How to Train Your Bird to Talk
- 6 years ago
Watch more How to Take Care of a Pet Bird videos: \r
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Birds arent like babies—you cant expect them to pick up speech just by babbling away at them. You need a plan.\r
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Step 1: Pick the right breed\r
If you havent already bought Tweety, pick a breed that is known for its chattiness. Amazon parrots and African greys are the gabbiest, followed by macaws, male cockatiels, mynahs, and parakeets. \r
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Tip\r
Female cockatiels, female budgies, grass parakeets, rosellas, and canaries dont talk. \r
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Step 2: Choose an inquisitive bird\r
Once youve narrowed your choices to a talkative breed, focus your attention on choosing a bird that seems alert and interested in whats going on around him. These are clues that hell make a good talker. \r
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Step 3: Get a young bird\r
Get a young bird. Like the proverbial old dog who cant learn new tricks, an older bird is going to have more trouble picking up speech. \r
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Step 4: Name that bird\r
Give the bird a name that is no more than two syllables. A longer name reduces the chances that he will learn to say his own name. \r
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Step 5: Designate a teacher\r
If youre married and/or have children, pick one person to teach the bird. If several people are trying to instruct the bird, it will only confuse it. \r
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Tip\r
Birds learn more easily from women.\r
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Step 6: Time your training\r
Start training at the optimal time. For smaller birds, thats at four to six months. For bigger birds, wait until theyre six to twelve months.\r
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Tip\r
Dont teach a bird to whistle before training him to talk, or it will make the speech lessons that much harder. \r
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Step 7: Keep it simple\r
Start training by saying a few simple words to Tweety, always using them under the same circumstances. For example, you could say Good morning every day when you first rise, and you could reserve Bye for when the bird can see you walk out the door. \r
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Step 8: Repeat words\r
Repeat the words several times in each instance. You want the bird to start associating the sound you are making with the context. \r
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Step 9: Reward speech\r
Give Tweety a treat every time he repeats something you are teaching him. \r
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Tip\r
Remember that birds dont just repeat what you want them to; they mimic sounds they hear. So if youre suffering a bout of loud flatulence, or getting ready to rip someone a new one, stay out of Tweetys earshot. \r
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Step 10: Unteach them\r
If Tweety has picked up a bad word, washing his mouth out with soap wont work. But ignoring him when he repeats the word will, because getting your attention is his main incentive. \r
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Step 11: Enjoy\r
Now enjoy chatting with your fine-feathered friend!\r
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Did You Know?\r
Talking birds often will imitate your phones ring tone because they get a kick out of watching you come running.
\r
Birds arent like babies—you cant expect them to pick up speech just by babbling away at them. You need a plan.\r
\r
Step 1: Pick the right breed\r
If you havent already bought Tweety, pick a breed that is known for its chattiness. Amazon parrots and African greys are the gabbiest, followed by macaws, male cockatiels, mynahs, and parakeets. \r
\r
Tip\r
Female cockatiels, female budgies, grass parakeets, rosellas, and canaries dont talk. \r
\r
Step 2: Choose an inquisitive bird\r
Once youve narrowed your choices to a talkative breed, focus your attention on choosing a bird that seems alert and interested in whats going on around him. These are clues that hell make a good talker. \r
\r
Step 3: Get a young bird\r
Get a young bird. Like the proverbial old dog who cant learn new tricks, an older bird is going to have more trouble picking up speech. \r
\r
Step 4: Name that bird\r
Give the bird a name that is no more than two syllables. A longer name reduces the chances that he will learn to say his own name. \r
\r
Step 5: Designate a teacher\r
If youre married and/or have children, pick one person to teach the bird. If several people are trying to instruct the bird, it will only confuse it. \r
\r
Tip\r
Birds learn more easily from women.\r
\r
Step 6: Time your training\r
Start training at the optimal time. For smaller birds, thats at four to six months. For bigger birds, wait until theyre six to twelve months.\r
\r
Tip\r
Dont teach a bird to whistle before training him to talk, or it will make the speech lessons that much harder. \r
\r
Step 7: Keep it simple\r
Start training by saying a few simple words to Tweety, always using them under the same circumstances. For example, you could say Good morning every day when you first rise, and you could reserve Bye for when the bird can see you walk out the door. \r
\r
Step 8: Repeat words\r
Repeat the words several times in each instance. You want the bird to start associating the sound you are making with the context. \r
\r
Step 9: Reward speech\r
Give Tweety a treat every time he repeats something you are teaching him. \r
\r
Tip\r
Remember that birds dont just repeat what you want them to; they mimic sounds they hear. So if youre suffering a bout of loud flatulence, or getting ready to rip someone a new one, stay out of Tweetys earshot. \r
\r
Step 10: Unteach them\r
If Tweety has picked up a bad word, washing his mouth out with soap wont work. But ignoring him when he repeats the word will, because getting your attention is his main incentive. \r
\r
Step 11: Enjoy\r
Now enjoy chatting with your fine-feathered friend!\r
\r
Did You Know?\r
Talking birds often will imitate your phones ring tone because they get a kick out of watching you come running.