I am a new mama to a 2 year old UM Cockatoo. He is thus far a handful, which we expected! He was a surrender to a resuce and while he does not seem neglected or abused, (thank-God) we are contending with old habits etc. He is loving, sweet, affectionate and we adore him. OF COURSE he is a screamer when he does not get his way. We are dilligent in ignoring him, no attention at all. If we can, we silence the room and leave. If he persists for a long time, and we must be moving about, we go to his cage, say nothing and cover the front so he cannot see us. For the most part it seems to do the trick.
He does it b/c he is having a tantrum we have learned, b/c if he wants on my shoulder, or something I have that I tell him "no" to while he is with me, he screams at me and puffs up. So, when we leave the room, or don't give him direct attention he starts to scream, totally tantrum.
Does what we are doing sound okay with you experts?

Any advice on how long it should, (SHOULD) take to alter that behavoir meaning, til he "gets" it that it won't get him what he wants?
Next! We have him on open cage while we are home, and when he does need to be on his cage, he feels he needs to be with us! So, he just climbs down, and walks over. Which is a) not always convienent and b) not safe to have him underfoot, ON FOOT, lol, when we are doing chores etc. SO...We have ignored him when he starts to climb down with the idea that if that gets us to him every time, it will not be condusive to stopping it.
We ignore him until he is to us and then say nothing and put him back. He is VERY persistant, and we are now doing nothing but walking back and forth to the cage!

I am thinking this isn't going to work either. I thought if it wasn't going to give him the desired result, eg: staying with us, then he would tire of it. What say you experts? What should I try? We have had him two weeks, and I have no idea what time frame is realistic for altering or changing a behavoir.

How long should we persist with the same attempts at altering b/f we conclude it is not working?
THANKS SO MUCH in advance!!! Greatly apreciated!