OH My God! What have I gotten myself into?

[Wicked-N-Erotic]

Our town was hit by a major flood last Wednesday night, in just the small little area that I live in six people have lost their homes and everything in them. I felt so bad for the people, and a bit guilty because the water stopped rising two houses before it got to mine, I've been trying to help them out as much as I can. I've given clothes, school supplies for the kids and things like that to the ones in need of it. I have no problem with doing any of that, I wish I could do more for more of them, BUT, for one of the families I took in their bird until they find a new place to live. I don't really know anything about birds and the blasted thing won't shut up. I've had it since Thursday and it has been pretty quiet, only a small chirp here and there. Today however, it's chirping away and driving me nuts. Even the dog has opted to stay outdoors away from it.

Anyone with bird knowledge know what I can do to make it quiet down? Is there maybe something wrong with it that is causing it to be so talkative today?

I have put a cover over the cage as I was told to do at night but it didn't help.

Wicked

 

[steelride]

hey hun!........i applaud you on taking in the bird.......im in florida and know how hard weather can be on people.

if the bird has been relatively quiet....and has started screaming loudly all of a sudden......maybe try chaging the location of its cage........make sure it has plenty of food........the cage is clean........you can also try hanging a key on a peice of thread in the cage were it can peck at it........like a toy..........this has worked for me........

wish you the best..........kisses

 

[Wicked-N-Erotic]

if the bird has been relatively quiet....and has started screaming loudly all of a sudden......maybe try chaging the location of its cage........make sure it has plenty of food........the cage is clean........you can also try hanging a key on a peice of thread in the cage were it can peck at it........like a toy..........this has worked for me

Steelride,
Thank you for the response, I have cleaned the cage, it has food and fresh water and a toy already hanging in the cage but actually moving the cage never occured to me. Will try that.

Do birds not do well with change? I had to throw away the water dispenser that was in it because it was cracked and I have just added a little bowl until I go get a new one. Could the change in where it is getting it's water from be upsetting the bird?

It is still drinking water just from a different container.


Wicked

 

[steelride]

could be wicked..........little things upset birds.very touchy creatures....but i think it will calm down after a bit.......good luck hun!

 

[Virtual_Burlesque]

Wicked-N-Erotic

You fail to say what kind of bird you have, and also whether it has always been a noisy bird, or whether the noise is a new manifestation.

Some breeds of bird are noisier than others, and some birds with unknowledgeable owners have been “trained” to be noisy — given attention whenever they became noisy, when they were being noisy because they wanted attention.

In any case, this article: Noisy Behaviour In Pet Birds from the Australian site: Petalia A World of Pets might be helpful.

 

[Wicked-N-Erotic]

You fail to say what kind of bird you have, and also whether it has always been a noisy bird, or whether the noise is a new manifestation

It is a Cockatiel, and as for usually being noisy I never gave it a thought to ask in the midst of the reason for taking her in. They did tell me she was friendly and that she liked to be out of her cage but she hasn't been very friendly to us since we took her in so I've kept her in the cage all the time. Maybe she's just pissed off and cursing at me for keeping her locked up.

thanks for the link I will give it a read.

Also,

I moved the cage and she seems to have quieted down for now anyway.

 

[steelride]

yes it is a cockatiel.........a white one......... have had it for about 3 years.........it does sometime like to screach or kinda go nuts but it always seems to be if something is bothering it or it is hungry.......

 

[Flight420]

I used to have birds (parrots, cockatiels, conures) but found co-habitating with creatures whos voices were designed to be heard through miles of rain forest too hard to deal with on a constant basis! LOL! That has been a while but I do know that birds are really bad with change... really, really (did I mention really) intolerant of it .. what might help is making sure that the cage is placed near a window so that it can look out.. also, having the cage placed high up will help it to feel less vulnerable and then there is always the old staple of placing a sheet over the cage (or blanket) but keeping them covered up 24/7 is not good either. Just try to remind yourself that it's only temporary.

I once took care of a friends African Gray Parrot while he vacationed in Europe. Prior to leaving, he had taught this bird
to say "You're a Faggot", " (my name)'s a Faggot".. he'd squawk loudly inbetween his animated insults! Well, this was just a riot until the 3rd day of incessant birdy insults .... and then there was the time that I was in the middle of having sex when the bird decides it's insult time! Talk about a boner-kill! LOL! I had this bird for two full weeks and don't think that I didn't teach that bird how to say a few things in retaliation!

Back to the original subject, one of the worst things you can do is to sequestor the bird in a back bedroom or anywhere that it will feel alone. The more uncomfortable they are, the louder they get. Good Luck to ya!