I found this article, which does not discuss the issue of screaming, but it might help you in developing a good relationship with your birds.

http://www.cockatiel.org/articles/establishing.html

As to screaming, tiels scream for a number of reasons.

1. Cockatiels are social animals that live in huge flocks in the wild. They NEED and crave for attention, and need a lot of it. A cockatiel who gets enough attention will be a content and satisfied bird, and most likely, wouldn't scream much. They're not birds comparable to a finch that you can keep in a cage and they'll be content. They need attention, they need to be talked to, they need freedom, and they need to know that YOU are the *top* member of their *flock*....not themselves. Once they get all this, and understand they're not the dominant ones, they *should* quiet down.

2. Cockatiels are demanding when they want something, and will scream until they get it. Over the years, I have learned my birds' ways of asking for things, and usually understand what they want when they scream. The other day, we had guests over in the evening, and Muffin was her usual quiet self. All of a sudden, she started screaming at the top of her lungs. The guests asked me why she was screaming, and I told them *She wants to sleep.* Of course they asked me *How do you know???* I just do. After living with my birds for 5 years, I know exactly what they want, from the look on their face, from the way they are screaming, and from what they are pointing at with their beaks. I refilled their bowls as I do every night, and covered her cage. Two minutes later, she was fast asleep. I can tell when they're asking for food, when they want to sleep, when they want to come out, when they want to be with me, etc. You just get to know them with time, and the more you understand them and their behavior, the more you'll be able to satisfy their needs and demands, and the less they will scream.

3. Another reason tiels scream is if they want a mate, but your birds are already a pair, so I doubt that's the reason they're screaming.

4. Sudden changes can cause a bird to become distressed and upset, and can be a major cause of screaming. Birds do not like change.....it frightens them, so the fact that your birds just moved into a new house could possibly be causing them distress. If that's the case, spend a lot of time talking to them in a soft and loving voice. With time, they should get used to it and quiet down.

5. Boredom can also cause tiels to scream. If they have no toys or *nothing to do*, they will get bored, as any other parrot, and scream. Parrots are very playful and intelligent birds, and if they have nothing to do, they tend to get upset.

6. I doubt this is your reason, but another cause of screaming is if your bird is ill or hurt, and needs medical attention. That's their way of telling you something's wrong with them.

From my knowledge, these 6 reasons are the main reasons cockatiels scream. Cockatiels are known to be very docile and calm birds....not screamers like conures and other parrots. They do scream when they are not content, but a content tiel will hardly make any noise at all. You just need to try and figure out what's bothering them, and I know that can be a challenge for a new tiel owner. Good luck. Tiels make wonderful and sweet pets, and I really hope you're tiels will calm down and realize you're their friend. Once they realize you're their friend, they totally fall in love with you. I cannot imagine life without my tiels. They are such loving and sweet animals. I'm sure your birds just need some time and need to be worked with, and they'll be fine, eventually. Keep in mind that because they're older, they are already used to their *ways*, and it might take a little longer.