Is there a way to keep my bird quiet?

Question
ok, well what is a healthy diet, and no I will not give my bird another home, I have bonded to her as much as she has me.
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thank you very much. Ozzy's diet is Kaytee Fiesta: Macaw, occasional cheese, apples and peanut butter, ice, broccoli, carrots, bread, and I give her about a dice sized hunk of meat when we eat steak and burgers.

Oh is there anything I can do to keep her from squawking while I'm away? My mom has tried covering her up, but she kind of gives this low growl sound when she is. I'm spending tonight at a friends house so Idk what's going to happen, but thanks again.
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I have a Yellow-Crested Umbrella Cockatoo, female, and she is constantly squawking. Usually it's because I always play with her and when I leave for school she goes off. She also goes off when I come home and don't play with her. I would but my homework is killer. If I don't get her my big, 16 year old, brother will yell at her to shut up. He has a loud deep voice. I do have one way of keeping her quiet, by pouring water on her, but I feel mean when I do it. Is there anything else I can do to keep her quiet? Or is pouring water on her a good way?

I would also like to know is there special reason why my bird likes to crawl inside my shirt? If I get her she'll try to lift my shirt up with her beak to get in. It's funny but I've been wondering why she does it.

My bird also bites my mom, but I think it's because my mom yells at me, and my bird gets mad. She'll let my mom pet her occasionally, but I always think my bird just wants to bite her.
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Hi, Cody.  Thanks for posting!

By NO means should you pour water on your bird.  This is a horrible way to try to quiet your bird.  In fact, this might be why she's behaving badly.

Cockatoos are intelligent birds.  The more intelligent a bird, the more human interaction they require on a daily basis.  They require much mental stimulation every day.  If this bird is not getting the mental stimulation she requires, she is going to misbehave.  This bird is obviously bonded to you and dislikes your mom.  Therefore, when you leave, the bird feels abandoned and possibly fearful, to be left behind.  Then you come home and the bird is so very happy to see you, but you ignore her.  I understand the homework thing, but since you also have the bird, you need to share your time.  Yelling at a bird will not shut her up.  In fact, it could result in her being louder.  The bird screams for attention, your brother gives it (although it's bad attention), thus, your brother is playing into what the bird wants...brother teaching bird to be loud.  In order to resolve this problem, you need to provide the human interaction this bird requires on a daily basis.  

Diet - diet can play a big part in a bird's behavior.  What type of diet do you have your bird on every day?

Your bird likes to crawl in your shirt because she feels safe there.  She likes the sound of your beating heart.  She loves you and is bonded to you.  Don't throw water on her any more!  When you do this, you are physically disciplining a bird, which is a big no-no.

Your bird is bonded to you.  This is why she bites your mom.

It boils down to your bird is loud because she is being mistreated and not getting the attention she requires.  If you don't resolve this issue quickly, your too will most likely start feather plucking/selfmutilating, which is much, much harder to fix.  Tell me about diet, which can be a big factor in behavior.

Chrys

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Hi again, Cody.

Your bird is on a poor diet.  This could play a big role in her screaming problems.  I'll bet if you put her on a more healthier diet, some of these problems would stop.

There are many things you need to change about how you deal with this cockatoo.  For example, part of the problem is that the bird is bonded to you, you say your school work keeps you from spending much time with your bird, but yet, you're spending the night elsewhere with a friend.  Of course, you need some social life, but your wonderful Too needs much attention, too.  When you get serious about trying to work with this bird to provide a happier life for him/her, come back and I'd be glad to help you.  Otherwise, I'd recommend you find a different home for your bird.

Chrys

Answer
Hi again, Cody.

Your Too should be eating a variety of healthy, nutritious foods, such as veggies, fruits, whole/multigrain breads and dry, sugarless cereals, cooked beans/lentils, pelleted foods...the more variety the better.  Avoid avocados, chocolate, dairy products, caffeine, sugar, salt, soda, fast-food, fried foods and all those things that are bad for us.  Be aware, however, that most parrots won't eat anything they don't recognize as food, so you have to keep offering new foods every day until the bird eventually tries the food.  When you put new foods in the cage, the bird doesn't know if these new things are food, toys, etc., this is why it takes them time to try new stuff.  Ice, steak, and hamburgers aren't really parrot food (parrots aren't meat eaters, although some like different meats...the fat in meats isn't good for parrots).  

Chrys