Unexpected happened today...

[mariusz621]

I have my neighbours complaining about the noise level of my lovie. I live in a flat with 3 other families in the building...

I don't know what to do. The bird is reasonably quiet when in cage, but once I let her go out she gets very vocal and her scream is ear piercing.

I thought maybe another lovebird would keep her screaming down? I have visited a few shops before and I have never heard any lovebird as loud as mine...

I just don't want to add another lovebird if it means double the noise.

How can I keep her les vocal once out of the cage?

Many thanks

[Janie]

Gosh, I am sorry and don't know what to tell you about the volume of your single bird but I can tell you from my own experience that adding another one will increase the volume. Last night hubby and I were sitting in the kitchen, bird room door open and them flying back and fourth, and the noise level was at an all time high. We actually were laughing about it and yelling to each other (to be heard over the lovies) but I'll admit that I do "egg" them on. It's the only way they know how to be heard and while I don't know what they're saying, I think it is there way of communicating with us and with each other. Fortunately, neighbors aren't close enough to hear them and even more fortunate, hubby has finally gotten used to their chirps when they really get going and understands that it is all part of being a bird.

As a single bird, Oliver was much quieter. He did have his moments, a few times a day, but nothing like it is now with two more.

[Islandbirdies]

If you find out how let me know. I've gotten used to the noise level in my house, with 5 birds in the livingroom and a vaulted ceiling ( great acustics) things geat loud. While I do not share you problem I can imagine the difficulty. I'd try to sound proof my appartment somewhat if I were you, more birds to me = more noise, the more birds I get the louder the chatter when they get excited. Good luck.

[michael]

That is a difficult question to answer. I'm kind of at a loss on this one. At least she's quieter when she's back in her cage. Mine is worse when he's in his cage! Is there a typical location she prefers while she's out? If possible, maybe try changing her access to it or try to make it less available. My lovebird does respond to other birds outside as well as music, TV, or poeple talking nearby. Fortunately, I too have no neighbors to really worry about so Goofy can just chirp away. Its understandable though, you don't want to upset your neighbors. Maybe this is just a phase she's going through. There has to be a reason though, I believe. Perhaps in time someone here can give you a better answer. Good luck.....Have you determined whether she's Sherbert, or herbert yet? :) .............Michael and Goofy

[carrier]

This may just be only my bird, but with Fenway I have noticed that when she gets really loud, if I make her surroundings quieter she, herself quiets down. Is there anything loud going on near her, i.e. television or something else that may be making her excited or she might be competing with?

Is your bird calling out to you? Sometimes just a response to my lovie's calls will quiet her down.

Just a thought.

[mariusz621]

I was checking out how loud she is when there is no one around. She has spend a day alone as I did not come to the room where she is. I have to say I was surprised how quiet she is when there is no one around.
When she notices there is someone in the house she will call, which I understand. The thing is that she does not stop when I come next to her cage or speak to her. She keeps calling with hight pitch voice.
I am not sure what to do in that moment, as many of you suggest to ignore the bird when it's loud.
When I let her out around 6pm she keeps calling as loud as she can for next 30min to an hour. She keep flying from one place to another and when she gets tired she would stop for a rest. That's the time she would get quiet.
Then I will put her back in the cage and she would be quiet for the rest of the day.
The only distraction I could come up with is bath. She is very quiet after bath but she does not like to take it every day...

ps. she still does not have a name. I keep caloing her sweetie, but I think she deserve a better name:)

[mjm8321]

My suggestion would be to insulate whatever walls you share in common with the neighbours. It's doesn't have to be anything overly elaborate, fancy or expensive. Hanging a throw rug on a wall or using egg crate padding can significantly deaden sound from going through walls.

It sounds as if she is making contact calls to you, looking for your attention. Is it possible when you come home, for you to take her into a room as far away from the neighbors as possible so she can chirp and make noise until she's done and not disturb your neighbours?

[carrier]

Awwww....how can such a cute, sweet birdie be so loud?? :omg:

She looks like a little angel.

How about Angel for a name? ;)

[mariusz621]

The problem is that the neighbours live directly below me and have the same flat layout. I made sure the bird is not directly above their bedroom. She is in the living room which walls are not shared with anyone. Would that mean I would need to soundproof floor? The floor is made of concreet and I have wooden floors on top.

The bird seems to make contact calls to me. She is not clipped and won't come to me for the firs 15-30min when out of the cage as she enjoys flying (and calling!!!). When she gets tired she will come to me and be reasonably quiet. She is mean sometimes as she screems as loud as she can when she is next to my ear...:lol
I don't think clipping her wing would make her quieter as she would get tired quicker ???

Angel as a name? :roll: this is more her :evil:

[carrier]

LOL...she does look like an angel, though. :p

Can you put down area rugs? Anything to buffer the noise.

I would suggest you get her wings clipped ASAP. Believe it or not, that may help a bit. It will definitely help with training her. Fenway got too big for her britches, so to speak, when her flight feathers grew back in. Now that I clipped her again, she's so much sweeter and easier to work with.

[BarbieH]

Rugs with heavy padding underneath is what I would recommend for this situation -- that and placing the cage high up. Also, make sure to remove shiny surfaces, like mirrors, from the room. They tend to make a room more "live." Heavy curtains also help deaden sound transmission.

Best wishes,

[ittyandrita]

does she have a bedtime? is the noise complaint about chirping during the morning or in the evening? since i live in an apartment I really have to make sure they go to bed by 8 or so so they dont bother the neighbors.

[mariusz621]

does she have a bedtime? is the noise complaint about chirping during the morning or in the evening? since i live in an apartment I really have to make sure they go to bed by 8 or so so they dont bother the neighbors.

I think birds in general are quiet when gets dark. My bird does not make much sound in mornings. The chirping is not loud enough to upset neighbours. It is the "contact calls" which are very loud, and my lovebird mostly use them when I am back from work...She is quiet by 8pm preparing herself for sleep...

[dani]

I think birds in general are quiet when gets dark.
ohhh you haven't met Ammy :x... my poor neighbours.
i would also recommend that you use some kind of heavy rug on the flooring which may muffle the noise. That, along with heavy curtains, would probably be your best bet.

[michael]

I was going to say she's one of the #ells angels after seeing the evil icon! But thats pushing it a bit too far......We know lovebirds do have to make some noise, and it should be expected when we bring one home. Whats hopeful in your case is that the duration and volume may be part of her new surroundings. How many have we seen in pet shops that don't seem to make much noise? Until we get them home that is. And of course some are behind glass enclosures. Really, even I didn't expect Goofy to be so loud at times. When he wants out, no ears will get any rest until I let him out! My wife spends about three hours every evening entering and exiting the house to smoke outside. This drives him nuts and the noise is very loud. He's even been picking at himself too. You know, a half hour of chirping isn't bad if there's a place she could get it out of her system. Maybe this would be a good time to offer her different treats or some sort of toy. If in fact she is female, she will most likely start shredding paper or other materials and begin to build a nest. Part of this noise could be instinctive calling out to a mate also. Whether male or female, they do get interested at an early age, and they gotta do what their instincts tell them. You probably already know when you offer food, toys, and especially nesting supplies such as paper, care must be used to make sure you avoid being bit. Over time they can get a learned response to various objects, but you may still need to proceed with caution. I've talked to a couple breeders today, but only one had limited experience with lovebirds. She said because of her/his age being quite young that it could take time for her to settle in, and finding what she'll respond to, being attention, food, wood toys to destroy, or otherwise may help ease the tension. There is a chance though her behavior won't change and more conventional measures may be tried, like a different room or different time out, if thats possible. One thing for sure is emphasis on noise levels don't generally result in a quick answer, and unless it goes on for unusually long periods, its really considered quite normal behavior. Good luck with :evil: Angel and let us know what you come up with......Take care.....Michael and Goofy

[Flapjack]

I saw some cork floor tiles in a home improvement store recently. That would REALLY deaden the sound, especially if you put down throw rugs atop the tiles.

[CaptMicha]

adding another one will increase the volume.

This is toooo true!

I'm sorry, but if your lovebird and both of mine were in a contest, mine would be louder and noisier than yours! Lol. But I bet most of us feel that way.

Try furniture that absorbs sound. A white noise machine to soothe her? Maybe ask your neighbors when is a good time to take her out to play or try to do it in the middle of the day when no one would be sleeping.

I don't have any real advice though since I don't live in an apartment.

[mariusz621]

Today was the first day my lovebird made a lot of noise in the early morning just after 6am. I was not sure what got into her as she used to be quiet at that time.
I was teterminated to find the source of her calls. I could hear another parrot near by. It was almost unnoticable but I think lovie could hear it and maybe she was calling for it.
Could this be a cause of her constant calling?

[linda040899]

Lovebirds tend to have times of the day when they are noisier than others. Early in the morning and later in the afternoon are usually "chatty" times.

However, if they hear other birds, they will call out in hopes of getting a response. It's like "I'm here and I'm letting you know that!" You will get a similar reaction if you happen to be watching a video on your computer and birds chirp. Could this be at least part of the cause of her calling? Yes, but probably not all of it. :)

[mariusz621]

I have moved my lovebird to another room. I had the impression that living room when she was from the beginning was not the best for a loud bird as it's large with very little furniture, wooden floors, almost bare walls and no curtains.
Now she is in my computer room which is much smaller with larger soft furnishing, carpet and curtains. The window is facing west opposite to living room which usually gets a lot of sunshine in the morning.

And she can not hear the other parrot's calls form her new room. I hope this work out better...

[dani]

Hope so too!! :D

[BarbieH]

Marius;

It sounds like a very good location. From your description, I'm sure the sound will carry less than it did in the other room. Whether or not your bird makes less noise, remains to be seen ... or heard. ;)

Best wishes,

[jayme]

My lovebird tends to sqwuak lots at times too that irritates my family. have you tried holding it in your hand? mine loves to be held closed in my hand. right away it quiets down and is majorly relaxed. then just talk really calm and whisper little words. usually after that it is totally calmed down and is willing to perch on my finger and be quiet. i'm not sure if this would work for you because by the sounds of it all lovebirds have different lives.