How to train a parrot to talk. Basics of teaching budgies to speak

The parrot is wonderful pet, since it requires a minimum of attention and effort for its care. However, parrots have another advantage - they can be taught to talk. We will talk about how to do this correctly in our article today. But before that, it’s worth considering that if your parrot is a female, then you are unlikely to teach her to talk.

Here are some answers (tips) to frequently asked questions about how to teach a parrot to talk, following which you will teach your pet to talk quickly.

How to teach a parrot to talk: frequently asked questions

Can your parrot learn to speak?
Do you have big chance teach your parrot to talk if he is young and loves to sing. The success of his learning is also influenced by how often he hears human speech. If he publishes various sounds, then most likely you will be able to teach him to pronounce words.

Your parrot can learn to talk if you interact with it. Studies on the sound production abilities of wild birds, conducted in the 90s, showed that young birds, having left the nest, adopted the “speech” of other gregarious birds. While in your home, the parrot will adopt your speech in the same way as it would adopt it from its wild relatives if it were free.

Communication with the bird is necessary in order to teach it to talk. If you turn on a voice recorder with repeated phrases, you will not achieve success. Your parrot will be happy to learn words related to food, bathing, your presence, or words spoken emotionally.

Which simple words or phrases most suitable for teaching a parrot to speak?
Parrots learn words that come easily to them. For example, these are the names of the foods you feed them. To begin with, use words that have one syllable. Even if the bird does not answer you, continue to talk to it. When your pet says a word, show him what he said and say the word yourself.

You can also say words related to your actions. When entering the room, say “Hello!”, and when leaving, say “Bye!”. Seeing how you interact with your guests, saying “Hello!”, “How are you?”, “Come in!”, your parrot will quickly learn these phrases. By constantly communicating with your parrot and telling him simple phrases, supported by examples, you will quickly teach him to speak.

How to teach a parrot to remember phrases and words?
You will, of course, have many questions about this. Should you move on to the next word if your parrot has repeated the previous one, or should you repeat it over time? How long does it take for a parrot to repeat an unlearned word: one day, a week, two weeks? Should you move on to learning a new word if your parrot has not said the unlearned word? How should you pronounce a new word: slowly or quickly, loudly or quietly? Let's figure it out.

Parrots easily perceive words spoken on an emotional level, so he will learn an emotionally obscene word you say in a skirmish much faster than a polite word. You need to watch your speech, being next to a parrot, he can learn any word you say, whether you want it or not. If you want the bird to remember a word, say it loudly, with emotional overtones. Just change your voice and keep the words the same. This training is very interesting and memorable!

How to understand: a parrot is squirming or trying to say something?
When a parrot first learns a new word or phrase and wants to say it, you won't understand what he said because his speech is not yet clear and is more like muttering. If the bird said a word to you, repeat it to it from your lips. This is how the bird will develop speech.

In 1995, a parrot named Puck was listed in the Guinness Book of Records as the fastest-talking parrot. He spoke so quickly that it was impossible to understand what he was saying. His speech was more like muttering than words. To find out what the parrot said, his owner recorded his speech on a voice recorder and then listened to it in slow motion.

Can parrots teach each other to talk?
Pet parrots can learn to speak from each other. When free, birds learn to speak from other birds in their flock. In your home, the role of flock birds can be played by your dog, you, your family members, your friends, or other pet birds in your home. Parrots can learn the names of all your family members and call you by name.

What is the best way to teach a bird to talk: when it is in its cage or when it is in your hands?
If you want your parrot's speech to become his normal behavior, so that he can speak knowing that there is no reward for it, choose a calm, quiet place designed for working. Keep distractions to a minimum. Repeat a word like “well done” several times, reward the parrot in any case, no matter how he pronounces it. Eventually, with practice, he will pronounce it correctly.

If you teach your bird to say "Hello", "Bye" or the names of its favorite objects, it may or may not be in a cage. When teaching your parrot the names of food, do not forget to reward it with appropriate food.

What time of day is best to exercise with a parrot? ( Better in the morning or in the afternoon?)
You can train a parrot at any time. It is advisable that you talk to your parrot several times a day. Talk to him as if he were a small child. Talk to him about what's going on around you, what you're doing at the moment do, especially about his favorite things.

Can a parrot forget a word or phrase if you haven't reinforced it enough?
If you do not reinforce the learned phrases and words, and do not repeat them with your parrot, then he will forget them over time. The parrot may stop responding to the words you have spoken and previously learned if you are not looking at him at the time of speaking or if you have not repeated these words with him for a long time. But, nevertheless, birds have a good memory, so you can help your pet remember previously learned words.

What should you do if your parrot says the same phrase all the time?
If you want a boring phrase to fall out of use in a parrot, do not pay attention if the parrot says it: do not look at the parrot, do not answer it with gestures or facial expressions, do not repeat this phrase. Try adding a new word to an old phrase, and when the parrot tells you the old phrase, always answer with a new one. You can distract the parrot's attention by telling him some melodious word, or you can sing along with him. Birds are very musical and often wildlife sing in a duet with each other. Practice singing one word with your parrot, so he will quickly remember it.

Does a bird have to be obedient in order to learn to repeat words and phrases?
When teaching a parrot to speak, it doesn’t matter how obedient he is, his talkativeness gains with experience. Parrots love to sing, talk, mumble, and communicate with people. Use these qualities to establish contact and make friends with him. While in a room with a parrot, name its favorite things, talk to it when you enter and leave the room. A parrot will sing no matter how obedient it is. It's good if you have hearing: you can sing along!

FAQ on how to teach your budgerigar and parakeet to talk

Does a budgie's gender affect its ability to speak?
In most cases, only male budgies can be trained. Even if the parrot doesn't talk to you, it can understand what you're saying. Talk to the female budgie, and if she answers you, reward her with some kind of treat. The vocabulary of male budgies can be huge! Parrot Puck, which we talked about above, knew 1770 words.

Does the sex of an Australian parrot (cockatiel) affect its ability to speak?
A male Australian parrot can learn to speak and whistle. You are unlikely to be able to teach a female to speak. But the female can be easily taught to perform various tricks.

Does a parrot's whistle affect its ability to speak?
Whistling and speaking are related. Parrots that whistle are easier to train to speak compared to parrots that do not whistle. Experience shows that male cockatiels are able to learn to speak before the age of 2 years. If your parrot is over 2 years old, do not teach him new words.

Is it possible to teach a budgie to speak more clearly?
Your parrot's speaking skills will continually improve as its experience increases, and over time your pet will become more confident. If the parrot says something unclear, but you have an idea what he is talking about, or there is a phrase that you want to teach him, then repeat this phrase when you hear the parrot speak: this will raise his speaking skill to a higher level.

10.01.2016 02.03.2016 by Martin

A pet always brings a lot of positive emotions, joy and fun. Especially if the feathered companion is a parrot. This is an affectionate, active, sociable bird that takes root well in captivity and becomes very attached to humans. In addition, parrots have another ability that distinguishes their species from all other birds - they can be taught to talk.

Many people, when they decide to have a parrot in their home, count on being able to teach the bird to speak. However, many of them have a very vague idea of not only how to do it correctly, but also do not know which parrots can be taught to speak, and which ones - even if you don’t try so hard, the bird will still not be able to greet its owner when he returns home. We decided to fill this information gap and help not only choose the parrot that can be taught to speak, but also tell you how this can be done. However, be prepared for the fact that such training will take hours, or even weeks, and the more systematic and competent your approach to training is, the faster your bird will speak.

What parrots can be taught to speak?

It is a well-known fact that parrots are capable of reproducing human speech. However, birds do not “talk” on their own. In order for your pet to say at least one word, training is necessary. This process is lengthy; it is not easy to teach a bird to pronounce words. Depending on the bird’s abilities and its species, training can take from 3 months to a year, subject to daily regular training. Note that there are birds that are not capable of reproducing words. Let's look at the most popular types of parrots for their learning ability:

Wavy. Is it possible to teach a budgie to talk? This species is considered one of the most chatty. They begin to “speak” earlier than others, but it is still not possible to quickly teach them human words. The vocabulary of these birds can reach several hundred words, and their pronunciation can be called perfect. There are cases when budgies reproduced poetry. A trusting relationship with your pet will help speed up the learning process. However, for the bird to “speak” it will take not a single day or even a month.
Corella. This type of parrot does not have special learning abilities. It is quite possible to teach a cockatiel to talk, but the process is more difficult and lengthy than in the case of budgies. Besides, vocabulary These birds are less rich and the pronunciation of words is not as clear. A cockatiel can learn no more than 10 words. Only young individuals can be trained. Adult birds are not capable of reproducing words.

If the pet is young, then training should begin with hand training. After the bird ceases to be afraid of people, proceed directly to speech exercises and activities. Corella is a smart pet and can become a “teacher” himself. A “talking” parrot of this species can teach speech to other birds and small children.

Lovebird. These pets are among the most taciturn when it comes to human speech. At the same time, individual individuals can be trained. A lovebird can learn the pronunciation of 5 words. The learning process will be long; parrots of this species do not learn words quickly. In addition, only young individuals can learn to “speak.” If the lovebird “speaks,” then he will pronounce the words clearly.
Rosella. This species, like the previous ones, does not differ in speech abilities. Rosella can learn a few words. The bird's vocabulary is limited to the name of the owner and some other word that is directly related to the bird itself. Learning to speak in rosellas is a long process and not always successful. If you expect that your pet will be able to learn a few phrases, then don’t get your hopes up.
Cockatoo. This bright giant has not only an exotic appearance, but also high learning abilities. The cockatoo is capable of reproducing human speech - words and individual phrases. This feature of the bird allowed him to become one of the most popular participants in circus shows. However, it takes a lot of time to train a pet. It is not possible to quickly teach a cockatoo to speak.

Jaco. The smartest parrots are grays. Their unprepossessing appearance is more than compensated by the bird's ability to imitate the human voice. According to breeders, the Gray Gray is the most chatty bird among parrots. His vocabulary contains at least a hundred words and short phrases. Thanks to its inquisitive mind, the Gray learns quickly, remembers words for a long time and is able to use them exactly in accordance with the situation.

How to teach a budgie to talk?

At what age is the best time to adopt a budgie?

Young budgerigars leave the nest at the age of 30 days (deviations in either direction are about 5 days). At first, the chicks fly after their parents, begging them for food, but at the same time, almost from the first day after leaving the nest, most chicks already begin to eat on their own.

The sooner the bird gets to you, the better. The age of 35-40 days is the most promising, but parrots that were separated from their parents at the age of 50 days also began to speak.

You need to choose a strong bird that is already capable of flight. Beware of purchasing a parrot that sits ruffled, with its head hidden under its wing, and sits on the floor of the cage. This chick is either sick or too young and may die in a few days.

All parrots have a so-called cere at the base of the beak - a featherless area on which the nasal openings are located (except for parrots, only owls have a cere).

How to determine the sex of a parrot by wax

The age and sex of budgerigars are distinguished by their cere. In young males who have just left the nest, it is usually convex and pale pink in color. Then the color of the cere changes and at the age of the parrot about three months it becomes light blue, and later it darkens and by five to six months it already becomes bright blue, the same as in completely adult birds.

In young females, the cere is either completely white, or in some cases pale blue, only there are white areas near the nasal openings. It is sometimes difficult to distinguish such birds from young, three-month-old males. However, two to three weeks pass, and in females the blueness disappears completely, the wax becomes white. When the female begins to nest, her cere sometimes becomes brown. Pay attention to the coloring of the selected birds. Green parrots quickly begin to imitate human speech. IN natural conditions In Australia, all wavy travel companions are green. Only through selection did man manage to change their color.

The influence of budgerigar gender on receptivity to learning

It is known that the sex of a parrot plays an important role in its ability to learn to speak.

Males are more susceptible to onomatopoeia than females, and if you absolutely want your parrot to talk quickly, choose a male.

This fact is confirmed by examples of a record vocabulary possessed by males. So the most sociable is the budgerigar Puck, who knew 1770 words. However, this does not mean that girls cannot “speak” at all. The exception is the female Australian parrot.

It is more difficult to teach females to speak, and it will take longer to work with the bird, but females pronounce words clearly, cleanly and loudly. There are also cases when a talking male was placed next to a female, and after a while she also began to repeat some words.

Rules for teaching parrots to talk

The process of teaching a parrot to speak is long and laborious. It requires patience from the person who has taken on the role of teacher. According to ornithologists, parrots perceive the speech of women and children better, so the owner of the pet is preferable as a teacher. One person should handle the bird. In addition, the following rules should be taken into account:

Classes are conducted in complete silence, as parrots are naturally terribly curious. If the silence regime is not observed, the “student” will become distracted and will not remember the right combination sounds. Special attention worth paying attention to TV. The sounds coming from it will not allow the bird to concentrate.
Teaching words should be accompanied by corresponding action. When learning the word “hello”, you should enter the room, and “bye” is said if you leave the room.
Classes should be scheduled at the same time. The duration of the lesson should be 15-20 minutes. In addition, once a week it is recommended to conduct a long strengthening lesson for 40-45 minutes.
The first word to learn must have two syllables.
To facilitate training, the use of a tape recorder or voice recorder is allowed. The recording periodically turns on and off, but during the lesson you must be close to the “student”.
It is necessary to interest the pet and maintain its curiosity throughout the lesson. Signs such as head movements, wing twitching and blinking indicate interest on the part of the ward.
You can't yell at the bird and punish it. If the student is not in the mood to study, you should give him a treat that will attract his attention.
One of the rules of learning is persistence. Even if the “student” does not want to study, it is necessary to attract his attention.
Young parrots should be taught from the age of 2 months.

A quick method for teaching a parrot to talk

For training, choose either young individuals or adult males no older than 4 years. The most difficult words to learn are the first words. A “talking” person will remember words faster. In this regard, in the presence of a pet it is necessary to monitor your speech. To teach a bird to “speak” as quickly as possible, use the following recommendations:

Select right time classes. It is recommended to set aside time for lessons in the morning before feeding. However, according to trainers, the quality of training is not affected by what time classes are held. The main thing is that the lessons are regular and the bird stays awake. In addition, during the day you should address your pet several times as if you were small child, pronouncing the right words.
Create a pleasant atmosphere. During classes, it is necessary to maintain a friendly attitude. The “student” should feel comfortable and safe. You cannot raise your voice, wave your arms, or threaten. Classes should be fun. In this regard, it is recommended to sit the bird on your hand during the lesson, but the pet must do this himself. Picking it up and forcibly holding it on your hand is strictly prohibited. The room should be warm and light.
What words to start with? The training program should include words containing the vowels “a” or “o”; among consonants, “k”, “p”, “r”, “t” are recommended. Examples of such words are: Roma, dad, Cora, Tom and others. Birds remember words with hissing words well: eat, Kesha, chao, Gosha. It is recommended to take the pet's name as the first word to learn if it contains no more than two syllables.
Watch your speech. Once the learning process has started, you need to pay attention to your vocabulary. Parrots are attentive students and will even imitate words that you accidentally used. Avoid using abusive language or profanity in the presence of your pet. Otherwise, the “student” will learn the wrong lesson.
Learning poems and songs using a tape recorder. It is recommended to use as additional training tools technical equipment- tape recorder, voice recorder. They use TS to memorize voluminous information. The poem or song is recorded on a tape recorder and audio material is included as needed. In this case, you should be present next to your pet. The use of TS provides the opportunity to repeat educational material many times.
Praise your pet often during training. The key to success is positive attitude ward. For this reason, during lessons it is necessary to constantly encourage and praise the parrot, regardless of its success. The slightest rudeness or careless movement can cause fear and anxiety in the little “student”. Regaining your pet's trust after this will not be easy.

How to teach an adult budgie to speak

With age, a parrot's susceptibility to learning decreases, and it is more difficult to teach an adult pet to speak. If you still decide to try, then regular exercise for 10-20 minutes several times a day will eventually bear fruit. Birds that are already 2-3 years old may well learn to speak. Although there is a known case when a 10-year-old budgerigar also spoke.

To achieve success, it is important to comply with the following conditions:

Loneliness. A parrot, who has lived only surrounded by people since his youth, perceives them as his flock and learns to speak their language. It is very difficult to teach a pair of parrots that initially live together to speak at once, since communication with each other is enough for them.
The bird needs to be tamed. A winged pet, wanting to communicate, will willingly fly into the arms of its owners and listen to their speech. It is strictly prohibited to grab and scare a newly born chick with loud noises.
Systematicity. Conversation training should be carried out daily, in several sessions of 5-10 minutes, while the parrot is placed on your arm or a cage is placed next to it.
Consistency. The same person must teach the bird to speak, preferably a woman or a child.
Diversity. After the birdie learns its name, you can teach it several simple phrases at once, because the parrot may simply not want to repeat words it doesn’t like.
Don't overdo it. If the parrot has flown away, or is starting to get nervous while sitting in a cage, stop, let the bird rest and absorb the information. Treat yourself to something tasty.

How long does a budgie remember learned phrases?

Parrots have a very good memory, especially in their youth, and the bird will never forget phrases learned in the first year of life. Although, if you do not periodically repeat the material covered, the clarity of pronunciation will suffer, or the parrot will begin to mix the letters with bird chirping.

Often parrots stop talking when another individual moves in with them, and the couple begins chatting among themselves in their own language. Don’t assume that your pet has forgotten everything in joy.

Usually, such “family” parrots remember the phrases they have learned, they simply limit their use for a while, and there is no need to stop practicing.

Funny phrases from budgies that will cheer you up

A parrot is an entertaining bird in itself, and if it also says something funny or funny - good mood secured. Come up with and teach your pet some phrases that will be interesting to hear for both you and your guests. For example, when it sees its owner in the morning, a bird may shout: “My little bunny, can I give you some coffee?”, or: “Come, I’ll give you a kiss!”

You can expand your pet’s repertoire with “winged” sayings from the famous cartoon about Kesha:

“What am I wearing? In rags, like Cinderella!”

“Well, after this rain, expect a good calving”

"Freedom for parrots!"

If there is a cat in the house, you can teach your parrot to scream when he approaches, “get the animal away,” or “let the cat eat.” Some phrases can even be useful, for example, a parrot will remind its owner “Did you turn off the iron?”, “Buy some bread!” or: “Stop eating, watch your figure!”

Taking good care of your budgie, treating it affectionately and regular exercise will allow you to soon acquire a true friend. And provided that the pet’s vocabulary is constantly updated, an inquisitive little bird can become a funny and restless interlocutor not only for you, but also for your guests.

Video lessons: how to quickly teach a parrot to talk

Budgerigars are a type of parakeet and are very popular as pets due to their curiosity, intelligence, and ease of care. If you want to make friends with your parrot by providing him with mental stimulation and happy life, then the pet can even be taught to speak. Budgerigars perfectly imitate the speech of their flock, even if this flock consists not of birds, but of people like you.

Steps

Part 1

Preparatory process

Limit the number of parrots you have. Parrots are able to develop their sound-imitation skills through interaction with other birds, so having multiple birds can have a positive effect on the variety of their chirps. Still too large number birds will cause them to focus all their attention on each other instead of communicating with you.

Having more than one bird usually does not have a negative impact on their learning to speak humanly, but having more parrots can stunt any progress.
If you only have one budgie, make it think it has a friend by placing a mirror in its cage. This will help him practice more and develop his chirping. However, the mirror should be removed from the cage before each session with the bird, so that all its attention is focused on you.

Make sure your parrot feels comfortable in your presence. Make friends with your parrot by spending enough time with your pet, talking to it, and making sure it has a good and cozy stay in your home. In fact, you should treat your budgie in the same way as any other family member, because he is also part of it.
- Your goal is to develop a trusting relationship between you and the bird. Don't force your parrot to communicate with you when it doesn't want to. If the bird is scared or ignores you, it means your timing is bad or you are in too much of a hurry. But this is not a sign that the bird will never make friends with you.
Choose the right time to practice with your parrot. Before the lesson, you should make sure that the bird is calm and ready to concentrate all its attention on you. If the parrot turns out to be tired or becomes very distracted, then it will not be so easy to train.
- It is best to work with a parrot in the morning. You can even start repeating your chosen words to the bird before you even remove the cover from its cage.
Part 2
Teaching a Parrot to Imitate Human Speech
1. Repeat the same word to the bird over and over again. Speak clearly and slowly, teaching your pet only one word at a time. The parrot won't start repeating it right away, so just persist in repeating the word.
  - Note that budgies are the easiest to pronounce. d, T, To, n And b. Therefore, such simple phrase as in “Hello, how are you?” will not be suitable for initial training as it will be very difficult for the bird to pronounce.
  - If you don't know what first word to teach your parrot, try starting with its name. The pet has probably heard this word more than once, so its sound is already quite familiar to the bird.
2. Reward your budgie when it says the word you teach it. This will reinforce this behavior and help further strengthen your friendship with your pet. Parrots really like millet in their panicles. Celery and carrots are also excellent treats for them, which also provide the birds with vital nutrients.
  
  Talk to the bird for several minutes at a time. However, don't try to make the lessons too long. It would be a good idea to work with your pet for a total of half an hour a day. But if you work with your parrot for too long, the bird may become bored and less willing to learn.
  
  Don't let your bird get distracted during lessons. Cover the other three with a cloth. side walls cages to maintain the parrot's concentration. When talking to the bird, be directly in front of the cage so that the parrot understands that you are talking to him.
  
  Be consistent in your lessons. Do not move on to the next word until your parrot can pronounce the first word correctly at least three times in a row. Make sure your pet actually learns the word before moving on. This will make the parrot more likely to repeat the learned word or phrase in the future.
  
  Please be patient. Don't try to force your parrot to talk. Many parrots never manage to speak, but trying to train your pet is always interesting!
  
  Continue to explore more difficult words and phrases. Once your parrot has mastered a few words, you can move on to learning whole phrases. As in the case of teaching words, repeat the selected phrase to the parrot when he is calm and ready to concentrate his attention on you. The bird will be concentrated if you are alone in the room with it, and the presence of other observers may frighten it.
3. Try teaching your parrot to name an object or its color. Say a word and show a specific object to the parrot. With enough practice, then it will be enough to bring this object to the bird, and it will repeat the word that you taught it. This will be a simple repetition of the sounds you make, but it will look as if the bird actually recognizes the object.
  - Combine teaching human speech with training your parrot to sit on your finger. If you want the bird to sit on your finger, lightly push your pet's belly with your finger. Once the parrot is on your finger, you can talk to it in close proximity.
  - Try singing or playing music to budgies! Some parrots manage to remember the melody and repeat it.
  - Exercise your parrots at the same time every day and they will learn to repeat your words.
  - If a parrot bites you, don't flinch. Most likely, it will not damage your skin. But if a bird bites you, you need to tell it “no” in a firm voice. Do not yell at it, this may cause fear and an aggressive reaction on the part of the parrot.
  - If you want to teach your budgie to talk, you should do it in early age. It is best to purchase a young parrot directly from a breeder, rather than through a pet store. This way you will know exactly the age of your pet. Older parrots are already accustomed to chirping rather than imitating human speech.
  Warnings
  - Don't get angry at the parrot, don't scold or scare it! Remember that not all parrots are able to learn to speak. Never behave meanly towards your pet (even if you are upset). If you get upset, just walk away instead of punishing the bird because of your grievances.
  - When releasing your parrot from its cage, curtain the windows. The bird may think that there is free space outside the window and fly into the window glass, which can cause injury and even death to the pet.

Parrots are affectionate and active birds that easily make contact with people and quickly take root in new conditions. Most species of such birds have amazing abilities to copy human speech. You can train a pet from a certain age, do it using one of the specific methods and in compliance with all the rules.

A parrot is taught to talk

What breeds of parrots can be trained to talk?

Almost 80% of all parrots can imitate a human voice and pronounce simple syllables or words. Ornithologists identify breeds that are quicker to train.

Jaco– refers to the speaking type itself (vocabulary 300 – 400 words). It has been noted that birds not only copy speech, but can also correctly answer what the shape or color of an object is. Jaco is perfectly imitated household appliances, for example, a vacuum cleaner and can depict a person laughing or crying.
Wavy– are able to master within 100 words and learn small rhymes. Note: wavy ones are not distinguished by the ability to clearly repeat what is said and often rearrange syllables.
Amazon– learn quickly, memorize 40–55 words and pronounce them quite clearly. Interesting fact: the breed is excellent at copying musical instruments and sing simple couplets.
Macaw- is one of the most smart species parrots Has the ability to learn 25 - 30 words; with long-term training, he will learn entire phrases. Excellent at copying the sounds of rain or thunder. Likes to imitate pets, for example, meow, moo or bark.
Cockatoo– remember 10–15 words and quite quickly. They can repeat simple sentences quite clearly.
cockatiels– master up to 12 words, perfectly imitate the sound of household appliances, especially a hair dryer.

Important: Completely tame cockatiels are amenable to the training process even if they are under 2 months old.

Interesting fact: It is difficult for any species to learn to speak if it rarely hears human speech.

Rules for learning at home

You can train your bird yourself various methods, each of which implies strict compliance with a number of conditions:

exercise at least 2 to 3 times a day and for 10 to 15 minutes; Advice: It is recommended to have an extended session of 45 minutes each week.
It is advisable for a woman or child to teach a bird; Important: The main thing is that the bird’s teacher is the same person throughout the entire period.
make sure that no extraneous sounds distract you;
if the bird is not configured to perceive speech, then resume the lesson after an hour;
always start at the same time;
Encourage your pet to copy syllables with treats.

There are several ways to teach a parrot to talk:

One-on-one technique

Features are:

during the learning process, there is no one in the room except a parrot and a person (necessarily the owner of the bird);
complete silence is observed;
the person is definitely in a positive mood.

Important: using this method, training begins when the pet is used to the cage, has become completely comfortable and is no longer afraid of people.

Feeding a parrot during training

Classes are carried out according to strict rules:

The owner of the bird enters the room with the cage and clearly says “hello.” Note: the bird will begin to understand that this is a kind of command to copy speech.
The person sits down next to the cage and says in a gentle voice several phrases that put the parrot at ease and make him feel happy. Advice: if the bird likes to sit on the shoulder (arm) of the owner, then it is allowed to teach him in this position.
The syllable is pronounced, the main thing is that it consists of the vowels “a” or “o”, as well as the consonants “r”, “k”, “t” or “p”. Important: you don’t need to start studying with two syllables or words containing “m”, “n” or “l” at once.
The same syllable is repeated for 10 minutes, for example, “pa”.
At the end of the lesson, a treat is given (even if he did not repeat anything).
Say “Bye” and leave the room. Note: This will signal that training has ended. You can return to your pet in a few minutes.

Teaching method using a tape recorder

Peculiarities:

human presence is not necessary;
the recorded voice is turned on at a certain time and when the bird is in a good mood;
The recording shows a clear repetition of a syllable or word at intervals of 3 seconds.

Training rules:

The voice of the owner repeating a specific syllable is recorded in advance. Important: there should be no hissing or extraneous sounds on the recording.
At a certain time, a tape recorder is brought into the room with the cage and turned on. Tip: Don't make the sound too loud or quiet.
After 10 - 15 minutes everything turns off and the tape recorder is removed.
The bird is given a treat.

Important: a person is allowed to be present in the room during a lesson and place the bird on his hand, but on the condition that this helps to learn the material.

When the pet begins to copy a specific syllable, you need to turn on a voice with a different sound. Each tape lesson should begin with a repetition of the sounds learned.

Instead of a tape recorder, you can take a voice recorder or record it on video. With the latter option, it is important that the image is clear, and talking man sat alone and close-up.

Advice: you should not leave any device running for several hours; the bird will get tired and will be less able to perceive human speech in the future.

Rivalry methodology

Peculiarities:

a second person is involved in the process; Advice: it is better that this is a family member who is well known to the pet.
the owner of the parrot gives a lesson to two people at once;
a kind of dialogue is being built.

Training rules:

In the room with the cage, provided that there is complete silence in the entire apartment and the bird is in a good mood, two people enter with the words “Hello.”
People sit down next to the cage and talk to each other for several minutes in a calm and friendly intonation. Note: this is required to arouse the parrot's interest.
The owner of the bird begins to repeat a certain syllable every 3 seconds, and the second person pronounces it.
After 15 minutes, the bird is given a treat and people leave the room.

The technique is effective because it is aimed at competition, and the presence of two people at once repeating the same sounds provokes faster comprehension of the material.

Method of introducing another talking bird to a parrot

Peculiarities:

the method is suitable for chicks;
the main thing is that the second bird is of the same species and non-aggressive;
lessons are provided for both.

Important: come to the first lesson when the birds have established contact and there are no conflicts.

Training rules:

A man enters the room and sits next to the cage.
He communicates with them in a friendly voice for 2–3 minutes. Important: you cannot take one person into your hands.
A specific syllable is repeated for 15 minutes. If a talking parrot begins to copy speech, you should definitely praise it and provoke it to make new sounds.

Note: on average, after 3 – 4 lessons the chick begins to repeat what it hears.

With any learning method, you can move on to learning whole words when the parrot was able to repeat the syllables. In better words“Kesha”, “Gosha”, “Pasha” and so on are considered to be copied.

Is it possible to teach a parrot to speak in 5 minutes?

Ornithologists believe that there is no general time frame necessary for a bird to learn to copy human speech. Some birds need several weeks or even months to learn sounds, while others need 2-3 lessons.

You can try to teach a parrot to repeat a spoken word in 5 minutes, but in most cases such an activity will not lead to anything positive.

Pair training of parrots

Fast learning is possible if:

the chick is no more than 2.5 months old;
it is completely manual and makes contact well;
likes to make different sounds, for example, imitating a vacuum cleaner or hair dryer;
cheerful and in a great mood.

To try to teach a bird to talk in 5 minutes you need:

Place the bird on your finger.
In a calm voice and as clearly as possible, pronounce the syllable, for example, “ka” or “pa”. Important: trying to teach a whole word in a short time is pointless.
Pause between repetitions for 2-3 seconds so that the pet has a chance to try to copy the speech.

If the parrot did not succeed, then you should not show dissatisfaction or irritation towards him.

Common Mistakes

It is important in the training process not to make common mistakes that can frighten the bird, and in some cases lead to the fact that it will never copy speech.

Such errors include:

Raising your voice.
Attempts to forcefully place a bird on a shoulder or arm.
Conducting a lesson in an irritated state.
Lessons are too long.
The desire to teach immediately different words and phrases.
Unsystematic approach to the learning process.
The presence of strangers in the room.
Voices, music, TV on, etc. in the apartment during class.
Attempts to train two or more chicks at once.
Conducting lessons by different people.

It is also prohibited, once the learning process has begun, to use obscene words around parrots. The bird can learn them and begin to repeat them.

Does learning ability depend on the sex of the bird?

Many ornithologists have found that males get used to people more easily and begin to copy human speech faster than females.

With female birds you need to work more persistently, and most importantly:

pronounce all syllables loudly;
speak slowly and clearly;
Spend 5-7 minutes more on classes than recommended.

However, many females grasp complex sounds much better and pronounce them more intelligently, unlike males.

Interesting fact: the budgerigar, whose name is Puck, is recognized as the most talkative bird. He could say 1,700 different words.

Suitable age

Teaching an adult bird to talk is more difficult than teaching a young bird, especially if you have had little contact with it throughout its life. Scientists have found that the appropriate time to start classes is the period when they left the nest - the nest.

Important: on average, these chicks are between 35 and 40 days old.

Older birds, for example, those that are 50–60 days old, also learn successfully, but if the age is over 4 months, then the pet may not be able to learn.

You need to work with parrots constantly and conduct the first lessons as soon as they have become accustomed to the new environment. The main thing is that the learning process is positive and brings joy not only to the person, but also to the bird itself.

repeat a certain syllable until the pet has learned it;
do not expect quick results;
never take it out on a parrot if it fails to copy words;
choose a specific training method and practice with the bird regularly;
Don’t forget to praise and encourage achievements.

It's no secret that parrots' ability to imitate is one of the main arguments when buying them. Indeed, there are many beautiful and colorful birds, but parrots have no equal in their ability to imitate human speech. However, among pets, few can boast of a clear and rich conversation; often a purchased parrot remains just a chirping bird. So what is the secret of training and how to teach a parrot to speak?

Before you start learning, you need to know what affects your ability to speak...

parrot species- different types of parrots have different abilities for onomatopoeia. Accordingly, “talking” species will easily inherit speech, often borrowing words without special training. Less talkative species will require extensive training and even then their vocabulary will be small. Gray parrots are the absolute champions of onomatopoeia; they are easy to learn, pronounce words perfectly and can remember a lot of phrases. A few dozen words are the norm for Grays, best students know over a hundred words and phrases. Less talkative, but also capable species These are Amazons and banal budgies. Despite their small size and “ordinariness,” budgies imitate well human voices, easily remember 10-20 words, in exceptional cases know up to 100 words. Corels (nymphs), cockatoos and other species of medium and small size are distinguished by average abilities for onomatopoeia. These parrots can learn few words, but are good at imitating intonation. A number of small species (monk parrots, for example) hardly speak, and large macaws, although they can learn a few words, are distinguished by poor, croaking pronunciation.
sex of the bird- In large species of parrots, both males and females can talk, but the latter are still not so capable. In small species, the difference in the ability to onomatopoeia is even greater; for example, in budgerigars, females speak very rarely, but for males this is a common occurrence.
individual abilities- among birds of any species and gender there are both talents and “mediocrities”. No matter how cunning the owners are, birds have a genetic predisposition and individual character that influence the learning process. Therefore, situations are possible when even long-term training will not be successful, and it may also be that the bird itself takes the initiative and begins to pronounce words that no one taught it.
conditions of detention- although this factor is listed last, it is perhaps the most significant. Most owners limit themselves to buying a parrot and some care for it, believing that this is enough for the bird to talk. Long silence is regarded as “mediocrity” or deception of the seller. Such unfortunate owners do not realize that in 90% of cases they themselves are to blame.

So, in order to teach a parrot to speak, the following conditions must be met.

Firstly, approach the issue of choosing a bird correctly. Talkative grays cannot boast of the beauty of their plumage, less capable cockatoos are attracted by their intelligence and trickery, and well-spoken budgies are small in size. In each specific case, the future owner himself determines which qualities are more important to him. If conversation is a priority, then you need to choose the appropriate species; it is always advisable to buy a male. But it is important not to get carried away with exact calculations, because you are choosing a future friend, not a talking robot, so a bird bought with soul and desire is always potentially more capable than an individual selected according to parameters.

If you are determined to buy a male, then be careful when purchasing - since the demand for males is higher, sellers often have unclaimed females, which they try to sell to inexperienced buyers. Study your gender characteristics carefully the desired type and be guided by them (no matter what the seller says) or take the help of an experienced owner. For example, in budgerigars, sex is determined by the color of the cere (thickening with nostrils): in young males it is blue, with age it becomes blue, in young females it is pink, with age it becomes brown. It is extremely rare that old parrots that have left the breeding process are sold. You should not buy such birds - not only do they not speak, but they will never speak, since they are accustomed to living in a flock and do not perceive humans as an interlocutor.

Secondly, even at the purchasing stage, come to terms with the idea that there will be only one talking parrot in your house. Or two, or many... but then they won’t be “talking”! This is an immutable rule and it is explained simply. A parrot's conversation is not just sounds, but words with which it communicates with you. Even though these words are often pronounced out of place, they have an informative function. By talking, the parrot signals to you: “I’m calm,” “I feel good,” “I miss you.” Such an exchange of signals is possible only if the parrot perceives the owner as part of its family or flock. If there are several parrots, they will communicate with each other and use bird sounds. Even when keeping parrots different types they inherit each other's sounds rather than human speech.

Thirdly, since the parrot talks to you as a member of its family, then become such a member for it. And this is the most difficult task. To gain a bird's trust, it is not enough just to feed it. It is necessary to create conditions for the parrot in which it would feel comfortable. And this means a calm environment, silence, absence of physical punishment (which does not prohibit verbal reprimands) and constant communication. It is better to place a cage with a parrot in a quiet and quiet room; you should not place it next to a doorway, in the kitchen, balcony, corridor, dark corner or in direct sunlight. In the first 1-2 days after purchase, you should not approach the cage often, this will make the parrot nervous. You should approach the cage slowly, do not make sudden movements, and do not pick up the bird.

After a few days, you can move on to getting to know your pet closely, but you shouldn’t force things. At first, approach the cage briefly, but often, and just stand silently nearby. After 10-15 such sessions, the parrot will understand that your presence does not threaten it. Then you can talk to the bird. At this stage, words are not important, you are simply accustoming the bird to the sound of your voice. You need to talk calmly, without raising your voice, pronouncing your words slowly and clearly. Silence is the most important condition for a parrot's well-being, but this rule is so often neglected. Think about it, do you ever turn on the TV loudly, listen to music, celebrate noisy celebrations in the room with your pet? Such natural activities for people can frighten a parrot; chronic stress not only negatively affects its health, but can also lead to mental trauma, due to which the parrot will forever become silent and run wild for the rest of its life.

How do you know if your parrot trusts you? The symptoms of a budding friendship are as follows: the bird does not fight in the cage when you appear; does not fall silent or, having fallen silent for a short time, immediately resumes its “chirping” in your presence; not afraid of a hand stuck in a cage. At this stage, the parrot can be picked up and released from the cage to fly. This should also be done gradually, starting with short sessions of freedom and light touches. During this period, you can already begin learning words.

The first word a parrot should learn should not be funny nonsense and teasing, but given name. In the future, this will only speed up the training process. The parrot's name and vocabulary should be selected taking into account the phonetic features of its conversation. Please note that parrots pronounce most vowels well (“a”, “o”, “i”) and voiced consonants; they are less able to pronounce unvoiced sounds (“f”, “p”, “s”, “x”). To teach a parrot to speak, words must be pronounced clearly, slightly separating the syllables, but without stretching out the words. Remember that parrots imitate not only words, but also intonation, so from the very beginning the pronunciation should be the way you want to hear it. It will be very difficult to retrain a parrot.

Training should be carried out daily - the more often the parrot hears your speech, the faster it will learn to speak. When leaving home, the parrot can leave the radio on (not a music channel) - the constant sound of human speech will allow the bird to quickly get used to the owner’s voice, improve recognition and reproduction individual sounds. If you let your parrot fly around the room, it is important not to avoid his attentions. Do not drive away the bird if it sits in your arms or approaches your workplace - this is not pranks, but an attempt to participate in your affairs, this is how the parrot tries to understand you, which means it already considers you its friend. By accepting signs of attention, you encourage the bird to communicate with you.

What to do if a bird chews things, throws objects away, screams? This behavior should not be encouraged - even friends must maintain discipline. If the parrot commits unwanted actions, you should call it by name with a “threatening” intonation, remove the object or drive it away with a light wave. You cannot shout loudly or hit the parrot! You cannot punish a bird if more than 5 minutes have passed since the undesirable action - it simply will not be able to connect the “crime” and the subsequent punishment. The parrot uses a very loud cry in extreme cases, this is evidence of great discomfort and anger of your pet. Parrots usually scream loudly when they are disturbed by loud noises or when they have not been fed for a long time.

If you manage to gain trust, then the parrot will delight you with precise intonations, by which you can unmistakably determine which member of the owner’s family is pronouncing this phrase. Jaco also very often pronounces words situationally. This should not be surprising, because the bird remembers the word and the circumstances under which it was pronounced. Subsequently, the parrot repeats words in a similar situation, and with deep mutual understanding with the owner, it even answers questions quite intelligently.

Did you know that learning to speak can have real benefits for you and your pet? In Japan, a lost two-year-old budgerigar, Pigo, gave his full address and was returned to his owner. At first, Pigo's owner had another parrot, but it got lost. When a frustrated woman was given a new pet, the first thing she did was teach it to say the address. As you can see, Pigo answered his lesson perfectly.

Listen to the conversation of gray parrots -