New to Paw Talk - Need help w/Tiel!!!

[DZahn]

Hello, all. I am the proud parent of Tewkie, a 11 1/2 year old female cinnamon cockatiel. Tewkie is a bit of a special case when it comes to normal bird behavior. After consulting numerous vets and experts over the years, I have come to understand that Tewk was sold to us too early, and this has affected her personality, among other developmental issues. For the last 11 or so years, Tewk has been an active, vocal, and curious bird with a limited cognitive ability and some physical limitations. When she was purchased, I was told that she wouldn't last the night due to the abuse that she suffered in the pen at the pet store, which left her with an indented skull and numerous bite marks from other birds. She has so far been my miracle, despite early flying difficulties and a broken foot. Lately, though, Tewk has displayed bizarre behavior.

Normally, during the mating cycle, she is vocal and active, however, after a two month stay with my parents and a multi-state move, she has become unbearable. Tewk doesn't stop squalking, no matter what I do. In the cage, out of the cage, cage covered, no one home, you name it. Only at night does she quiet down. The neighbors are about to complain to the management, and I have let this take its course for about four weeks now with no end in sight.

The normal concerns, inspecting the droppings, cleaning the cage every day, providing extra veggies and nutritional pellets and boiled eggs, have not worked. Otherwise Tewk is healthy.

I have moved to 7 different apartments and houses in Tewk's lifetime without incident. SHe is adaptable and loving. Tewk enjoys sleeping next to my face and loves to be pet on top of the head, despite not having a crown or many feathers around her eyes. Her foot has become arthritic and is sore, but she has compensated successfully so far as I can tell. She loves car rides, and can't get enough of the attention of other humans. She has never bit anyone, and I don't believe that she even knows how, although she of course has the capability. Very few "typical" cockatiel instincts exist, including fear of humans, fire, or self defense, which causes me to constantly monitor her behavior and activities outside of the cage.

I guess my question is, "Does anyone know why Tewkie is continuously screaming?" She's not egg bound, and has never run a mating cycle this long. She has never been interested in her own droppings, yet lately has been breaking up dried droppings with her beak. There's no sign of disease, no other birds from outside or inside the complex antoganizing, no excessive noise from outside nor is there any draft or any of the other classic causes of strange behavior.

Any ideas? Please help us!

[specialname]

sounds like she adopted someone else while at your parents house, cat, bird, dog maybe even them.

[Mygala]

Did she become this vocal at your parents, or is this a new development since moving back in with you?

Have you taken her to the vet since the move?

Does this go on all the time, or does she stop to eat, during human interaction, ...any stops at all?

Have you tried moving the cage, or the items surrounding the cage? Re arranging the things inside the cage (perches, food bowls, etc)?

The fact that she is suddenly interested in her on droppings could be significant (or not). Are you sure that this has started at the same time as the vocalizations?

You mention the "mating cycle?. Is this typical behavior for her once per year? If this is correct, her cycle is largely determined by light cycles. You could try 'resetting' her clock by putting her in a room where you can begin to "lengthen" her day, say up to 12hrs/day for a couple of weeks, then start shortening the day cycle down again to normal. Without know all the details of her life, this would be my first attempt at a solution, if you think her vocalizations are related to hormonal activity.

bob

[indychinchick]

I once had a roommate with a Quaker who would squak very loudly all day. His problem was a hearing loss. He would squak louder and louder so he could hear himself. Luckily we rented a house, not apartment, because I'm sure neighbors would have complained. He was very noisy.

[DZahn]

Thanks for the advice. Tewkie has always ha a tendency to squalk incessantly about a week at a time every couple of months or so. She was at my parents for about 2 months and as far as I've been told by my Mother and my sister, she was pretty quiet.

I did ask about the dog that they have, and was told that the dog spent a significant amount of time in the room as well as my sister. Tewk seems to respond to pictures of both of them by squalking and jumping around the cage. I think that she recognizes their likeness, but she doesn't stop her shrieking.

I've also considered the hearing issue, and I've called my old vet back where we used to live in Tallahassee to see if she had any additional info about how to test this. I was referred to a specialist that Tewk and I will be seeing on Tuesday of this week...sounds strange to send your bird to a specialist, I know, but I'm sure that many of you would do the same.

I know that she's getting old, and that she will be requiring more of this type of care in the future due to her limitations, and I want to thank you all for caring enough to offer your advice. I will post again on Tuesday after our visit.

Thanks again!!

[Jodi]

I don't have any advice to offer but I did want to wish you the best of luck. Please let us know what, if anything, you find out on Tuesday.

[Mygala]

I'm curious how you all determined that your bird was going deaf? Was it clinically determined by a vet? How did they diagnose it?

bob

[indychinchick]

My roommate's bird had major separation anxiety issues and was clawing at his ear, as well as pulling out his feathers. The ear scabbed over and that was when he got loud. Her vet eventually prescribed Prozac and that took care of a lot of the problems, but not before damage was done.