Most of us including myself, regard our parrots as our kids. Like any other kids, they sometimes get nasty and cranky at times and many resorted to punishments to stop the unwanted or negative behaviors immediately.

Are these punishments accepted in parrot training? Are they really that effective?

I’ve identified some common punishments adopted my majority of owners (including myself in the past) whenever the parrots misbehaved:

1. Jail the parrot into a cage with no toys and isolate him whenever he/she misbehave.
2. Squirt water on his/her face.
3. Whenever the parrot misbehave (like biting your finger) while perching on your hand, giving him/her a strong firm shake also known as earthquake to stop the negative behavior.
4. Yelling back at the parrot.
5. Throwing things at the parrot.

Some owners might see effectiveness in the beginning but in actual fact it’s not going to help in the long run. Why is it so? Punishment is a form of negative reinforcement, and taking note that negative reinforcement is never recommended in parrot training.

No one likes to be punished, including ourselves we never like to be punished by others. Not only it may affect us physically, but the damage done emotionally can be difficult to remedy then after. Emotional damage are usually permanent, especially parrots are highly intelligent animals they can clear remember the negative punishment conducted on them, thus affecting the parrot and owner’s bond and relationship.

Below are some possible consequences of using punishment in the long run are:

1. Negative behavior can be accidentally reinforced.
2. Biting problems and aggressiveness.
3. Damage the bonding and the relationship between the parrot and the owner.
4. The parrot can become more fearful and less confident.

I hated myself in punishing Kermit and Kiki in the past, the negative behaviors did stop immediately, but I also felt that they were afraid of me and avoiding me after the punishment. It’s not a fantastic experience, and they totally ignore and avoiding me for the whole day, and I had to end up rebuilding the trust all over again the next day. From then I’ve stopped all negative punishment and tried using other positive method instead. Why putting the bond and the relationship at risk?

Many will asked if punishments are not accepted, what other method can be used to stop the negative behavior?

Simply ignore it or using distraction. These are two best methods to help reshaping and eliminating the negative behavior, but of course it requires sometime and consistency in executing these methods whenever a negative behavior arises.

So when to use them and at which situation? Well it’s definitely important to know which to use and at which situation. I’m not expecting you to ignore your parrot and endure the pain when he tries to bite or is biting you, that could be the silliest way that I doubt anyone will do. For example if the scenario is when your parrot tried to bite you when perching on your hand, try using the distraction method. Distract the your parrot with his/her favorite little toy (e.g. Little Bell, Balls, Chewable Wooden Toys). I will recommend a bell toys cause the sound catch his attention. Offer the toy to him or her whenever he/she tries to bite or even chewing at furnitures that he/she not suppose to. That’s one way you can stop the behavior positively. As for unwanted vocalization like screaming, ignoring it (not giving any eye contact) will be advisable. By doing so you will not accidentally reinforce the screaming problem.

These are some ways to help managing negative behavior positively in some situation. Always access the problem and try identify the possible cause of the problem before executing these methods.

Personally I’ve one great book to recommend for reading. I ever mentioned this book on my earlier post, but I guess it will be great to recommend the book again:

The Parrot Problem Solver by Barbara Heidenreich

Many behavior problems start to float out when young parrots in the developmental stage start to mature. It’s the greatest fear to see turning from a nice cuddly baby into a notorious monster once after sexual maturity. No doubt, my Kermit, the Senegal Parrot is also no different from any other parrot. He starts to pick up screaming whenever I disappear from his sight, from this he’s more likely to become a “one person” bird very soon.

Among all behavior problem, parrot screaming is always the primary issue among all parrot owners. Owners usually ended feeling upset and angry over the unwanted loud vocalization. Many time ending up affecting the good relationship and bond between the parrot and the owner, but also driving into many other unhappy scenarios like:

• Increasingly loud and consistent noise within the household
• Unhappiness between family members (lots of complaints from parents or siblings)
• Complaints from neighbors (often happens when staying in an apartment)

I’m sure do not want to see their feathered friend vocalizing excessively everyday and been labeled as “naughty boy” in the household. The fact is we can’t totally eliminate these screams, but we can fine tune and minimize the unacceptable excessive noise.

Before we can try to eliminate the problem, we have to discover the reason behind, understanding the possible factors that lead to this problem.

I’ve been reading up precious articles about parrot screaming issues written by the experts (mainly the editors from bird magazines, experienced bird trainers & aviculturists) and concluded a list of the possible factors to the problem.

Factors leading to Screaming Problem:

1. Contact call for out-of sight owner
2. Stress & fear
3. Noisy household environment
4. Attention seeking
5. Communication with other birds
6. Response to certain sound
7. Basic demands not met (like food bowl is empty)
8. Boredom

As for my dear young Kermit, he falls under the “Attention seeking” and “Contact call for out-of sight owner” category.

What makes me so certain that Kermit fits well into the category?

Whenever I’m out of Kermit’s sight, he will start off with these continuous contact calls and ingeniously constructing into annoying squawking. He couldn’t let me off for a short toilet break.

Seriously he appears to be a much happier and quiet angel whenever I’m around with him, glued to the chair next to his cage. I can’t really blame him for so overly bonded to me, as he gets to see me most of the time at home compared to other family members.

Furthermore, he still a juvenile still in his post weaning stage. Like other young parrots, Kermit needs a secure, unchanging environment.

Recently I have been researching for the possible methods to curb or to minimize such loud screams from happening. I’ve also put up some methods on for a trial for a couple days to a week.

Method #1 - Insanely ignore the calls & with Positive Reinforcement

All the while I’ve been practising this method, insanely ignore any unwanted loud calls and reward my dear Kermit whenever he quiet down over a period of time. It’s a consistent effort. Whenever Kermit start make the unacceptable noise, I just leave him alone. Not even enter the room and showing up in front of his cage, this is to ensure that I won’t reinforce the unwanted behavior due to my presence. Furthermore, Kermit’s usual scream is his way to demand attention. By doing so, this is to let him understand that screaming will not do much help, in bringing me back and showing in front of him.

Once Kermit start to quiet down for quite a while or whenever he behavior quietly doing things on his own, I will go over to his cage to give my attention like talk to him, give him some nice treats and even a nice head rub. Continuing in this similar routine, will more likely to make him give up the habit of screaming. I must admit that this method is the best way to eliminate the start of the screaming habit and proved to be effective in a long run, as all the reinforcements are positive.

Although it maybe the perfect method to help cure screaming behavior, but is usually difficult to execute especially it also involves other people in the household. Why is fail most of the time? Because other family members in the household might not be doing the right stuffs (like ignore all unwanted calls, and reward when he is quiet) that you advised.

Like my family member sometime tends to be annoyed by the scream, usually went up to Kermit’s cage immediately and gave Kermit a nasty look or scolding. By doing so it further reinforce the unwanted screaming behavior. This it’s so important that you need full cooperation from all family member so they do not break this positive cycle.

Method #2 - With Negative Reinforcement

Another method which possible to help tackle screaming problem is with the use of negative reinforcement. Negative reinforcement is more like a form of punishment which usually tends to leave an unpleasant impression and experiences for our feathered friends. But there are reports that quite a number of parrot owners have great success in improving some of the behavior problems (like screaming) with negative reinforcement.

What makes negative reinforcement so effective, almost immediately eliminating the unwanted behaviors? Basically it involve instilling the right amount of fear into the parrot which serves to decrease the frequency of the behavior. Usually “instant remedies” with negative reinforcement is never recommend by many experienced bird trainers because it usually results in side effects like counter aggression, escape behavior, fear and also jeopardizing the relationship of the owner and the parrot.

No doubt of the possible risk, I decided to devise a method with negative reinforcement but do not place my close relationship bonding of Kermit and me into jeopardy. In order to archive this, I have find a way to execute the punishment that instill the correct amount of fear in Kermit, but possible of execution without my presence (when Kermit doesn’t see me executing the “punishment”, this ensure our relationship bond is not put at risk).

What makes clicker training so effective, it’s because of the distinctive sound of the clicker. Thus I decided to use the similar theory on my negative reinforcement method.

In clicker training, the clicking sound represents rewards or treats. In the “punishment” that I specially devised, I have to locate a sound that Kermit is fear of, in order to make this method effective. I soon shortlisted a desk bell as the distinctive bell sound tends to frighten Kermit. It’s an accidental finding. I was then packing and arranging stuffs in my room and when Kermit was next to me on the parrot stand. I accidentally ringed the desk bell, and which cause Kermit to panic and flew a distance away from the room.

Soon I tried using the desk bell whenever Kermit scream. It’s pretty effective and instantly as the distintively bell sound mark at the moment when Kermit scream. By doing so, Kermit will understand whenever he scream the desk bell will ring and it’s scary to him. The best part is I sound the desk bell anywhere without executing this “punishment” within Kermit’s sight.

It can be effective at the moment, but what if Kermit no longer is afraid of the bell sound, this “punishment” will be totally useless and no longer able to modify the unwanted behavior. Thus use it’s wisely and not so frequent. Like what all experienced trainers mentioned always use positive reinforcement.

Personally I will like to recommend two great books that I’ve read before and I will like to recommend to everyone interested in learning more about parrot behaviors:

1. Why does my Parrot by Rosemary Low
   
2. The Parrot Problem Solver by Barbara Heidenreich
   

Both books highlighted issue on screaming, I’ve learned a lot through these books. I do hope these two books will provide better understanding on the excessive vocalizing problems and other parrot behavior issues.