Loud Screeching

[Nick]

First of all, I must say: You are doing very well for being new to birds

I think that cage is a fair size, and probably isn't the main problem.

I really don't have much advice to offer at this point. I am sure many others do, though

To help you get more "exposure" with your question about the dry feet, I have created a new thread for you, just for that which can be located here: http://lineolatedparakeet.net/forums...read.php?t=544

[Carrie~Anne]

Originally Posted by leenga13

I'd like to explain why I do not take him out when I get home from work. There are several reasons but the main one is that I am not use to handling him. This is something that my boyfriend accomplished with him. But I am going to try working on this myself soon. The other reason is that I am concerned for his safety. I know that if I opened the cage door, that he would come out on his own, onto the playgym. And this is fine. But being that I do things while I am here, I can't leave him unsupervised because I would not want him to get hurt. His wings are clipped. The last reason is that I would not be able to get him back inside the cage on my own. Again, this is something that he will do with my boyfriend. But I do plan on changing this and trying to handle him more.

I think it's awesome that you are trying so hard at fixing this problem. I truly commend you for this

Can I ask who handles the majority of the care for Francisco? Who changes his food/water, who cleans his cage, who gives him treats and who gives him his fresh foods? If the majority of this is done by your b/f, then you may want to consider taking this over.

We have a Quaker Parrot, named Max, who loved both my kids when we first brought her home. But after several months, Max became quite bonded with me and would have nothing to do with the kids. She would bite them (and draw blood) if given the chance. Well my oldest son, who was 12 at the time, decided he wasn't really happy with this situation and proceeded to work with Max every day. Chris took over ALL the daily work involved with Max. He changed her water/food, cage papers, cleaned her perches. He became the only one to give Max treats and he would only give them to her if she took them nicely from his fingers.

Chris also worked on step ups with Max. We'd do this away from Max's cage and in another room of the house. Every time Max stepped up for Chris without biting, she was rewarded with a treat and lots of praise, eventually we eliminated the treat and the praise was reward enough.

It took a lot of patience on Chris's part and a lot of bandaids (I don't know how that kid managed to deal with those bites. Quaker bites can really hurt and Max wasn't gentle about it, she drew blood on several occasions). Chris worked with Max almost every day for a solid 3 months before they got back on good footing with each other. Now, the two are very bonded. Oh sure, Max will still get testy with Chris, but Chris knows Max's body language and knows how to react to a bite.

Anyways, I truly believe that if you really want to help solve the screaming issue, it would be beneficial for you to take a huge part in Francisco's care. Get him to enjoy being with you too. Linnies are really lovely birds and do enjoy human company. With you encouraging the right behavior, you could quickly win this little linnie over.

[LinElated]

You've gotten great advice! I just want to add to just keep trying with the veggies especially. Sometimes it takes awhile , but I believe that persistance pays off eventually. I don't agree with your vet regarding seed and millet. I think its best for birds to have seeds and pellets along with their veggies and other foods.I don't believe that seeds should be taken completely out of a birds diet.

By the way if he prefers soft foods have you tried steaming his veggies? There is nothing wrong with him eating corn or fruits. Of course you wouldn't want to feed these in high quanity due to sugar content, but they are fine in moderation. I also don't see anything wrong with offering Francisco millet as a treat once in awhile or as a training tool. In fact that is a good way to bond..try getting Francisco to eat some millet, seed, or other foods from your hand.

[Linnie Chatter]

Sounds like you are doing ALL the right things! The cage looks like a really good one and your doing all the right things with the food too. Just keep working on handling him and everything should work out. Sounds like you are a great linnie parent!

[lineola]

Hi Eileen,

From your most recent post it gives us a little better idea of Francisco's environment. It looks like you are trying to do your best for him with cage and food, so you've certainly got the basics taken care of! Your idea to "train" yourself to handle Francisco a little more is a good one. The friendlier the two of you get, the more benefit to the both of you! And the more Francisco becomes comfortable with you, maybe the more content he'll be when it's just you at home.

Maddie

[winddy]

I would also like to add that they can be noisy if frightened...

or sometimes, if I forget to put my Linnie away at night, she will call me until I come and "tuck" her away safely in a closed cage...

other than that, my two Linnies are pretty quiet.

My Budgies were noisy little guys...
it used to worry me how quiet my Linnies are, but they are very enjoyable...

I love the little "blurp blurp" noise they make...


and... they do call to each other
(or you) if they are having a problem...


.. that.. I like!!

they are very smart....


;-)



Bonny

Originally Posted by Nick

I was hoping nobody would get the wrong impression of Linnies.

But like Nancy said, budgies - or any bird for that matter - can be loud and develop screaming behavior patterns just like leenga's linnie is doing.
Heck, my cockatiel used to do it and I just had to live with it. He just didn't like being alone. He was out of the cage most of the day, had a lot of interaction, etc. He just got so attached to me after having him for 6 years and he didn't like to be alone.

Anyways, a lot of linnies are very quiet and friendly birds.
But the main point is that any bird/parrot can be loud and develop these similar problems.

[leenga13]

Hi Everyone,

Just want to say Thanks to everyone for all of your help and support.

I do have another question about Francisco. He is starting to be more aggressive and it does not happen all the time, but he has bitten my boyfriend now on sevreral occasions. He does it more in the morning when we are giving him food. He will jump forward, towards us while he is still in the cage and make a shreeking sound, definitely an aggressive sound, while flapping his wings. Seems very angry and upset.

Also, when I try to put food in his cage he will do the same thing. I will now push the food through the bars of the cage instead. And when I did this just before with a piece of strawberry for him, he aggressively ripped the strawberry from my fingers and threw it clear across the other side of the cage. Wow.

I also noticed that he might be in heat, do male linnies go into heat? Are males more aggressive because of this? I had no idea that this could happen to them. But we have some plastic links in the cage for him and he snuggles up next to them and fluffs up his feathers, like it is another Linnie, then he mounts them, etc(I think you know where I am going with this). Sorry for being graphic here but I did not know any other way to explain this.

Thanks in advance for all the feedback, it really appreciated.

[Nick]

Yes, if he is becoming close to a year old, he is reaching sexual maturity. It is when they first become of age that they are more aggressive and their hormones are raging.

Obviously, the plastic links are replacing a mate for him.

When he is aggressive and nippy, is it only when he is in, on, or near his cage? Or is it randomly anywhere around the house?
If it's only when he's around his cage, then he is territorial. To fix this you have to ensure that he gets a lot of time out of the cage. Also, if you rotate his toys and move perches around - redecorate the whole cage about once a week, that may help.

Some people look at cage aggression as a very bad thing. My quaker, Harpo is cage territorial. He is a vicious beast if I try to touch him while in or on his cage. But once I get him off, he is THE sweetest bird ever.
We have trained him that if he wants to get picked up, he can stand on the opened cage door... and from there, he lets me pick him up.

But cage territorialism isn't really a bad thing. I think we should give them something to call their own... their own nest or safe haven.

You may consider removing the plastic toy.

Obviously he is desperate for a mate/companion. Have you considered getting a second linnie (opposite gender) for him?

[leenga13]

Thanks for your reply.

We have thought about getting another male Linnie as a companion for him but I worry that they will fight. Also, I was told by my vet that the new bird would have to be quarantined for several months and then we would have to slowly introduce the new bird to Francisco. We live in a studio apartment so getting another cage for the new bird is not an option, there is no space.

I also would have a difficult time finding a breeder I can trust because we were so mislead by the breeder that we bought Francisco from. So for us, there are a lot of negatives to getting another Linnie. There aren't any breeders where we live so he would have to be shipped to us like Francisco was and that was a hassel.

He acts that way when he is in his cage only. But it makes it difficult for us to put food in his cage, etc. My boyfriend does not seem to mind doing this. I know he is just a tiny bird but it is intimidating for me that he is acting like this now and it honestly scares me. To me, it comes across as anger. He will now do it sometimes when we walk by his cage, so it is progressively getting worse. He used to only do it when he would see a white paper towel. But now he does it when we try to take his dishes out or put them back in, or even try to open the door of the cage.

Francisco will be a year old in August. Do you know if female Linnies act this way as well? Also, how can getting a male Linnie help Francisco if he is acting this way because he looking for a female to mate with? I would just assume that 2 males would fight, especially while going through puberty.

I appreciate your help.

[Nick]

Generally any gender bird will act this way when reaching sexual maturity. It doesn't last forever... just like with raising teenagers (both boys and girls )

Getting another male wouldn't help.... especially now that Francisco is getting older. Although linnies are very laid back, there are still risks and chances to take.

I am sorry that it is very difficult to get a second linnie... but I honestly think that getting a female would be your best bet.

I think you should wait a few more months and Fransisco may no longer act like this.

I know what you mean about feeding... my quaker comes running at me like it's the end of the world and I'm the sworn enemy. I have to be quick.
I usually remove him from the cage first... which you should, too... because then they won't realize how "fun" it is to chase and attack you while you maintain their cage.

Just wait and see what happens within the next months.

[Liz]

It might just be his age...Dill goes through moods like that. Could he be molting? Dill gets really grumpy and will attack for no reason, since he's been molting.

[Nick]

Originally Posted by Liz

It might just be his age...Dill goes through moods like that. Could he be molting? Dill gets really grumpy and will attack for no reason, since he's been molting.

Good point. I forgot to mention this

Birds molt at about 6 months old, then a year old and about once or twice a year thereafter. It just depends on the bird.
However: the molt they undergo at one year old is their first major molt... it is painful for them, and they become moody.
It very well may be just that. Everybody can relate to a nippy bird during his or her molting time.

[lineola]

Originally Posted by leenga13

... he has started screeching very loudly whenever my fiance leaves the room or leaves the apartment completely. It is very disturbing and we live an apartment.

Hi Eileen,

Just curious, does he still scream when your fiance leaves, like you said at the beginning of this thread?

Maddie