How to teach a parrot to talk
Miscellaneous / / April 09, 2023
The key to success is your patience and desire for the feathered one.
Probably every owner of a bright bird at least once wondered if it is possible to teach a parrot to talk and how to do it. The good news is that the ability to vocalize possess almost all species of these birds - from miniature budgerigars to large macaws, grays and cockatoos. The bad news is that such a talent is absolutely not in demand in the wild. In order for the parrot to speak human, the owner will have to "feel" the motivation for his pet.
To get started, consider a few nuances that can affect progress:
- Young birds learn faster. It is optimal to start classes at about three months.
- There is no difference in ability between females and males. Contrary to popular theories, you can get both a silent gentleman and a talkative lady.
- It is difficult for birds to switch between different voices. Therefore, only one person should teach.
- Birds get nervous when they are held in a fist.From stress it will be difficult for the pet to concentrate. Better put it on your finger or leave it in a cage.
- Parrots are sensitive to intonation and voice. Do not forget to affectionately praise your pet and treat him with a treat.
- If there are several birds in the house, then there is almost no chance of success. Most likely, feathered companions will communicate in their own language and do not need other interlocutors.
And now we will tell you how to act during classes.
1. Stock up on patience
It takes people months and years to learning foreign languages The birds will also take a lot of time. There are other restrictions as well. For example, cockatiels and rosellas perfectly copy sounds and melodies, but learning words is almost impossible. not capable. However, even gregarious breeds like Grays and Cockatoos can completely ignore linguistic exercises.
For example, if you have an elderly bird, it has somehow already lived most of its life in silence and is unlikely to start talking just because the owner wanted it that way. In any case, it is impossible to quickly achieve success in feathered training, so perseverance is needed from the owner.
2. Choose the right words
It is believed that parrots are easier remember hissing and vowel sounds. At the start better to teach words consisting of several short syllables. So start with a simple "Hi" before moving on to complex structures like "How are you." And a good first word is a nickname. Most likely, the bird already distinguishes it by ear from the stream of human speech.
The main thing is not to load your pet with a large number of expressions on the go. Start with a few and gradually expand the bird dictionary.
3. Exercise regularly
Consistency is important in any training, including with a parrot. Train every day, but no more than 15 minutes: from long practice bird get bored. Do not start the lesson if you see that feathered not configured: it makes noise and does not pay attention to you at all.
During the lesson, clearly repeat the word 15-20 times in a row. It is useful to combine two words in one lesson so that the parrot has a choice: the bird may not like a particular set of sounds. And it is also worth using the necessary phrases in everyday life. For example, if you're learning "Hi," you could say hello to your parrot every time you enter a room or start cleaning the cage. So he will have an association: when the owner is nearby, “Hello” sounds.
4. Connect emotions
Parrots are social birds, usually living in large flocks. They are capable of a warm emotional connection with the owner. So repeat the words costs in a positive tone, and not the mechanical intonation of a voice assistant.
Excessive facial expressions are allowed: the bird not only listens, but also looks at you. It is important not to overdo it here. From screams and impatience, a pet can withdraw into himself and not speak even after a year of training. By the way, it is precisely because of emotional susceptibility that parrots sometimes remember obscene language - these words usually sound very expressive.
Some owners advise using a recording of the owner's voice. It seems that he just launched the track, left it for the whole day - and in a month there is already a result. But this option can only be auxiliary, and not the main one. It is difficult for parrots to interact with emptiness, because learning is an excuse for them chat with your person.
5. Be observant
It rarely happens that a parrot says the right phrase right in class. He will most likely just look at you and periodically play along with his singing. It is worth watching the bird: perhaps the words being practiced at the moment will pop up during the daily game or meal.
For parrots, human speech is just a combination of sounds, which means that they can pronounce certain words at any time. Cases when a feathered one says “Kesha eats” while eating is not a sign of awareness, but simply a conditioned reflex. Such a hit in the context can be achieved by regularly saying a certain phrase in a specific situation.
6. Don't be afraid to rethink your plans
It is believed that the first movements appear after 2–3 months, and after six months of regular exercise, the bird should show at least some progress. If this does not happen, and you have been babbling the same thing for years, like a parrot, it makes sense to refuse training. Perhaps your particular Kesha is not interested, or there are some other reasons known only to him.
You can switch to another skill. For example, parrots can whistle different tunes: one might like something energetic from “King and Jester”, to others a hilarious hit by Miley Cyrus. The learning technology is generally the same: every day hum the desired track and turn it on in the background.
And it is also useful to remember that the ability to speak is not forever. Without constant practice, the parrot is likely to forget the words over time. At first they will be pronounced indistinctly, and then they will disappear altogether. Starting this path, you doom yourself to constant activities with your pet. It may not be necessary for you or your parrot.
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