Teaching Parrots to Talk

Are you looking for information on teaching parrots to talk?

If you'd love to have a friendly talking parrot, there are some things to think about. For one, you'll need to have the right species.

Some parrots are better talkers than other. Generally, this corresponds to the size and intelligence of the bird, but not always.

Remember that larger, smarter birds need a lot more space and human interaction.

Owning one of them has been described as more like having a child than a pet! Be certain that you can provide the right kind of care for your bird before you make a purchase.

If you've always dreamed of a parrot to talk to, however, here are some species that are known for their talking ability.

Parakeets, plumheads, conures, lorikeets, lovebirds and cockatiels are all attractive, friendly birds that make good pets.

However, they're spotty talkers at best. If you're set on a talking parrot, avoid these smaller types. While exceptional individual birds might learn to talk well, these creatures are hard to teach.

Larger birds, such as Red-tailed African Grays, Yellow Nape Amazons and Blue Front Amazons are known for their ability to talk. Some macaws talk well, but often have limited vocabularies. Cockatoos can also learn to talk, and have been known to play practical jokes.

These are all large birds, and can be expensive, so budget accordingly. African Grays regularly cost around a thousand dollars.

Look for a friendly bird that's comfortable with you.

If your pet doesn't feel happy being around you, your chances of teaching it to talk are a lot lower. Avoid reclusive birds, or those who look ill. A sick or stressed bird will probably not talk to you.

Teaching a parrot to talk is much easier if you have a friendly bird that is capable of bonding with you.

Younger birds learn more easily, as older ones may be set in their ways.

The big key to getting your parrot to talk is to give it lots of stimulation. Putting a perch or cage in the kitchen or family room will allow your bird to be part of the family. Pretty soon, he or she will start to emulate the things you say.

It's important to note that parrots talk to feel like they're part of a flock. In the wild, they imitate the calls of other birds in their area.

When you have a parrot in your house, you and your family become its flock. That means that teaching your parrot to talk is easy. In fact, getting it not to talk is sometimes a lot harder, as controlling a parrot is another skill entirely.

How does your parrot select the sounds it wants to imitate?

The way you react to a sound makes a difference. If a given phrase or noise causes a lot of excitement, the parrot will probably try to emulate that noise.

This is why some birds can flawlessly imitate the sound of the doorbell or telephone, and why others curse loudly.

If there's a phrase you want your bird to learn when teaching parrots to talk, make a big deal out of it. If there's something you don't want him or her to pick up, don't get excited.

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