Eclectus Parrot is a Screamer.......help!!!!?

Question

Our 10 yr. old male Eclectus parrot has taken up screaming to "warn" us of danger. He truly thinks he's a "watch bird." He does it when cars pull into the driveway (which he can see from his cage) or when certain people come into the house. He also screams when we eat in front of him and don't offer him any. He's gotten really big for his britches! Can we do anything (humane) to curb the screaming. It's really ear-shattering, and driving us all crazy.

Answer 1

I have two Macgillvrayi eclectus's one male and female little over one years old.  If Bennie (male) flys to the floor and because my dog is there - the girl Joy-zee will scream bloody murder. Interesting to understand actually what is going on and what triggers this behaviour.  It's love and attachement not instinct, reaction.  So, I address the problem and say Bennie's OK and leave Bennie on the floor for just 30 seconds longer after I check on him.  She stops screaming.

That's my situation yours is actually very clear, it's dominance!  You are not the leader of the pack, he is.  He has become a.) spoiled, demanding and b.) the protecter of the flock.  Being gentle and loving with a parrot should never be mixed up with spoiling them rotten LOL.

Take back your position in the home, play with him then abruptly stop.  Put him back in his cage for 5 min. - let'em scream it's a lesson being learned.  Pick him up when he stops for one minute.  Come home and when he screams for you wait till he stops for a couple minutes to let him know this behaviour will not get a reaction.  Him screamming and how you react means everything.  Keep doing this several times a day - let him know your in control and his screaming is not acceptable.  When it's feeding time; make pretend your eating from the bowl first - then hand feed him a little and share only if he behaves.

This obviously didn't happen over night so, may take a couple weeks to really get'em to stop.  Try when someone comes over have them feed him a snack or give him a snack whenever a car pulls into the driveway.  Let him think of good things instead of fear.

Good Luck!!

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Answer 2

my cockatiel did the same thing! What I did was put him in his cage and covered it all the way everytime he screamed. I kept him covered for about 15 min....after a while he related screaming with darkness which he did not enjoy and he stoped. He still will do it once in a great while but I ignore him but say "no" firmly and knows not to do it than he just spreds his wings instead lol. GoodLuck!