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Conference 7.286::pet_birds

Title:	Captive Breeding for Conservation--and FUN!
Notice:	INTROS 6.X / FOR SALE 13.X / Buying a Bird 900.*
Moderator:	VIDEO::PULSIFER

Created:	Mon Oct 10 1988
Last Modified:	Tue Jun 03 1997
Last Successful Update:	Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:	942
Total number of notes:	6016

679.0. "Loud Shrieking Tiel - Help!" by WMOIS::LECLAIR_S () Wed Apr 15 1992 17:48

    
    I have a tiel that's about a year and a few months old and he is cute
    and friendly and all but he does a lot of real loud shrieking,
    especially when we come home from work.  I know he's glad to see us
    but he keeps it up for a couple of hours and, frankly, it grinds on
    the nerves after awhile.  Other than covering his cage and/or putting
    him on my finger and talking softly or saying "no" firmly, I'm at a
    loss as to how to stop him doing this.  I've tried all of the above
    methods.  I hate to cover his cage but it seems to be the only thing
    that works and as soon as I take the cover off, he's at it again
    immediately.  Does anyone have any advice or is this just something
    I have to live with?  
    
    Susan

T.R	Title	User	Personal Name	Date	Lines
679.1		HYEND::C_DENOPOULOS	Dukakis in '92! :^)	`Wed Apr 15 1992 18:52`	5
	Well, I don't know which note you were supposed to be replying to, but I'd say leave a radio on while you're out. Or, get him a mate. Chris D.
679.2		WMOIS::LECLAIR_S		`Thu Apr 16 1992 12:03`	18
	I wasn't replying to any note. I started one of my own. Anyway, I have tried the radio. Someone told me that if I got him a mate that he would never learn to talk and would spend all his time with the mate and not with us and that it would be almost impossible to train him to do anything. Is this true or is it not? This is my first tiel and I don't know all the ins and outs yet even though I got a reliable book on tiels and talked to some other bird owners. This morning when we left for work, we left a tape recorder on just to see if he continues this while we're out. So if there are any other suggestions, I'd be real happy to hear them. Susan
679.3	A little friend wouldn't hurt.	CSOA1::DIRRMAN		`Thu Apr 16 1992 12:42`	12
	I haven't found them hard to train or work with if they have a mate OR another bird. If you have a female - you can get another female for company. OR get another type of bird. THey don't have to be in the same cage either. It sound as if your bird just misses you. Chances are you are paying attention (even though negative) while it is shrieking. (I would not suggest a conure!). My tiels are probibly the least noisy out of our bunch! Good Luck! Dora
679.4		HYEND::C_DENOPOULOS	Parking Lot Flyer!!	`Thu Apr 16 1992 13:16`	6
	I'm willing to bet you find that he does not keep it up all day. He's probably doing it for attention when he know you're there and not playing with him. Chris D.
679.5		WMOIS::LECLAIR_S		`Fri Apr 17 1992 13:11`	9
	Well this seems to be true about his not doing it when we're not home because yesterday, as an experiment, we left the tape recorder on and as soon as we left, he never uttered a peep. I guess that's the answer and we'll have to play with him more than we already do. Thanks for the replies. Susan
679.6		ELWOOD::CHRISTIE		`Fri Apr 17 1992 16:52`	11
	My sister had this problem with a 'tiel. She discovered it was a shrieker when she was home on maternity leave. The bird shrieked ALL DAY!!! no matter what she did. Marco got sold very quickly. Turns out the man who bought Marco also had to sell him because he couldn't stand the shrieking. I wish you luck. linda
679.7	Tiel Tantrums	ABACUS::BOURGAULT		`Tue Apr 21 1992 18:17`	14
	Are you sure that it is a Male? I find that my females tend to be the screechers rather than the males. But whatever it is, you can try one of two things. Either take him out when you first get home and let him sit on your shoulder while you do your chores or whatever, or get him/her a companion. If it is a female and you don't want babies, then you could get another female, or a male companion if it is a male. I have a pair of handfed males that have been together nearly 3 years and are both real loveable and get along great. Whatever you decide, Best of luck! Denise
679.8	Other friends for a 'tiel	USHS05::VASAK	Sugar Magnolia	`Fri Apr 24 1992 17:45`	35
	If you'd like to get your 'tiel a companion, but are concerned about him bonding to closely with another 'tiel, consider getting a different kind of bird as a companion. One of the truly delightful things about 'tiels is that they are gentle enough to keep with little softbills and finches. My handfed lutino 'tiel, Mimosa, has a tame diamond dove (a miniature ornamental dove, about 4" long) named Jimmy who is her best buddy and constant companion. Their only contention is for the special spot on the top of mom's head, where they try to push each other off :-) 'Tiels can be successfully kept with finches, such as zebras, cutthroats, stars, societies, java rice birds, etc., and also with canaries and small softbills such as pekin robins, provided everyone has adequate space. How's about a lovely gloster or red factor canary? Who knows? Maybe your 'tiel will even learn to sing from him! When my outdoor aviary is finished, Mimosa and Jimmy will be permanent live-in residents along with my African finches. Because of cockatiels' docile nature, the only other hookbills you should consider are ones that are MUCH smaller, and even then you can expect to see the little guy bully the 'tiel a bit. Budgies and parrotlets would be good choices - both are sufficiently smaller that the 'tiel would not likely be injured. My 'tiel gets some closely supervised playtime with my greycheek parakeet, but the greycheek is really pretty "nippy" and agressive towards her. In any case, if you choose to get another bird (or pair, if you should choose finches for his companions), be sure and quarantine it for 60 days or so prior to introducing them, and introduce them slowly, in separate cages at first. /Rita