Birds love drama! Yelling at them is a drama reward reinforcing the bad behavior. It is best
to either ignore the bird or put the bird in it's cage for time out. When my Umbrella
Cockatoo screams, she gets no attention at all. Not the slightest bit. Within a few minutes
she realizes it's not working to get what she wants so she starts talking in a very nice sweet
voice and I immediately go to her and tell her what a good bird she is and get her out. When
she needs to be disciplined I say a firm *No*, then firmly state the command, "Step up" and
say in a calm voice that she's been a "bad girl" and is put back in her cage. The cage time
works because they know and get used to the time of day when they are usually allowed out.
When they do something bad they go back in the cage. They don't want to be in their cages
at that time of the day and they soon learn what makes them go there and they stop that
behavior.

Now you **MUST** be consistent in action, wording and gesture. They do not understand
nor will they learn if the same behavior gets disciplined once but then at another time
doesn't. Children reach an age where they understand exceptions. Birds never reach the"just this once" understanding. Birds can not be trained like dogs. You can't hit them nor put
a choker chain on them. Birds must learn to trust you before they will do anything for you.

Kathy Greaser
http://members.tripod.com/~KGKAT/Aviary.html