I've had a parakeet for three years now and lately it's been unbearable. Starting at 9 PM it starts screaming like crazy nonstop until I cover it with a blanket. Is that normal or is something wrong with it? I feed it well and it has toys.
Parrots have a pretty marked circadian rhythm, and at that time of evening they get anxious because in nature that's when they prepare to sleep or look for a safe place. The problem is that your parrot probably doesn't have enough darkness or the right signals to understand it's time to rest. If your house still has lights on, TV, noise, or if the environment is too stimulating, she's going to stay activated and frustrated. Some parrots also screech because they're seeking attention or they're just anxious for no clear reason.
What I would do is create a clear nighttime routine: around 8 or 8:30 at night, start gradually dimming the lights in the room where she sleeps, turn off noisy devices, and keep it calm. Feed her at a consistent time before this. Some parrots respond really well to this. Also make sure she has a proper sleeping spot, not just the cage where she spends the day - some need a smaller, darker "sleeping cage" in a quiet place in the house.
If the noise and routine thing doesn't work within a week or two, there could be something medical going on (chronic stress, hormonal changes if she's female, or just that she grew up and now has more energy). In that case it's worth taking her to someone who knows about birds. In the meantime, the important thing is not to reinforce the behavior - when she starts screeching, don't pay attention even though it's hard, because some parrots figure out that screeching = attention or that someone comes to cover them up.
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