upatsix.com - Your Source For Pet Bird Information

Do any of you have a bird(s) that has been with you a while, and is still spooked or panics at routine household noises, like silverware rattling, dishes clinking, or even something as mundane as the closing of a door?

I'm beginning to wonder if my flock will ever get used to our human noises without going off in a fright. Smokey is OK.. but he's been here 2 years. The rest from 6 months to 3 months. Anybody got any unusual noises that startle or scare their birds? Vacuum cleaner is the least of the problem.

Sam

Yes my joey jumps like crazy when the toast pops out the toaster or the doorbell rings

Actually, I was just coming on the board to ask about spooking. Lately Pizzicato has been having spook episodes where she takes off flying, and I can't figure out what it is--no sudden noises and nothing I can see that hasn't been there before (like an icky gross bug or something that would spook me!). Just now she had her biggest one yet, where she flew off three times in a row and hit the window one of those times (not hard, thank god)! Is this normal?? I put her in her cage and she's just sitting there with the crest wayyyyy up!

I know any kind of sudden noise will cause all of them to spook, or at the very least, go skinny with full crest. Since our gang is right up close to the patio door, I know they hear outside birds, and at this time it's mostly house wrens, and an occasional mockingbird. A few will freeze on their chirps or even their shadows. They hear stuff we don't even begin to hear, and see stuff we don't either; the sight of a bee, a fly, or other flying bug can make them turn to statues. Constant noises, like a fan running, or the heater / AC blower don't bother them at all. Sometimes they will freeze for no apparent reason, and other times, everybody will panic and try to escape. I don't usually keep the cage doors closed, as we're either in the room, or very close by, but have had them frightened by ?? and we never see or hear it. The other thing, the "flock mentality" of wings beating. One tries to fly, and all the rest follow suit, completely clueless about why! I'm beginning to think, a steady sound in the room would be good for blocking stuff, but it'd probably drive me nuts, if not them.

I leave a radio or tv on most days for my crew. Not real loud but as background noise. My hahns always makes an alarm sound when someone is in my yard.
When one takes off it does usually send everyone flying.

All you need is a VERY noisy Lovebird! That keeps the spooking to a minimum! LOL!!!!
Kinta gets really spooked at flies! If there's one buzzing around he totally weirds out.
He loves to look out the window and other birds and especially squirrels gets the crest up and a skinny body.
Household noises rarely bother him, but I truly think that the loud, vocal lovebird has taken a lot of spook away.

My bird doesn't seem spooked by much. As much of a chicken he is, the only thing that ever bothers him is if he sees a squirrel outside, and all he does is start yelling-----I wondered what was making him yell at times for no apparent reason, then I looked out the window and saw the squirel. Oh, and he LOVES the vaccuum cleaner! starts singing every time it's on!

Sherwin has the same issues with scares, but they come mainly from door bells and bugs. He used to be really bad about his shadow...or any shadow, but seems to be getting better. Constant noises, like the vacuum cleaner do not bother him. It's the sudden noises that scare him. I don't see as many frights when there is some constant noise in the background, like a radio or TV which I will leave on during the day.

Casper has only "freaked out" a few times. I will look over and she is trying to fly in her cage. Not sure what does it, but she usually calms down if I walk over to her.

She jumps a bit when the toaster pops up. But other than that, she is pretty calm.

Reading the post from Martha about the lovebird was funny! We have 2 lovebirds also and they are always squawking. We also have 3 hamsters, so they are on night duty!! Our house is never completely quiet! There is always some kind of noise going on.

3 birds, 3 hamsters, it is a zoo!