A young parrot bonds easily with its owner, that is you, which makes teaching it to talk a lot easier.  Just like with any other young pet, if you treat it gently and with patience, it will learn to trust you and feel comfortable when handled.  Most talking parrots were trained at an early age, and as they get used to training, they progress further into expanding their vocabulary or performing tricks.

What do you when you bring a newly purchased young parrot home? Give the bird time to settle in its new environment.  Be around the bird and talk to it gently.  It is common for the bird to retreat back when you attempt to touch it in the cage.  Build on the relationship until the bird shows no sign of nervousness.  Do not let children to come near the bird at this stage. 

Offering food from your finger is a great way to build trust and confidence.  A millet spray is useful for this purpose because you don’t need to extend your hand too close to the bird.  As trust is built, you can gradually shorten the millet spray to get closer to the bird.  Even when you are not teaching the young parrot to talk at this moment, it is still absorbing the sounds around it and that includes whatever you say to it and the sounds of appliances in the home such as the door bell, telephone, microwave, tv etc.

Once confidence and trust is built, and you are the best person to know this, your training program to teach your parrot to talk can begin.  There many ways to do this and I have written about this in my previous posts.  I recommend that that you use modern technology to assist you so that you can save your energy for other purposes.  When I say modern technology, that includes the use of CD recorded sounds specially made for teaching parrots to talk, or your voice pre-recorded on tape and played at different times of the day when you not at home.  You can be creative too by letting your bird listen to catchy phrases, or songs from famous singers such as Pavarotti.  You will be amazed by the results your parrot come up with.

Talking parrots are fun to have around as pets.  African Greys, Cockatoos and Ringnecks are popular talking parrots as they are easier to train and absorb and retain sounds better.  If you go to any bird aviary or zoo, you will find that most of the talking parrots are from these species, and you will see that talking parrots receive the most attention.  Even businesses are turning to talking parrots to attract more attention because they are crowd pullers.  It is not uncommon to see Macaws and Cockatoos at car dealerships, or outside a supermarket, or a fairground, with people getting amused at seeing these wonderful talking parrots

The African Grey parrot is about 12 inches/30 cm long (Congo African Grey Parrot) which is native of course to Africa.  It is predominantly grey in color, with accents of white and red on its tail depending on the sub-species.  The African Grey parrot feeds primarily on  nuts and fruits, with leafy matter as supplements.

African Grey Parrot Is Intelligent

The African Grey parrot is one of the most intelligent birds, with the best tonal quality and pronunciation among all talking parrots, which makes it a very popular pet among parrot lovers.  Because of its quality,  an African Grey parrot commands a higher price in the pet bird market.

Research conducted on captive parrots, including the famous Alex the African Grey Parrot, suggests that parrots are capable of understanding the meanings to each human word, to some extent at least.  There is little doubt that African Grey parrots, Macaws, and Cockatoos are highly intelligent as compared to other birds.

Price of Young African Grey Parrot

A hand-fed African Grey parrot from the age of 3 to 6 months makes a perfect candidate for a talking pet parrot and is much sought after.  Such a young African Grey parrot can command a price of between $700 and $2,000.  Being young, they adapt quickly to training and mimicking of sounds.  An adult African Grey parrot however, especially one that is caught in the wild, takes longer to train. 

While African Grey parrot owners get very stimulated when their parrots make progress and start mimicking sounds, the African Grey parrot itself gets bored easily, so continuous training over a long period of time is not recommended.  An African Grey parrot should be provided with stimulating toys to play with and interaction with its owner, for wholesome development.

Every budding parrot owner asks the same question – how long does it take to teach a parrot to talk?  The answer to this question is by simply knowing the conditions that affect the ability of your parrot to learn to mimic the sounds that it hears on a daily basis.  This can be in the form of the type of parrot specie, the age of your parrot, its level of tameness, its health, living conditions, etc.

To teach a parrot to talk, a young hand-raised parrot ranging in age from three to six months is the ideal candidate.  The reason a young chick is preferred over an adult parrot is because older parrots have already pre-determined the sounds in their minds in the months and years after their birth.  Not that it is impossible to teach these parrots to talk, but you will require a lot more patience and persistence to see any real results.

To teach a parrot to talk depends largely on the kind of parrot specie and the strategies and techniques that you employ.  In the very beginning, you should tame the parrot by building trust and rapport.  You can’t teach a parrot to talk if it is still afraid and uncomfortable with your presence.  It takes time for the relationship to build up and once that has taken place, your bird will be ready for training.  If your parrot is an African Grey, then your work would be relatively easier since African Greys are more proficient in training to talk.  Among parrots, they also have the best tonal quality and pronunciation.  But that should not put you off in teaching other varieties of parrots to talk as well.  With other parrots, the challenge is the amount of time it would take to teach them to talk.  The satisfaction is in the achievement and the journey you go through and the hurdles you overcome. 

The real joy of owning a talking parrot is the life-long companionship that it offers as compared to non-talking birds.  Imagine having a pet that talks to you for the whole of your life?  Even men’s best friend don’t live that long and they can only bark.  As you progress in your relationship, you can broaden the parrot’s vocabulary because parrots have a strong memory.  That alone should be fun as you will always have something new to teach a  parrot to talk with new words each day.   

The basic method in teaching a parrot to talk is by repeating a word or phrase each morning before removing the cage cover.  The parrot is most attentive in the morning and in the darkness of a cage cover as it awaits the arrival of its master.  The reward method is the best method to do it.  Give the parrot a tidbit when it utters the correct word or mimics the right sound and repeat it.

When your parrot gets used to the sound or word that you are teaching it, it will use the same sound or word to get your attention or when it is hungry.  You should answer back with the same sound, as an acknowledgement or affirmation.  How long it takes to teach your parrot to talk is dependent on your perseverance and time investment.  If you are working in the day, utilize audio recordings where you can set the times at hourly intervals depending on your regular teaching schedule.  Audio recordings are used by professional trainers and is a great way to leverage on technology.

Be creative when you teach your parrot to talk.  The process should be fun, enjoyable and not a chore.  When you enjoy what you are doing, the task becomes easier and much faster to accomplish.

Amazon Parrot

Not sure which are the best talking parrots? Well, African and Timneh Greys are the best talking parrots in terms of clarity of pronunciation. Both belong to the African Grey family. The larger bird is called a Congo African Grey. The Timneh is smaller and has a horn colored upper mandible and maroon tail feathers.  Because they are more popular, they tend to cost more too.  The downside of African Greys however is that they are not as colorful as their South American or Australian cousins.

Large Amazons are great talking parrots too. They include the Panama, Blue Fronted, Yellow naped and Double Yellow Headed Amazons.  Eclectus and Lories are noisy and not well known for their ability to talk. Males are green with beautiful yellow beaks while the females are purple and red in color.  However, they make great pets because they are just simply beautiful.

Teach Your Parrot To Talk in Less Than 15 Minutes

Without a doubt parrots are one of the most intelligent pets you can own. Their extremely high intelligence, coupled with the fact that they love a social life, makes them extraordinary companions. Because there are so many different types of parrots, you must do your research before acquiring a pet bird, because many factors will influence the type of experience you will have in owning a bird.

People are often surprised to learn that parrots require quite a bit of space, so you must consider what size cage your home can easily accommodate. When you visit websites they usually group available cages into small, medium and large, but if you have never owned a pet bird it is often difficult to determine how that relates to specific breeds of parrot.

A small parrot would be something like a cockatiel, the numerous varieties of conures, Indian ringnecks and any other bird who does not get much longer than 12 inches (from top of head to end of the tail feathers). The toys that must be put into the cage to keep your bird happily occupied are smaller and so you can probably house one bird in a 24″ x 22″ cage comfortably. If you put smaller birds in a large bird’s cage (for instance if someone gives you a cage) you must also make sure the bird’s head cannot fit between the bar spacing. For small birds, the bar spacing should be no wider than 3/4″.

A medium sized bird would be considered to be the size of an African grey parrot, the Timneh grey parrot, Amazons and the smaller cockatoos like the Sulphur Crest and the Goffins Cockatoo. These birds are very playful and so the playground you build inside their cage requires lots of room, not to mention their wingspan is considerably larger. Ideally they will have room to hang upside down from a swing and flap their wings in joy. The absolutely smallest size cage for one medium bird would be the 32″ x 23″ size and even larger would be better. The bar spacing for these medium parrots can be as much as one inch, but no more. They should also be made of heavy enough material that the bird cannot chew through it.

All the same considerations must be given to providing a cage for a large parrot. Large parrots are the greater Cockatoos, Eclectus and Macaws. Especially for Macaws, a cage with plenty of height is needed to accommodate the very long tail feathers or you will end up with a parrot with broken feathers. These birds require many large, destructible toys in their cages as reducing the world to toothpicks seems to be the Cockatoos’ mission in life. Some people say these birds can be kept in cages 36″ by 24″, but they won’t be happy. You will need several large parrot toys as well as swings, so for these gorgeous birds, go as big as you can possibly afford.

Parrots are shockingly clever, and that is why you will see cages advertised with “parrot proof locks” on the doors and feeding stalls. This is not sales hype. I have personally seen cockatoos work for literally hours to open a cage door and they eventually succeed. Even with “parrot proof locks” you may still need to resort to bicycle chain and a clamp to eliminate jailbreaks.

Keep in mind if you house two birds together they will need more room. All birds like to stretch out their wings to full extension on occasion, and when excited will extend both simultaneously, so a perfect cage size allows enough room for this to be possible. When in doubt, go one size larger as you will then be able to put in more toys, swings and exercise rings.

The last consideration when buying a cage is what it is made of. Although the cages that are powder coated or stainless steel tend to be more expensive, you will find they do not rust (which can be critical for your bird’s health) and they are much easier for you to clean. Also, for your ease of cleanup, always get a cage where the bottom of the cage pulls out to change the papers without you having to go into the cage. This is easier for the owner and also allows for bird sitters to care for the birds when you are on vacation.

In short, make a healthy, spacious, entertaining environment for your parrot because if they are happy, you will be happier as well. Parrots live for decades so the investment is well worth it.

Amanda Drake managed a parrot rescue in Arizona for 3 years and is dedicated to making sure people understand the commitment required when taking a parrot as a pet. Her website http://www.birdvideo.org is dedicated to helping neglected and abused parrots.

This is a great video that I just have to share with you.

By Kaye Dennan

Having a sick parrot is very disconcerting and because parrots need urgent care if they are very unwell it is beneficial to be able to read the signs of ill health even before the parrot gets really unwell. Not unlike us when we are unwell, parrots do show signs of not being happy which in turn could mean that they are sick. The body language of a pet parrot is a very good way to tell if your parrot is sick.

A parrot does need to feed each day so if a parrot gets very ill very quickly it is important that a visit to the vet is organized early on without waiting a day or two as we do sometimes with other pets like dogs or cats.

What to look for in your parrot so that you can pick up signs of illness. Is it:

· as happy as it usually

· eating properly

· shying away and not being interactive

· sitting in a corner of its cage not showing interest in anything

· sitting on both legs, rather than the one leg it will often sit on if it is resting

· picking at its feathers and/or its feet

· doing anything that is out of character

· biting when it does not usually have that sort of behavior

· happy to come out of its cage but just wants to cuddle up and not interact

Keep these signs in mind when observing your parrot.

Other signs that a parrot owner might observe is aggression and squawking. A sick parrot does not usually like being handled and can get quite aggressive. Another telltale sign is if the parrot is fanning is tail as this is another sign that he is not happy.

A continually squawking parrot means that he could be suffering from distress so it is wise to check out his cage and to see what is going on. The squawking might not be too raucous but constant. Check on the nutritional value of his feed to make sure he is getting all his vitamins and nutrients. This is a good place to start if he is still eating.

Otherwise squawking can be for one of many reasons: loss of a family member, boredom, fear, lack of sleep or even jealousy (which could be over another pet or a family friend). This would mean that the parrot’s illness is more of an emotional nature than a physical one.

Squawking is a way of attracting attention. I have heard of one case where there was a rat in the aviary with the parrot and the parrot was going absolutely crazy squawking and flapping his wings. The owner could not figure it out until they looked in the bottom of the aviary and saw the rat.

Being an observant parrot owner means that the parrot will have a much happier life. As a pet owner we all need to make sure we are taking the best care of our animals and creatures that we can as they do rely on us for their overall well being.

By Chet Hastings

Once you have become acquainted with your new cockatiel and have come to terms with all the added chores bird ownership can present you may decide to attempt to train your bird to talk. This can be a tedious chore if you are not dedicated to the effort and willing to have the necessary patience. However you will most likely be much more appreciative of your new pet and feel closer to it once it begins to mimic the words you have taught it.

There has always been discussion concerning which sex of cockatiel is the better learner. Some bird owners maintain that a female will not learn to talk or at best will only learn a very few words. Others maintain that they have had success with both sexes. Other inexperienced owners are never really sure whether they have a male or female. Attempting to train your bird to talk is really worth the effort if for not other reason you become closer to your bird and learn more of it’s habits.

Young birds are usually easier to train to speak than older birds who are set in their habits. It is still possible but will normally take much longer and use up a greater share of your patience.So if you are going to try it is best to get started as soon as your bird is comfortable with you and is hand tamed. Keep in mind that cockatiels are not parrots and will never equal their vocabulary.

Make sure that there are no distractions during the teaching sessions. Loud music or other background which distracts the bird will confuse your bird. There are two schools of thought regarding the technique of covering the cage while training your bird. Some owners feel that the bird will have more concentration if he cannot see you. Others feel that the bird does better and is much more attentive and at ease if he can see his tutor. You may try to cover at lest the sides of the cage to eliminate outside distractions and then experiment with a completely covered cage if you feel the training is not showing results.

A good technique is to began the training sessions by very clearly and at the same pitch for about 15 minutes. Then a short break is in order before repeating the lesson. Leave the bird alone for 4 or more hours and then repeat the lesson. remember that your cockatiel does not real talk in the sense that humans do but only mimics what he learns. There is much more involved in training your cockatiel to talk but this short article should give you enough information to begin the process.

Raggedy Ann and Raggedy Andy are a pair of Cockatoos that have lived together like an old married couple for the past 50 years.  They were used by a commercial bird breeder for more than 30 years and then discarded when they were no longer useful.  That’s when the pair came to the attention of Under My Wing Avian Refuge.

The non-profit bird sanctuary based in New Jersey rescued Ann and Andy along with five other exotic birds.  All of them showed signs of neglect.  One Amazon named Herbie was in particularly bad shape and could barely stand.  The breeder had allowed the bird’s nails to overgrow and curl into his feet.

All seven birds returned to Under My Wing with the organization’s founder, Paula Ashfield.  They joined the 130 other rescued exotic birds at the sanctuary where it was assumed they would safely spend the rest of their lives.

But in late Fall, 2009 Ashfield’s world suddenly fell apart when she received word that Under My Wing Avian Refuge was no longer welcome in the New Jersey town she had called home for many years.  She and her husband were at a loss about what to do for the birds that they fondly call “the kids.”

“We had to make sure there is always a sanctuary for the kids,” Ashfield said.

Under My Wing is the only no-kill exotic bird rescue organization in the area. They serve New Jersey, upstate New York, Connecticut and Pennsylvania. They rescue and rehabilitate birds that have been abused, neglected or abandoned.  The group is called upon by animal rescue groups, animal control and law enforcement agencies whenever a bird is in trouble.  Ashfield has even testified in court cases on behalf of the birds she has rescued.

So on a wing and a prayer the Ashfields’ began a search that eventually led them to the animal friendly city of Wantage, New Jersey and a foreclosed home on 10 ½ acres.  Over the past several weeks Under My Wing has been getting ready for “the kids” to arrive in their new home.

Ashfield said it has taken the combined help from electricians, plumbers and carpenters to repair the rundown home on the property and turn it into a safe haven for the birds.  In addition, Under My Wing had to install a water heater, alarm system and additional plumbing to filter well water for the birds to drink and bathe.

One by one finally “the kids” arrived at their new home in a rented van.  Paula reported that all of the 130 plus birds are doing well.  Only a Cockatiel named Tommy had a slight accident after the move when he flew into a window.

All in all Paula is excited about the prospects of the new sanctuary.  “The bigger space will allow us to do what we want.”

The larger facility will let Under My Wing expand their humane education program for children.  Paula is adamant this is the only way to stop the abuse and neglect of exotic birds.  The group’s humane program teaches kids about the special needs of exotic birds and gives them a hands-on experience with them.

The other major goal is to have the organization approved by FEMA so Under My Wing can accept exotic birds that are displaced after a federal emergency or natural disaster.

Like most small animal rescue groups, Under My Wing works on a very tight budget with a handful of dedicated volunteers. Their relocation has used up most of their funds.

Here is a wish list of things this very deserving group could use to make their transition go smoother:

• New perches for every cage
• Chewable toys and hanging ropes for the birds
• Volunteers to get the sanctuary organized and the grounds in shape
• Materials to build outdoor aviaries
• Donations to purchase bird food, vitamins and other supplies
• A van to transport the birds

Click here to read more about Under My Wing Avian Refuge and how to donate supplies.