How To Deter Your Cockatoo From Squawking / Screaming

Cockatoos squawk- it's a well known fact. They squawk for fun, they squawk out of boredom, they squawk because they love the sound of their loud little voices. A certain amount of squawking is tolerable. A good bird owner will come to love, appreciate, and perhaps even promote squawking. But even the most patient of people have their days where they just wish for a bit less loud vocalizations. Luckily, there are a few things you can do to help your bird tone down it's voice for a bit. Here are a few different ways to deter your bird from screaming its little heart out.

Picture Credit Given To UK Cockatoo Sanctuary & Rescue

Inspire other vocalizations: Work with your cockatoo regularly to inspire other kinds of vocalizations. Whistling, making clicking sounds, making other animal sounds (meow, bark, ect), and talking can all inspire your bird to mimic back. So when your bird's squawking begins to get out of hand, try making other sounds and inspiring your bird to copy them. Most likely- if they're feeling extra vocal- they'll happily tune along with you.

Offer a variety of toys: A common reason cockatoo's squawk is because they are bored. By offering a variety of toys and changing toys in and out of their cage regularly, you give your bird new and exciting things to play with. Give your bird lots of things to distract them from squawking. Although this won't always shush them, it will give them lots of fun stuff to do while they are quietly sitting around.

Promote foraging: Toys that you can hide snacks within are sure to keep your bird quiet and entertained for hours on end. Try shoving some millet into a wiffle-ball or creating a kabob of apple slices and dried fruit and then hang it from the cage. Intertwine some vegetables or leaves through the cage bars. There are a variety of ways to inspire your bird to forage for food. And foraging is a great way to keep your little feathered child quiet.

Have free flying time daily: Cockatoos need to stretch their wings, so make sure your little bird gets a chance to do so every single day. Free flying time alleviates stress, promotes good health, and helps your bird get the mental and physical stimulation they need in order to be happy. And the happier your cockatoo is, the quieter they will be. So let them stretch those wings! It will pay off with some much appreciated hushed time later.

Interact affectionately with your bird: Birds pick up on their family member's emotions. If you are upset, stressed, or angry your bird will also become stressed, upset, or angry. Cockatoos deal with negative emotions by letting of steam- and one way they let off steam is to scream (they also love to bang their toys around- that always helps too). But to avoid a hissy fit, simply always make sure to treat your cockatoo with respect. Interact affectionately with them, and even when you have a bad day- make sure they know they're loved.

Get them a feathered friend: Sometimes cockatoos get lonely. Loneliness would cause anyone to become vocal. If you feel you aren't offering your bird enough stimulation, it may be time to get your bird a friend. By getting your cockatoo a companion you give them someone to love, interact with, and receive emotional and mental stimulation from. All of these things will significantly decrease your bird's screaming. But, it will double the squawking when it does occur- because of course, it will be coming from two lovely voices rather than one.

How To Teach Your Cockatoo To Whistle

Whistling is one of the easiest vocal commands to teach a bird. Almost all species of birds from small birds like budgies and cockatiels to larger birds like parrots and macaws can learn to whistle. This vocalization comes naturally to birds and most adult birds can learn to whistle in a month or two (some will learn to whistle in as little as a week or even a day!).

Photo credit to the A Wing and A Prayer Bird Rescue.

Click their name to learn more about this great rescue!

To start do use a short whistle (like a woot woot): Cockatoos are capable of learning long whistling tunes, but to start it’s ideal to use a very short whistle. This allows your bird to grasp the concept of copying your whistle in an easy manner. Choose a very short whistle (woot woot – used to catcall women is a perfect example).

Repeat the whistle throughout the day: Once you have chosen the short whistle you’d like to teach your cockatoo, begin using that whistle frequently throughout the day. Try to use the whistle at least 5 to 6 times a day in the presence of your bird. Or whistle each time you pass their cage or play stand. The more frequently your cockatoo hears the whistle, the more likely they are to try and whistle themselves.

Whistle during times when they are squawking: A great way to inspire any bird to try and whistle is to whistle while they are squawking. Birds love being vocal- and if your cockatoo is in a loud mood (aka they are squawking) they are more likely to try and make a different noise as well. Each time your bird begins to squawk, whistle to them. Most likely they will stop to listen to the whistle, and at some point they will begin to try and mimic the whistle themselves. Do this as consistently as possible. Not only will it teach your cockatoo to whistle, it will also discourage them from squawking by teaching them to whistle instead.

Reward them for attempts at trying: Each time you hear your cockatoo attempt to mimic your whistle, reward them. Give them a small treat or special attention. This shows them that the whistle is a positive activity and they will receive rewards for doing it.

When they try to copy, repeat the whistle very deliberately: Each time your cockatoo tries to copy your whistle, whistle again- as clearly as possible. This will allow your cockatoo to clearly hear the whistle and then try to mimic the sound accurately.

When they finally whistle the tune, whistle it back: When your bird does begin to whistle the tune you are trying to teach them, always whistle it back to them. This shows your bird that whistling is a way that they can communicate with you, and allows them to practice and perfect their whistling tune.

Move onto longer whistling tunes: As your cockatoo masters their first whistle you can begin to teach them other whistles. Most domestic birds are capable of learning multiple different tunes- and some can even learn entire whistling songs. Simply follow the same steps above to teach your bird a new whistle and you will have a very vocally diverse bird in no time!

How To Train Your Cockatoo To Talk

Everyone wants a cockatoo who talks! Many people originally purchase large birds (parrots, cockatoos, and macaws) simply because they are so vocal. It’s important to realize that not every large bird will develop the ability to talk. And teaching a bird to talk does take patience and often times months (if not years) of training. Although not all large birds may learn to talk, they can still mimic many other sounds- such as whistles, animal noises, and certain tones of your voice. But- you’ve come to this page in the hopes of teaching your feathered child a word or two! So how exactly can you teach your cockatoo to talk?

Photo credit to the A Wing and A Prayer Bird Rescue.

Click their name to learn more about this great rescue!

Pick a short word to begin:  The very first word you attempt to teach your cockatoo should be short. Do not pick a phrase- stick to a single word. Try to keep the word under two syllables. Some good beginner training words are “Hi” “Hello” or “Bye Bye”. Choose only one specific word that you would like to teach your bird and focus on that particular word.

Repeat the word to your bird every day: Once you have chosen the word you’d like to teach your bird, begin by saying that word to your bird every day. Every time you greet your bird you could say “Hello” – or every time you leave the room you could say “Bye Bye”. Make sure to do this consistently and frequently- allowing your bird to hear the word as often as possible.

Show them the meaning when you say it: Cockatoos are intelligent creatures and can understand the meaning of certain words. If you say “Hello” each time you see your bird, they will associate that verbal phrase as a greeting. To the contrary if you say “Bye Bye” each time you leave the room, they’ll, overtime, realize that that word means you are going away.

Reward attempts at copying: Most birds develop speech in the same way a human baby does. They may not get the entire word correct the first time. But, if you begin to hear your bird attempt to mimic the word- reward them. Praise them by giving them a treat or attention.

When they copy, repeat the word very deliberately: When your bird does begin to mimic the phrase (or attempt to mimic the phrase), repeat the word very clearly. Enunciate all of the sounds so your bird can clearly hear the word and try to repeat it. This will allow them to ‘practice’ their vocals with you.

When they say the word, copy them: When your bird does fully say the word, always copy them. If you hear them saying “Hello”, always respond with “Hello”. This will reward your bird for learning the new word by showing them that they can communicate with you with it. Each time they say the word, you, their flock mate, will return the same sound. This is a great way to discourage squawking as it gives your bird an alternative form of communication.

Move on to short phrases: Once your bird has mastered their first word, you can begin to teach them other short phrases. Common “easy-to-train” phrases include: “Pretty Bird” “Yes” “No” “Treat Please” and “Thank You”.