Lonely Bird or Screamy Bird...

[farseeker]

So Squee has been making a lot of progress in terms of letting us show him attention, play with him, take him out of the cage etc (he'll pretty much let me remove him from the cage whenever now).

On the down side, his screaming has started again. =/ If he knows that I am home and *not* paying attention to him, he starts screaming and throwing himself around the cage. This includes if he's inside with us but my attention is elsewhere.

I hate how unhappy he was before when he just didn't want anything to do with us, but now that he *is* happy for the most part we're back to the screaming, which is again driving my housemates bonkers!

Any suggestions on what we can do to find a happy medium? I'm already ignoring him every time he starts the screaming, but it doesn't seem to be making a difference. >_<

[vankarhi]

do you have any playstands?? Maybe you could a few little playstand areas around so he can see you and be with you but not necessarily with or on you. Also try not to show him attention when he does this as it will only reinforce the behaviour.........easier said than done though sometimes.

Maybe throw a blanket over his cage when he is noisy then uncover him when he is quiet for a few mins........maybe??

[farseeker]

He doesn't have any playstands mostly because he's been known to take a few nasty falls off things trying to fly to me, even though he knows he can't. =/ I figured it'd be too dangerous for him.

The blanket idea I'm trying, but he starts up again as soon as he's uncovered if I'm visible or he can hear me moving around.

Right now as soon as he starts it all the doors are shut and no one goes near him until he's quiet. I've looked about and it seems the best way to train him out of it is to reward him for being quiet, but whenever I go out to do that as soon as I start to leave he starts it up again. >_<

[silvercloud]

Maybe make him a playstand which is lower to the ground.