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As you enter a pet store, you hear the voice of a happy, upbeat salesperson greeting you at the door with a cheerful “hello”. You look up only to realize that it was not the salesperson at all, but a parrot perched in his cage at the entrance to the store.
There is nothing more entertaining or fascinating than observing a bird pronouncing words and phrases in a human like voice. However, while it may seem like a fun idea to teach your bird to talk, there are many factors to take into consideration before undertaking such a project.
We’ll first assume that you have not yet purchased your pet, and are still in the process of selecting which species to buy. If you are seeking a bird with the intent of teaching it to talk, it is important to consider which types to consider. A good choice is purchasing a parakeet or budgie, as it is more commonly referred to. Other small species capable of speech include the Ringnecked, Alexandrine, and Plumheaded parakeets. Cockatiels, Lovebirds, and Lorikeets also have the capability to mimic speech, but may be slightly more difficult to train. Keep in mind, however, that there can always be exceptions to this rule, and you may find a Lorikeet that has excellent talking abilities. If you are interested in purchasing a larger bird, consider the African Grey as it is said to be the best of the parrot family for speech. Yellow Napes, Blue Fronts, Red Loreds, and Double Yellowheads in the Amazon family also make excellent talkers.
The most important thing to keep in mind is the personality of the bird. While some may be able to pick up words almost immediately, others may require months of additional training and reinforcement. It is much more difficult to teach two birds to talk, so do not feel compelled to purchase it a companion. When selecting a bird, look for one that appears alert, and interested in its environment. Try talking to it and test its reaction to your voice. If it shies away, or squawks in fear when approached, you will want to move on. On the other hand, if it babbles and displays an interest in you, this is definitely the wiser choice. Also consider the age of the bird; the younger it is, the greater the chance it will learn to speak. Keep in mind that males tend to be better talkers than females. Finally, be sure to take some time to observe the birds in their cages before making a final selection.
Now that you’ve purchased and introduced your new student to your home, you may be anxious to begin lessons immediately. Instead, give your bird time to acclimate itself to its new surroundings. The bird should be located in an area where it will receive plenty of attention and interaction. Approach the cage slowly and speak in soft, gentle tones. Once you sense that the bird feels comfortable, you can begin short training periods. Start with simple, short words or phrases such as “hello”, or “good morning”. In between lessons, speak to and interact with the bird so that it gets used to hearing your voice. This action, in itself, may encourage it to talk. Birds seem to respond better to high pitch voices, so encourage mom and the kids to take part in the lessons.
Don’t whistle or encourage your bird to do so or it may abandon its attempt at talking. This is because whistling comes more naturally for the bird. You can always wait until after it has picked up some words before you teach it to whistle.
If you find yourself lacking the time or patience to keep repeating the word or phrase, you might feel compelled to play a recording to the bird instead. This is a rather undesirable method, as the bird may quickly lose interest and not learn the word. Birds respond better to live trainers, rather than a tape it can easily tune out. If you must make a recording, be sure to keep the phrase as clear and consistent as possible and only play it for 15 minutes at a time, twice a day.
Teaching your bird to say its first word may not come easy. Depending on the bird, the amount of training, and the phrase you are teaching, it can take anywhere from one week to six months before you see any results. You may first hear a lot of babbling, as it attempts to repeat the words. Reward your bird with a treat when you hear this, as it will encourage the bird to speak. As time goes by, the babble may become clearer and you may begin to recognize the word or phrase as your bird practices his lessons. Once it has mastered its first words, your bird will learn additional phrases more quickly.
Teaching your bird to talk can sometimes be an exasperating experience. However, you will be greatly rewarded when you hear your feathered friend repeat those words and phrases you so diligently taught him.
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