How can I get my blue and gold macaw to stop screaming?

Question

I recentlly inherited her from family friends. They would punish her for it by spraying her in the face with a water bottle. I just can't imagine that could be the best thing. She is about 14yrs old and has been through some traumatic experiences such as having a toe bitten off by another macaw and having all her tail feathers ripped out at once in a car accident. She really likes me, but she has only been here for a few months and she doesn't trust me to handle her too much. She has a buddy, a goffin cockatoo and they have an aviary instead of a cage. Is there anything I can do to teach her how to be trained, since no one really worked with her?

Thanks in advance!

Answer 1

i don't know if this will work, but a bird trainer once told me to take the bird and hang it upside down.

so your holding his feet and the bird is upside down.

it worked. i felt bad doing it, but it worked, but it was a smaller parrot.

so call a veterinarian's office that deals with exotic birds for advice on that one.

Answer 2

First of all parrots scream a few times a day as part of their communication with their flock mates.  In the wild they are flying and foraging and sometimes long distances from each other so they need to be loud enough for their flock mates to hear them.

In captivity, it's unrealistic for humans to expect parrots not to behave normally.  HOWEVER, when the screaming is non-stop and she is doing this to get your attention you know that behavior has been reinforced and needs to be reversed.  

The screaming in this case was "rewarded" with a spray to the face, which is not only cruel, it's abusive and you've done a good thing taking her in.  As with any negative behavior though, the worst thing you can do is acknowledge it because it just reinforces it and the bird will continue to scream in an attempt to get your attention (for whatever reason).

Don't acknowledge any behavior you can't or don't want to deal with on a daily basis for years to come.  Don't approach her, don't cover her up, don't offer treats or anything else.  Instead wait for those times she is calm and quiet and those times where she is just jabbering without really screaming and reward her behavior THEN, telling her what a good girl she is and how well she behaves.  

If she starts screaming just walk away, treats in hand until she calms down again.

You really have to be persistent and attentive, especially given her age but you CAN reverse the negative behavior and replace it with more appropriate behaviors, you just have to be consistent so she gets the idea that screaming does not earn her your attention or treats or any other reward.  But again, don't try to erase her natural behaviors altogether, you'll end up with a bird with a broken spirit and that defeats the purpose of having them as part of your life.

Answer 3

Give her a lollipop...when she starts screaming.  It works.

Answer 4

Try putting a blanket over it... Especially it night. This lets it appear "NIGHT" to the bird and it will quiet down....  Buy special treats for the bird.  If you go to the pet store there is this string of seeds, can't remember the name, but it is kinda like a dried flower and it is tan.  Spend moments with her several times a day to gain her trust.  After awhile.... try bribing her with treats.... And after that... eventually she should trust you enough to let you hold her or put her on your shoulder... Give it time... She needs to learn to trust again after her traumatic experiences.. Don't rush her though.  It is just like with people.  If they back away, don't keep moving forward.  Back off.  Hope all goes well.

Answer 5

Usually when they scream like that it's because they want YOU out there with them paying attention to them or they want you to bring them fruits and veggies. My cockatoo does the same thing.  

Answer 6

BB's? Just kidding, good luck with that!

Answer 7

kind of old to train i guess give it treats

Answer 8

It's supposed to calm them down if you put a towel over the cage until it stops screaming.

Answer 9

JUST GIVE IT A MIST OF WATER

Answer 10

macaws scream, that's what they do, and it is deafening. even macaws that have been handled and coddled their entire life scream.

learn to live with it or find a new home for it.

Answer 11

put a blanket over its cage, or play music, soothing music

Answer 12

put a cage in the room.Sometimes they find it as a safeplace. Let it go in if it wants to...leave the door open

also, Parrots have a lot of nightmares, my Dad used to put it in the bathroom at night,He screamed a lot