24 Oct Trainer’s Corner: How to Stop Parrot Screaming: Real-Life Strategies for a Happier, Quieter Bird
This week in Trainer’s Corner, we’re diving into one of the most common challenges parrot owners face – screaming. It’s a problem that can quickly escalate into frustration for both the bird and their humans, leading to strained relationships and daily disruptions. Today’s focus is on a pionus parrot who is struggling with excessive vocalizations, and how his dedicated owner is working to reshape his behavior.
The Situation
Our client reached out with concerns about her pionus parrot’s frequent screaming. Despite trying various approaches, including working with avian behaviorists and her vet, the screaming persisted. She noticed that certain triggers, like the sound of dishware or her conversations with her partner, set off the behavior, but there were also times when the screaming seemed to come out of nowhere.
What made it even more challenging was that the parrot would often sit idle, showing little interest in toys or activities, and would only engage when food was involved.
The Challenges
1. Unpredictable Triggers – While some triggers, like dishware or human interaction, were identifiable, the parrot would also scream seemingly without cause.
2. Lack of Engagement – The parrot struggled to entertain himself, often sitting idle unless food was directly involved in his activities.
3. Ingrained Habits – Despite using positive reinforcement techniques, the parrot had learned to manipulate his environment by waiting for his humans to step in, rather than engaging with toys or foraging independently.
Our Approach
Hillary’s focus was to help the owner identify reinforcers and create a more engaging environment for the bird, while gradually reducing the screaming.
Building a Reinforcer Bucket
One of the key strategies Hillary suggested was to focus on building a “reinforcer bucket.” The idea is to shift the bird’s attention away from seeking interaction with its owner for comfort or food, and towards engaging with its environment in a more enriching way. The more skills and value the bird finds in other activities, the less likely it is to cue in to every little noise humans make and respond with screams.
How we started:
– Foraging Toys: The bird loved food but was resistant to toys that didn’t have visible rewards. Hillary suggested starting simple, like placing food on top of toys or in cupcake liners. As the bird becomes more comfortable, the food can gradually be hidden further, increasing the challenge. When we give our birds foraging, we often make it way too easy or way too hard and get discouraged. Learn how to shape your bird’s foraging skills!
– Shreddable Toys: Using softer woods or shreddable materials helped the parrot engage more, as he wasn’t as interested in harder objects.
– Variety of Reinforcers: It’s important to not rely solely on one reinforcer. While food was a primary motivator, introducing things like air-popped popcorn and softer wood for chewing gave the parrot more options for interaction.
Addressing the Screaming
Managing screaming is not just about eliminating it but redirecting the bird’s focus at key times.
– Structured Play and Feeding Times: Timing was crucial. To reduce screaming during difficult moments – like dinner or kitchen cleaning – Hillary recommended setting up foraging and play activities to coincide with these times. By focusing on an activity the parrot enjoyed, it would be less likely to scream for attention.
– Motivational Feeding: Instead of free-feeding pellets, spacing out meals slightly allowed the parrot to become more motivated during play and training sessions. This strategy helped keep the bird engaged and reinforced positive behaviors, especially during moments when the owner needed to focus on other tasks.
A Real-Life Example: A Secondary Space
One of the more surprising yet effective suggestions was the use of a separate play or sleep cage. For moments when the screaming became overwhelming, like during meals or important tasks, the bird could be placed in a separate space with white noise to muffle external sounds. This is not a punishment, but a strategic space for the bird to play in. This gave the owners a much-needed break without reinforcing the negative behavior.
The Progress So Far
By implementing these strategies, the owner has already started seeing positive changes. The parrot is becoming more engaged with his toys and foraging activities, and the screaming has decreased, particularly during their usual triggers like dishware sounds or conversations. It’s a work in progress, but the steps taken so far are creating a better balance for both the bird and the family.
Key Takeaways
1. Variety in Reinforcers: Go beyond food. Toys, foraging, and even controlled chaos (like a favorite object to throw) can serve as motivators.
2. Strategic Timing: Align the bird’s most engaging activities with your household’s busiest moments to prevent screaming.
3. Set Realistic Expectations: Reducing screaming takes time and requires a combination of managing the environment and reinforcing desirable behaviors.
Looking for More Solutions?
Screaming is one of the most common challenges in bird training, but it’s one that can be managed with the right approach. We recommend our Screaming Parrot Masterclass, which has helped many stop parrot screaming with a few simple changes. It’s available for purchase, or you can take the course inside the Avian Behavior Lab