Here is everything you will need to know about cockatiel noise! This article will give you a few helpful tips and tricks when they start becoming a little too loud and what to do!
Table of Contents
- Why Cockatiels Make Noise
- How To Get Your Cockatiel To Quieten Down
- Are Cockatiels Too loud For Living Spaces?
- Recap
Fun fact: The loudest cockatiel to date, was recorded making a noise as loud as 123 decibels! That is the same noise level as a jet taking off!
If you wondering what cockatiels can eat. Here is an article on “What Can Cockatiels Eat”
Why Cockatiels Make Noise
Cockatiels love the sound of their own voice! From squawking to whistling, cockatiels have a distinct noise unique to them, and they want you to know about it! Cockatiels are the annoying family member that can’t get enough of their own voice!
Here is what this section will cover:
- Males/Females
- Try to understand why they are screaming
Males/Females
Let’s start with females: Females tend to be more reserved when it comes to imitating sounds and vocabulary. Sharp whistles and a word here and there is what you’re generally going to get when she is comfy and confident around you.
Males, on the other hand: Males are the talkers of the species. Usually in the wild, it’s the male singing songs and trying to attract attention for a potential mate! This means, if you have a confident male that is comfortable around you and new people, He will let you know that he’s there!
Try Understand Why They Are Making Noise
Cockatiels are flock birds! Usually, when your bird is making a noise, it is for a reason. Either they are trying to get your attention or something has their attention! Getting to understand why your bird is making noise is key to getting them to make less noise!
Attention: One way to get someone’s attention is screaming, and your bird knows this! Usually, your bird wants simple things, like letting them out of the cage for a bit or a bit of physical affection! Try to understand what they want at that moment.
Needs Entertainment: Your feathery friend needs entertainment. When your bird is bored, they will let you know “Hey, come play” In this situation, a toy to play with can be ideal! If you notice your bird hasn’t touched their toy in a while, try to replace it with something new (Birds get bored of the old).
They don’t like something: Birds don’t like things for the weirdest reasons. I remember once bringing the groceries in, and my bird wouldn’t stop squawking until I brought him over! Sometimes they want to be included.
Now that I have given you some of the main reasons your bird is making noise, let me give you some helpful ways to keep the noise level down.
How To Get Your Cockatiel To Quieten Down
Remember, these are not foolproof ways to keep your cockatiels from squawking and making noise. They are still animals at the end of the day and have their own will to do whatever they choose. However, these Tips and Tricks have helped people before.
Basic Tips
Try to understand why they are making noise: Cockatiels make noise for many different reasons, and sometimes it makes no sense. Trying to understand why they are making noise can be the key to getting them to stop. The main reasons cockatiels make noises are; Hunger, Needs Attention, Needs Entertainment, or Curious About Something. Try to find the “Why“, and you’ll find the “How.”
Spending more time with them: Cockatiels are flock birds at the end of the day. This means they spend most of their time with a companion, that means you! Your feathery family member is trying to say “Hey, come spend time with me” Let them out of the cage a bit more and spend some time with them. Birds usually start squawking when you leave the room or out of eyesight.
Changing Environment
Making the room quieter: Background noise can also be a factor, your bird might be competing with other noises to be heard! Think about it when you’re in a busy place with lots of noise you start talking louder to be heard, so does your bird! Turn down the background noise and see if they follow suit.
Moving them to a different room (quieter): Moving them to a different room is similar to making the room quieter, as a result, you should only do this if you cannot keep the noise down in the original room, this might have the problem of calling for your attention when you aren’t there.
Speaking Quieter: This seems silly but birds like to mimic their “Flock” which is you. If you lose your temper and start to shout, they will do the same. Stay calm, speak calmly, and lower your voice as you go into a whisper. This may help keep their volume down!
Sleep Time: In more extreme cases where they are absolutely not calming down, put them back in the cage and cover it, as you would do for bedtime. This will Trigger a calming response and put their body into sleep mode.
Entertainment/Treats
Give Them Something To Do: More often than not, it is boredom talking. This means your bird will want new things regularly to keep stimulated. Usually, I have a few toys that I rotate, every so often, this way, it’s like always getting a “new Toy.”
Treats: I don’t mean treats as in training to be quiet. Many treats require their participation, like forging treats. “Foraging Balls” work really well and keep them entertained for a while! If you’re interested here is a link to Amazon’s “Foraging ball.”
Are Cockatiels Too loud For Living Spaces?
What’s best for a noisy bird? A house/Apartment/Complex
I’ve been going through a few bird forums, and a few people are worried about their cockatiels being too loud for the places they live in (Houses, Apartments, or Complexes) I’ll give you some advice for people thinking about moving and not really sure what is best.
The best thing you can do when looking for a place to move into with your bird is to be upfront with your landlord. Nine times out of ten, they will be understanding. This way, the chances of getting a visit a month down the line about noise complaints are minimal.
As for moving into a new place. If you know you have a noisy bird. Look for a house or complex where you aren’t sharing a wall with someone. If this isn’t an option op for the ground or top floor of an apartment these will usually be the best for a noisy bird.
Noise Reduction
If all else fails and you keep getting noise complaints, or you’re just being proactive. There are plenty of products to help lessen the noise. Depending on your budget is how quiet things will get. There are obvious noise reduction methods, from laying carpets to muffle sound going down, to furniture and curtains to adsorb sound around the apartment.
Wall Noise Reduction
If you have to share a wall with someone and you’re worried about the noise, there are inexpensive ways to reduce noise by using cardboard. Here is a link to a “SoundProofCow” article about this (Just click SoundProofCow).
If you have a few spare pennies for actual noise-canceling material here is a link to Amazon for a few good ones I’ve found: Sound Proof Mat With Adhesive. I thought this one is great as it’s pretty cheap and comes with its own glue to prop it on the wall!
This leads me on to the final section!
Recap
If you’ve made it to the end and are now reading the recap! Thanks for reading! In this section, I like to cover the article’s highlights and go over the necessary information.
Highlights Of The Article:
- The difference between Male and Female noise.
- The key is understanding why your bird is making noise.
- 3 different sections on how to keep your cockatiel content.
- Which treats can help!
- What to do for noise complaints!
Any Questions you have relating to this article or just for me in general, leave a comment down below in the comments section.
Disclaimer: I am not an expert. Some parrots may react differently to different fruits. Please make sure you always slowly introduce a new food into their diet and keep an eye out for any adverse reactions. If your pet does start displaying symptoms of an adverse reaction, please contact your vet for advice.
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