Annoying, Screaming Bird

blue integer

Hello HA.

My roommates own a bird. As a bit of background information, they are a dating couple. Both of my roommates are very nice people, I enjoy their company, and we all get along. In hindsight however, moving in with a couple wasn't a very good decision. Now, on with my problem...

I usually love animals, but this bird is occasional a screamer. Well, more than occasional. And we're not talking about beautiful singing, relaxing coos, or English language quips. It's an ear-piercing shrill that's usually repeated every two seconds.

Problem is, the bird formed an attachment with my roomate, so it screams uncontrollably whenever she exits the room. This is more of a problem when she leaves at 6:30 AM on the weekends. It ruins my ability to sleep in.

Keep in mind that they uncover the bird at this time, as it is covered throughout the night...they've said that the bird will scream regardless of whether the cover is on or not. I disagree with that, because everytime I've covered the bird, it has been quiet. I think they feel that covering the bird is inhumane, because they've told me not to do it anymore.

At any rate, I want to do something that solves my problem while respecting my roommate's wishes. Any suggestions that bird owners may have would be greatly appreciated, even if that advice simply involves ear plugs.

Thanks

Zombiemambo

My brother owns a bird, and it likes to screech when he leaves the room. I don't really know how to solve the problem, but covering the bird all of the time isn't healthy. Birds are extremely emotional animals, and they can die from stress. What kind of bird is it?

blue integer

Thanks for the reply. It's a cockatile.

Nova

It probably wants attention. Birds are very social animals and need a lot of time with others. How well do you get along with the bird? Is there any chance the bird could hang out with you while the couple are away? I mean, maybe get it something to perch on that's close to you so it can watch what you're doing and feel involved, that sort of thing.

I had a Hahn's macaw that was happy as a clam when she camped on my shoulder, even when I was gaming for hours on a PC and not really paying her any attention. She just liked being close by.

aesir

It'd be fine to keep the bird covered through the morning, till like 10 or so, but yea, don't keep the bird covered all day. That is kinda mean.

AOButtish

Go to Walgreens and get some blue rubber ear plugs made by Hearos. They're comfortable to wear when you're sleeping. I've done it many a night because of all of the damn piece of shit ghetto trash cars with booming stereos that drive by my house every 5 fucking minutes.

MuddBudd

To be honest I think the whole idea of keeping a bird as a pet, in a cage, is inhumane to begin with.

As for stopping the screaming, it might just be lonely. Maybe they could get another bird and a bigger cage. Or even try putting a fake bird of some kind near the cage, see if he makes friends with that. Or a mirror.

Raneados

I used to have a bird like this called screech

screech lived by himself for a while until we got Lucky, however before we got the other bird, he would SCREECH (thus his name)

A mirror fixed it, sometimes they just need something to interact with

joshuadewaal

Tell your roommates what you told us in the post and ask that on the weekends when you are sleeping in that they don't take the cover off the bird at 6:30 in the morning. Thats a VERY reasonable request.

As for them disagreeing with the cover keeping the bird quiet, just ask them to try it for a few days to prove to you it doesn't work.

If all else fails poison works wonders.

blue integer

MuddBudd wrote: »

To be honest I think the whole idea of keeping a bird as a pet, in a cage, is inhumane to begin with.

I totally agree. I don't blame the fella for making a racket. I'd be miserable too.

Thanks for the rest of the advice, thanks. Keep it coming.

joshuadewaal wrote:

Tell your roommates what you told us in the post and ask that on the weekends when you are sleeping in that they don't take the cover off the bird at 6:30 in the morning. Thats a VERY reasonable request.

As for them disagreeing with the cover keeping the bird quiet, just ask them to try it for a few days to prove to you it doesn't work.

Thanks for reassuring my rationality. I'll be sure to discuss it with them again.



By the way. At this very moment, I'm carrying the bird all over the apartment with me, so as to prevent the uncontrollable flurry of ear piercing screeches that will result if it loses sight of me for one second. It's ridiculous.

I'm probably going to move. I think I just solved my own problem.

redstormpopcorn

My sister had a cockatiel a while back, who would do nearly the same thing when nobody was in the same room as him. The shrieking mostly ceased after installing a cuttlefish bone, bath, and small mirror in his cage. Instead of yelling for attention whenever there were no people in the area, he'd just preen himself and make kissy-noises at the pretty bird that magically showed up. :V

blue integer

redstormpopcorn wrote: »

My sister had a cockatiel a while back, who would do nearly the same thing when nobody was in the same room as him. The shrieking mostly ceased after installing a cuttlefish bone, bath, and small mirror in his cage. Instead of yelling for attention whenever there were no people in the area, he'd just preen himself and make kissy-noises at the pretty bird that magically showed up. :V

Thanks for the advice. I'll suggest this to my roommates, or better yet, go buy a mirror to put in the page.