Reptile & Amphibian Forums

My Cockatiel Yells all of the time when I am home and not in the same room with him. He will be quiet when I am not at home and even talk to my husband (who is the only one else who lives here). But the minute I come home he yells and yells until I come into the same room. I always spend at least a few minute with him when I first get home then I do what I have to do after work.

Anyone have suggestions on how to get him to quiet down when I am not in the room?

Well it may sound harsh but you will probably have to ignore the cockatiel or maybe even cover the cage when it screams. When it starts to scream do not come into the room just stay in the other room and ignore it. The moment it quiets down even for a short time come into the room and praise the bird, even offer a treat it likes. Then if it starts to scream while you are in the room either cover the cage or leave the room until it quiets again. The main thing is you have to make sure you are not rewarding it for screaming don;t run in when it starts to scream to talk to it or get after it or cover it because that is showing it gets attention for the screaming. If it screams ignore it, if it is quiet reward it.

Hi, my cockatiel does the same thing, but I love it because he is excited to see me. I take him out of the cage and let him come be with me and still do what ever I have to do. He likes just being in the same room. He is quiet and happy until bedtime. If I am doing laundry he rides the shoulder to the laundry room, all the time I am talking to him telling him what I am doing, if I am on the computer he is right there. His favorite place to perch is on the back of the dining room chairs, he can see the kitchen and living room from there, or on top of the fridg when I am not cooking. I am as excited to see him each night as he is to see me. Enjoy his excitement to see you. It shows you how special you are to him.