{"id":11128,"date":"2018-11-16T12:25:51","date_gmt":"2018-11-16T18:25:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/windycityparrot.com\/blog\/?p=11128"},"modified":"2018-11-16T12:25:51","modified_gmt":"2018-11-16T18:25:51","slug":"10-y-o-caique-we-adopted-in-june-seems-to-have-a-separation-anxiety-issue","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dev.windycityparrot.com\/?p=11128","title":{"rendered":"10 Y\/o Caique We Adopted in June Seems to Have a Separation Anxiety Issue"},"content":{"rendered":"

Lynn F writes<\/span><\/p>\n

I see you ride also, kinda thought so by your picture. <\/span><\/p>\n

Guess that’s profiling, lol. <\/span><\/p>\n

Thanks for your help. <\/span><\/p>\n

Are there any things you can steer me to that will help with hollering?<\/span><\/p>\n

I know birds holler, but a rehomed 10 y\/o caique we adopted in June seems to have a separation anxiety issue. <\/span><\/p>\n

He hollers for my husband, his chosen human if he knows he’s anywhere nearby, and for me if I leave the living room and he knows I’m nearby. <\/span><\/p>\n

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I’ll explain the details if you need them. <\/span><\/p>\n

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Mitch Rezman replied<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\"Mitch<\/a><\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

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One of the first things we advocate is to not tell the bird to “shut up” or “be quiet”. <\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

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You\u2019re now interacting with the bird.<\/span><\/p>\n

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The bird thinks “this is great” and whatever you just said “scream-scream-scream” is the response.<\/span><\/p>\n

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When a chosen mate leaves the room, use some sort of cue like “I’ll be back” reassuring your bird that you will come back soon and that he or she needn’t worry.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Putting your bird in a timeout situation like back in the cage is not something your bird is going to understand.<\/span><\/p>\n

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One of the things you can try is something we call “redirection”. <\/span><\/p>\n

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You’ll need to have a saucepan and wooden spoon stashed around the corner from a place your bird cannot see.<\/span><\/p>\n

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When the person (people) leaving the room turns the corner and is no longer visible, they will hear the bird scream.<\/span><\/p>\n

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At that point, they should grab the pot and wooden spoon to make a “bang bang bang” sound.<\/span><\/p>\n

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In most cases, the bird will be distracted and quiet momentarily. <\/span><\/p>\n

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This is where the person who made the noise goes into the room and praises the bird\u2019s momentary silence offering a high-value treat like a sunflower seed with no shell. <\/span><\/p>\n

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Please try that and let us know how it works<\/span><\/p>\n

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Lynn replied<\/span><\/p>\n

Ok, will do.\u00a0<\/span>We rarely react in an attention-getting way when they scream.\u00a0<\/span>We know they think, hey cool now we’re both screaming. <\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

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I do talk to him when I leave the room just like I was still in there when he quiets for a second. <\/span><\/p>\n

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I also tell them I’m right here, I didn’t go far, I’ll be right back.<\/span><\/p>\n

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I think part of the problem is that he can sometimes see my husband in the back and that’s when it gets bad. <\/span><\/p>\n

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Don’t want to close the drapes but might try something on the patio that distracts his view. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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How do you suggest I handle it when I leave the room, to do a chore, or whatever and no one else is there. <\/span><\/p>\n

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It’s only the 2 of us and the birds. <\/span><\/p>\n

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Will doing the 3 bangs on a pot, then reward the quiet work or create a monster wanting a treat?<\/span><\/p>\n

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One thing I’ve noticed is that when it’s treat time, usually an almond, they all must have one so it worries me the others might scream to get a treat also.<\/span><\/p>\n

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