My cockatoos odd behavior

Question
hi - it's about 11:00PM and my cockatoo (which I've had about three weeks now and is six months old) has been making this "screeching" noise  - he usually makes a lower, shorter version of this sound when he is going to sleep.  Right now, he keeps doing it and it not acting himself.   Is this something that might happen if they were woken and are very scared?  Not sure what it is.  He'll quiet down and then start up again.


Answer
Have you gone to check in on him and make sure nothing is wrong? You could try putting on a nightlight for him to help reasure him. And you could also cover his cage to help him if he is just getting startled.

If he continues this longer than tonight, I would take him to a vet asap to make sure nothing is wrong. Birds are very good at hiding symptoms of illness, and most of the time, sudden changes in behavior like this are the first signs of a sick bird. Plus, if you still haven't taken him in for his new bird exam... now would be the time to do so. (And at least annually there after)

You can find an avian vet in your area at these websites:

http://www.birdsnways.com/articles/abvpvets.htm

http://www.parrotpro.com/avianlst.htm

and

www.aav.org

I hope this helps.

-Maggie