jealous of the quaker

[Bluejeans]

Hi,

My male IRN, who is now around 10 months old, is becoming very jealous of the Quaker; they have been together since June. The Quaker is about a year and half old and they get the same amount of attention and toys, however Blue jeans (male IRN) is starting to scream when I pay attention to Gordie (Quaker) even though Blue jeans is clipped he can still fly very well and will fly on me and start biting me when I talk to Gordie or scream and my favorite flap his wings on the spot in a way of saying "look at me" not sure how to handle this. The IRN is just starting to become tame even though he was a hand fed baby, he came to me untamed and has taken me almost 9 months to get him to step up on my arm so I do not want to discourage his training. He is also very attached to Gordie (who is fully trained) and is learning from him.

Any suggestions??

[Bluejeans]

No one has any ideas?????? or advise??

[xx_sheena_xx]

The only thing i can think of is have one bird out of their cage at a time

[Melika]

Ignore the behavior you don't like. When you're paying attention to the quaker and your IRN yells, turn away from the IRN. Birds understand that body language, a back being turned towards them. Honestly, he might nip you if he gets angry at being ignored but that will pass. Reward good behavior. Try giving him something he LOVES like a foraging/destruction toy before you go play with your quaker to help distract him- which will also give him something to take out any frustration on.

My Hane has one toy he loves to beat the crap out of if I'm leaving my room and he's not going with me. Helps to keep him from yelling for me and he ends up playing by the time I hit the bottom of the stairs. For a while he didn't have the toy and he was much more frustrated until I put it back in. Now he just takes it out on the toy.

That's all I can really think of.

[Bluejeans]

Thank you for your response, when I talk to the Quaker regardless if my back is turned to my IRN he will still protest loudly. If he is in his cage and the Quaker is out still the same reaction even though he was out first. I managed to capture it on tape but still trying to figure out how to post it. I have given him a new toy and made a great deal of fuss about it, he took it with great enthusiasm only to throw it away once he heard the words "Hi Gordie" me greeting the Quaker. I have tried to leave the room with the Quaker but he gets very upset that he is alone. Not sure what to try next.

[Melika]

I'm really, really, really stubborn. Hane went through a screaming phase trying to get attention so I just sat in my room and read a book with earplugs in and totally ignored him (he is in my room). Sure, it took a while (over a week if I remember correctly) but it worked! I would wait for him to give up and start playing on his own then I would go over and say hi and take him out for a little while to play. Then I would return him to his cage and get back to my book. My rule was I could not give him any sort of attention, not even looking at him, until he was quiet and occupying himself.

Perhaps you can try earplugs for a while?

The first few times are always the worst. But every time you give in and talk or look at him just reinforces the idea that if he's noisy, he'll get attention too. Every time you give in, he forms the idea that you always will. He just has to KEEP screaming until you do. Because, of course, you always do give in eventually. He just has to scream long and loud enough. That is his experience so far.

There is no one way, but this is mine. I would not put Gordie back into his cage until Blue Jeans gets quiet. That way he doesn't associate his screaming with you ending attention to Gordie. Even if it means Gordie were on a playstand next to you and you just turn and say hi to Gordie every once in a while until Blue Jeans is quiet. Wearing earplugs, of course. You can't always put life on hold to keep a bird out, I know. In cases where you have to leave or go to bed, I would talk to Gordie only and still ignore Blue Jeans after putting Gordie away. Blue Jeans might get a bit grumpy for a little bit until he catches on, but I do think in the end it is worthwhile.