Parrots are known for their voices, with some species being noisier than others. But as they also have many great qualities about them, their noisiness shouldn’t have to be a dealbreaker if you’re considering getting one.
Parrots are great companions, are relatively low-cost to look after, and don’t take up much space in your house. They’re also incredibly low-maintenance and get on well with other birds.
And while there’s no way to completely eliminate your parrot’s screaming, there are ways to reduce their moments of vocalisation, or at least make sure that the only use their voices at more appropriate times.
As a parrot owner, you probably don’t have a problem with your bird making some noise- but unfortunately, unless you have sound-proof walls, the neighbours are probably going to disagree!
If you feel like you need to do something about your parrot’s screaming, then here are some tips that should help:
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Get into a Routine
Oftentimes, parrots will screech as a way to get attention from you. If you’ve noticed a pattern of when your parrot demands your attention, then it may be worth switching up your routine.
Your parrot may become more vocal when they want to be fed, so giving them their food at the same time each day should help to calm their requests.
If you feed your parrot first thing in the morning, then you can go about your day knowing that they aren’t going to be screeching at you for their food later on.
Parrots may also use their voices when they’re bored, or when they want to spend some time with you, so set a time each day when you will take them out of their cage and play with them.
Again, if you do this in the morning, then you reduce the likelihood of your parrot demanding for attention later in the day.
Give Them Something to Chew
Just like a dummy can instantly stop a baby from crying, a snack or meal is a great way to stop a parrot mid-screech. Not only will food muffle any sounds coming from your parrot, but chances are, they will be so distracted that they will forget all about their urge to make any noise.
Offer snacks that stimulate your parrot’s brain, such as things that they can tear apart or unwrap for themselves. You can find a great selection of bird food online at Little Peckers, and their Exotic Parrot Fruit mix is sure to be a hit with your noisy bird.
They also offer cage bird feeders including dispensers, which will help keep your parrot busy snacking for longer.
If your parrot has already eaten their fill, then a toy can provide the same muffling effect and entertainment that food can. Chew toys and foot toys are usually enough of a distraction to keep your parrot from screaming (at least for a little while).
Give Them a Bath
If you’ve tried everything and your parrot just won’t pipe down, then why not treat them to their very own pamper session? Many parrots tend to get more vocal when they’re having a bath, but stick with us on this one, as it’s the aftermath that’s most important here.
Once their feathers are all wet, a parrot will take their time to meticulously preen themselves, which should keep them good for a while.
Every parrot owner knows that these birds take their appearance very seriously, so their urge to preen should be greater than their urge to scream.
Encourage Noisy Time (On Your Terms)
Parrots normally tend to be the noisiest in the morning and the evening, and there’s not much you can do about that. Parrots are naturally noisy, and instead of trying to prevent the noise, the best thing to do is channel it instead.
To ease your anxieties around your parrot’s most vocal times of day, you should try and schedule anything you need quiet time for around the times that you know your parrot is most likely to scream.
If there’s a part of the day that needs to be quiet that you can’t move the time for, then have a go at simply wearing your parrot out beforehand. Sing to them, do funny voices, and basically make as much of a fool out of yourself as possible to encourage them to be silly alongside you.
You could also try whispering to your parrots, as they will soon realise that they have to be quiet in order to hear you. The same applies to your TV, or any other noisy household items.
Often, a parrot will shout loudly so they can be heard over the general household noise. If you turn all of these items off, then your parrot shouldn’t feel the need to compete with any other noise.