plucking and self mutilation. If you love you bird like you say you do, take him to an avian sanctuary where he can live out his days with other cockatiels and scream all he wants to. This way he won't be alone. If you want a bird that's quieter, get a finch or a canary.

[luvmybirds]

I agree, that is no life for a bird. Give him up. And, there are no quiet birds.

[IceLore]

Meep. Chill out you guys. She posted casue she is willing to try and help him, your fist response shouldn't be "give him up". Yes, there are no quiet birds, but eils in general are quiet, and only scream it there's a need.

I hop that if you guys ever have a problem with you animals, and ask people for help, that the responses you get are to give them up. Real nice. For all the owners who DO dump their animals instead of trying to fix them, I'm much happier that she loves her bird and is willing to try! She never said she keep his locked and covered all the time, but when he starts screaming. Have some compassion. Screaming birds get on everyones nerves...

So anyway...you only answered one of my questions, so I'll try as best I can to give you some ideas, but to be honest, if he's been this way that long, it will be a hard habit to break, but it can be done. It's no so much that it is hard o do, it just requires a LOT of paience! So don't worry, and remember, the most important thing tis to be consistent in whatever you choose to try. You may see results in a week, or a month, but just don't give up.

to you teil, you are his flock, so when something scares or startles him, or a sudden noise starts, he's screaming to let you know about it. I know you know, but HE doesn't, and is just doing his job as a "watch bird". lol I'm going to take a guess and say that the reason he doesn't respond to you once he gets going is that he's afraid that he's oin to get locked away, so he's trying to be more usufull by continuing to alert you of the noise. So it becomes a nasty cycle. He screams, you lock him up, and he screams more nixt time so you won't.

Unfortunately, you can argue logic with a bird, so you have to do i on his level. Hopefully you cover him at night (if not, sart doing it) at approx. the same time. tell him night night and all that stuff, give him a kiss or whatever, and cover him over, just like a feathery kid (that's in a cage. ^^). Seeing as you have kids, I'm assuming that you have some kind of daily rutine, so you should be uncovering him at approx the same time every day as well. The whole point if this is to start creating a patern for him, and it will make him feel more secure, and he hopefully won't fell the need to yell at you all the time.

Now, when it comes to him screaming, if he's out on the top of his cage, or in it, go get him! You need o let him know that you haer him, and are listening. If he won' stop, walk away from the cage, and keep talking to him. If he still won't stop, put him on your chest, one hand over his back to keep him sill (smudh him down a little, the point is for him to feel restrained a bit) and use the other hand to make a cup shape to cover his face. the idea isn't to smuther him, but to give him darkenss (like night) wich in bord talk means it's time to be quiet now. Not only that, you are pinning him to yourself, so it's differen then locking him up (seperation), but you are telling him tha it's ok. Just talk quietly to him. the first few times it may take up to 10 mintues of holding him (depending on how bad the screaming is), but it WILL taper off with time. When he calms down, carry him around with you for a bit on your shoulder (a bandanna on the arm helps for this part. lol).

Now, even if you are having dinner, you still have to go get him. Bring him back and hold him at the table if you want, it really doesn't matter, adn hen let him sit with you. It will make him feel more secure and more part of the flock, and then he shouldn' feel the need to scream.

I knwo this was long, but I tried not just to explain what to do, but why, so you can adapt it to his needs if you need to. It semms kinda easy, but it is time consuming. It will be well worth it though.

If you have any other questions, fell free to ask. :D I hope his works out for you. Bu if i doesn't, you'll have to answer the rest of my questions before I can give you another suggestion. lol Good luck!

[IceLore]

Blah, sorry for the multitude of typos, I just woke up. :p

[vetmar41]

I'm very grateful for your suggestions, and I will try everything possible...
PLEASE don't get the wrong idea about his being locked away in a dark room. We would never do that. It is a bright sunny room, and he has a parakeet with him. The cage cover does not block out the light much, and we are constantly in and out of the room. He has a mirror, and lots of toys. It's just away from the livingroom, and the screaming is easier to tolerate.
I'm not ready to give up yet. I'll try all of your suggestions...
Thanks again

[tweety bird]

sounds like you are doing the right thing. Keep up the great work you are doing for you bird.

[IceLore]

No problem. I really hop it works out for you. 'Teils are really sweet birds, but they can easily feel left out. When handled and trained properly, they are one of the best feathered companions, in my opinion.

[luvmybirds]

Icelore,
How many birds do you have and if any, what are they?

[IceLore]

I have 5 precious birdies. A quaker, two 'teils, a rescued budgie, and a severe macaw.

[Babyblue]

Just wanted to say that great advise IceLore. I'm new to birds and my tiel (thank goodness) only "calls" for a short awhile everyday, but it's good to get a glimpse into their thought process and what can be done to help them feel more secure and be part of the family.

I'm happy to see that the OP is asking for help and trying to do what's best for the bird. She obviously loved and cared for him for the past 12 years, which shows me dedication and commitment. I do hope things work out for you and you and your bird can come to some sort of happy agreement. Do let us know how things go, I would love to hear how IceLore's advise works for you.

[IceLore]

Good luck to you with your birdie. ^^ I hope he leads a long, relatively screamless life. lol

[LadyLynn]

Sorry, I have no idea when you posted this problem. I've been around kids and teens and my birds. My question is, "Why are you carting that poor bird's house back and fourth?

Don't you think you would start screaming big time if someone kept packing up and moving your house?


Frankly I know I would. Another question?
Why don't you place Smoky's cage where he can be with your family and not be moved all the time?

Also, Are you leaving him in his cage? If you are you need to start opening the door and let him be with you guys anywhere in the house except in places like the garage.

Another issue I'm having difficulty understanding is this: "Why are you allowing your kids- teens and younger to dictate where your bird gets to be? I know how it was with my own teen- I'll boss mom around and I don't care who I hurt in the process.

In order to completely teach your kids the proper handling of a parrot large or small you need to set the ground rules......one idea being- "Ok Jeff, you aren't at ball practice, you have a little homework from school, but you are going to help mom with Smokey.

Smokey stays in your living area, they learn to see why Smokey is screaming, what he wants, what his needs are instead of depositing him in a back room where he doesn't have to be seen or heard.

If you must move him between night and day, get him a sleeping cage so the cages are in both places. He'll be much happier about that.


Remember- by nature every bird has a wild instinct. If your children can't tolerate these birds now chances are when older if they want one they'll ditch it later.

Teach your children the importance of this precious bird. Tolerate his screaming, but also start watching to see why he might be. Some birds scream like that if you have not fed them enough. Lexi loved bananas, and after being fed his cranky little teil self was much easier to get along with.

Hope this isn't a shock, but your kids requesting he be closeted is a reflection on how they've seen mom and dad handle a great many problems and they see nothing wrong with it.

2 or three hours at most in sitting with Smokey and you is pretty good, and instead of you doing the work if he needs fed, guess what Jeff- prepare something Smokey likes. You need to be a part of his little birdy life.

Hope this helps.

Linda