Birds

Macaws are beautiful birds that can be wonderful companion parrots. It is hard to resist these comical, colorful parrots that are simply full of personality. They have been kept as companions for centuries. In the United States, it is documented that Pueblo Indians have these prized parrot as far back as 1100 A.D.

Is a Macaw Parrot the Right Pet for You

If you are considering adding a Macaw to your live, keep in mind this is a really big decision. These parrots are highly intelligent and require a lot of time and care from their human flock. They also require study, safe cages for the time that you can’t be there to supervise them outside the cage.

They can be noisy and therefore may not be the best choice for apartment dwellers who want to add a parrot to their lives.

Macaws Make Wonderful Pets

Many of the Macaw species are available for sale and they vary in price. Yes they make really good talkers if you take the time to work with them. Macaws are very active and need a good nutritious diet.

They like to be scratched and cuddled. They can learn to accept multiple members of a family with a little work. Hand-fed baby Macaws are very sweet and do make fun pets for people willing to properly care for them.

Macaw Species

The large Macaw species that are most commonly found for sale are: Blue and Gold Macaws, Greenwing Macaws, Scarlet Macaws, Military Macaws, Red Fronted Macaws, Blue Throated Macaws, and Hyacinth Macaws.

The different species vary in price depending on availability and rarity. I must say, though, that all Macaws are great parrots. Babies and adults of all species are fun to keep as pets.

Which Macaw Species to Own

For those that can provide the right home for a Macaw, the hardest part of the decision is choosing which Macaw species to own. Macaws are not inexpensive; even the small species cost several hundred dollars and the large Hyacinth Macaw, an absolutely gorgeous parrot, can cost as much as $25,000!

You also have to provide a large, sturdy cage for your Macaw, and this is another large expense. You’ll need to provide veterinary care as needed with at least one check-up per year, as well as food and lots of toys which will almost immediately be destroyed by the large, strong beak.

But any happy Macaw owner will tell you it is well worth every cent of the cost to be loved by one of these magnificent, elegant feathered creatures.

Blue and Gold Macaws

Just about everyone loves the beautiful blue and gold Macaws. These birds are commonly seen the companion parrot market and they adapt to live with humans quite easily. These big birds have three color variations, all of which are mainly blue and gold but with slightly different patterns.

Greenwing Macaw

The greenwing Macaw is the Macaw whose name and color just do not match! These birds are mainly red with a band of green on the wings. These are not seen in the pet market as commonly as the blue and gold, but more are being seen recently.

They are very smart and extremely mischievous. There are two subspecies of greenwing Macaws, both are among the largest Macaw species.

Hyacinth Macaw

The Hyacinth Macaw is a rare and gorgeous parrot. The blue-violet plumage combined with the bright yellow skin and loving, gentle nature makes this one of the most sought-after Macaws, but also the most expensive.

Because the numbers in the wild are on the decline, any responsible Hyacinth Macaw owner should breed the parrot once it reaches adulthood.

Military Macaw

The military Macaw is red and green, but a bit more muted tones than some of the other Macaws. They are still beautiful birds and have tons of personality and are frequently very talented talkers. They are slightly smaller than the blue and gold and other large Macaws listed above.

Hahn’s Macaw

The Hahn’s Macaw is the smallest Macaw commonly seen on the pet market. This little guy is full of personality but in a smaller package. Sometimes called the “mini Macaw” because of its size, it is the least expensive of the Macaws and can easily fit into a home that isn’t well suited for the bigger Macaws.

Red Fronted Macaw (Ara Rubrogenys)

Comical and attentive these Macaws are much smaller than those more commonly seen. They have pleasant voices and a mischievous nature. They enjoy peanuts and corn.

One of the mid-range Macaws, these two foot long birds are about a foot shorter than their larger family members. What they lose in size, they make up for in personality. Though certainly not as common as Blue and Golds and Scarlets, captive bred birds are usually available.

Scarlet Macaw (Ara Macao)

Nature created a spectacular combination of color in this Macaw. They are in the top ten of the worlds most beautiful parrots. Preferring the love of the immediate family over large crowds. They can become real show-offs if introduced to the public life at a young age. The most impressionable of the large Macaws, Scarlets are particularly sensitive to mistreatment of any type.

They have sometimes been called “nippy,” but if raised in a loving environment, allowed daily freedom from their cages and played with, they will match any Blue and Gold. They are highly sensitive to their environment and do poorly if raised in isolation.

They can be the most loving and adoring member of the family, but if mistreated when they are raised or teased they can become headstrong and unhappy. There are several variations of the Scarlet; most notably an uncommon variety with emerald green on the wing along with the yellow; and the more common wide patch of yellow.

Their declining populations in the wild continues to cause great concern for tropical environmentalists.

Macaws as Pets

Provided they are given a healthy diet, allowed freedom from their cage and given lots of attention Macaws will be life long companions. These birds are so long lived that several dogs and cats will have been born and died in one Macaw’s lifetime in your home.

It is because of this longevity that deciding on a pet Macaw should not be taken lightly. This is not the time for impulse buying that you might regret later.

While a number of Macaw species are now commonly bred in the U.S. and elsewhere in the world, certain species remain difficult to breed and their populations remain low in the wild.

The wild populations of Buffon’s, Hyacinth and Blue-throated Macaws have severely declined in recent years. In my opinion they are still too rare to be used as pets. I would, however, encourage serious breeders to work with these species.

Macaw Health

This is the single most important consideration when purchasing your Macaw. Anyone selling a Macaw should be willing to have their bird checked by an avian veterinarian before you take it home.

Included in that exam should be a Complete Blood Count (known as a CBC), cultures of the throat and vent, and a Chlamydia (psittacosis) screen. It takes about two days for the results of these tests to be determined. A signed vet certificate should accompany the bird.

If all the tests and the exam reveal no apparent disease you can feel fairly confident about your purchase. As a precaution all new birds should still be quarantined from the rest of your birds for a minimum of 45 days.

Age of Macaw

The age is less important than the health and temperament of the bird. Buying a young bird does not guarantee tameness and buying an older Macaw does not mean the bird will not make a good pet. Macaws are individuals.

Macaws will continue to grow until they are about a year and a half old. Baby Macaws have dark eyes which lighten as they age, except for Buffon’s and Hyacinths which remain dark when they are mature.

Male or Female Macaw

The gender is not important for pet purposes. The only reason to desire a certain sex would be to breed or prevent breeding.

Some pet owners may desire to get birds that are the same sex as the birds they already have to avoid breeding. With some species them appears to be fewer of one or the other sex. Because of this there is a greater demand from breeders for these rarer birds.

From a temperament standpoint I see few differences. There are introverts and extroverts in both sexes. The males are not always larger than the females. This varies more due to their genetic background and the species. Talking ability does not seem to be sex related.

Macaw Talking

Large Macaws do talk quite well if you put the time into teaching them. Unlike some smaller parrots their voice is quite loud so when they speak it’s not difficult to know what they’re saying. Be careful what you teach them, though, because it’s not as easy to eliminate colorful words from their vocabulary, if you you know what I mean.

Macaw Diet

A Macaws’ diet is made up of fruits, vegetables, nuts, a good seed mix, and mineral/vitamin supplements. Pellets can be added to the diet to eliminate the need for vitamin supplements. Pellets should not replace any other part of the diet.

Peanuts and other non-salted nuts should be given as Macaws need more fat than other parrots. Foods that should not be fed are: anything with caffeine, anything with lots of salt, no chocolate. skip onions tomatoes and avocado.

Macaw Handling

Handling and cuddling are a very important part of the whole Macaw experience. They love it! There’s nothing like a good scratch or gentle hug. Yes, everyone in the family should take part in this experience so that your pet Macaw doesn’t form a strong bond with any one person.

Macaw Behavior

Behavior is a huge issue when keeping pet birds. In fact the number one reason people get rid of their bird is because they can no longer deal with a behavior problem. Most if not all problems can be avoided or corrected if you learn to understand bird behavior. I would recommend learning as much as you possibly can.

Look for book authors who have actually studied field guides and wild bird behavior. Remember, a nutritious diet, daily handling, short training sessions for desired behavior (like talking), and a good bird behavior book will get you rolling into the world of the majestic Macaws.

Locating a Macaw

There are primarily three ways to acquire a bird; a pet shop, pet owner or directly from the breeder. In addition, your veterinarian might be helpful in providing information on available birds.

The Macaws Birds History

The more information you can find out about the bird’s lifestyle before you get them the better.

How are they housed, inside or outside? What temperature range are they used to? What is their diet? Knowing their favorite foods might make their adjustment to your home less stressful. Are they able to fly?

This will have an affect on how you position the perches. Learn as much about their feather condition, personality and previous medical history as possible.

Find out what other types of birds are on the premises. This will help you assess the risk factor of bringing in this new bird. When did the seller last get a new bird? This is also important.

If they are not following a strict quarantine of new arrivals, the bird you wish to purchase might have been exposed to this new bird.

What does the purchase price include? Will the owner have an avian veterinarian check the bird? What will that include? Suggested protocol would be a complete physical exam, blood work, cultures of the vent and throat, and chlamydia screen.

Different species might require different tests be done. Who will pay for that exam? Will the owner include written information about the bird? What is the return policy? These things all need to be discussed prior to your purchase.

Cost of the Macaw Bird

Just like with other commodities the cost is based on rarity. If the bird is uncommon in captivity or in the wild, you can expect to pay a higher price. If the bird is bred frequently in captivity, the cost will normally reflect this. If the seller has done all the veterinarian checks, sex determination and weaning you can expect to pay more.

This is beneficial to the buyer who otherwise would have to do it himself As many people have found out a higher cost does not guarantee a healthy bird.

If you can give a Macaw a loving, caring, safe, and healthy home, you’ll have a cuddly friend for live. You might even consider looking into adopting a Macaw that needs to be re-homed as an option.

This can save you a great deal of the cost of purchase but does require that you invest some time working with parrots and submit to a screening process. It is well worthwhile to have the satisfaction of having a Macaw that needs a loving home come to love you and your family.

Bad Parrot Behavior

Have you ever been awaken by your Parrot screaming early in the morning? Does your Parrot scream when you leave the room, come home from work or scream for what seems, „just the fun of it“? Why do Parrots scream and what can be done about bad Parrot behavior? Parrot training is essential to help Stop a Screaming Parrot.

Remember, Parrots are social creatures and vocalization is normal for all birds because that’s their primary way of communicating. So there is going to be a certain amount of squeaks and chatter from your Parrot. You have to understand this but also be able to determine normal chatter from distress screaming.

Normal Screaming Parrot

It’s normal for Parrots to scream a little bit first thing in the morning. I once owned a Cockatiel who was notorious for waking me up every morning and wouldn’t let up. He refused to be ignored until he got his morning neck rub. Parrots will typically scream when you get home from work also.

These are normal screams and usually will subside once you greet your bird, spend a minute with them to let them know you’re there by simply responding to their way of saying „hello flock member“.

Of course if your bird is hungry or without water you can bet he is going to let you know about it.

Bad Screaming Parrot

Bad may not be the best way to describe this but your Parrot will also scream if he is bored, lonely and continually isolated. Don’t forget, Parrots are very intelligent and social birds and they need interaction from the flock; this means you. The worst thing you can do is ignore your Parrot and throw a sheet over his cage to make him shut up when all he wants to do is talk to you.

Parrots need something to do. You can help by first of all making sure you have a large enough cage so your bird isn’t cramped up. Make sure there are plenty of toys for your bird to play with. Leave the T.V. on when you go to work so he gets some sort of stimulus when no one is home. Try sitting in a room all day by yourself and see how you like it.

How to Stop Parrot Screaming

Always remember that Parrots communicate through vocalization and you will never completely stop all screaming. Birds do this naturally in nature and you don’t want to totally deny them of their natural expression. But there are a few things you can do to alleviate some of the birds screaming.

Train your Parrot. A trained Parrot is a happy and more controllable Parrot. Spend time with your bird and teach him bird tricks. You are the dominant flock member so take charge. Start out by teaching your bird the „step up/step down“ command and move on from there.

This is the most important thing you can do. Stop unwanted behavior before it progresses by imposing dominance over your bird. When you „make“ your bird step up you are showing him who is in control. You exert your dominance by insisting your Parrot „do“ what you want him to do, not what he wants to do.

A noisy house will also contribute to a loud bird because Parrots tend to emulate their environment. If the T.V. is loud and the kids are screaming your bird will naturally ramp up the volume and „communicate“ likewise.

Don’t yell or scream back at your bird and tell him to shut up. That’s a positive response for the parrot and he thinks he did the right thing. You’re giving him the attention he wants but it will backfire on you.

Of course you never want to hit your Parrot or shake the cage violently because now you’re only making the situation worse and producing a bird that’s fearful and a scared bird won’t trust you and can be dangerous.

It takes a little time and a little patience but you can get your Parrot under control and make your bird a happy family member.

Parrot behavior is the subject of a great deal of study and research. Just as parrots in the wild have a social structure and behaviors that communicate their feelings, desires, and moods, companion parrots use behaviors to communicate their needs to their human flocks. You simply have to learn how to read parrot behavior to “speak parrot”.

A large part of a parrot’s behavior has to do with taking care of its physical needs each day. The parrot will wake up about the time daylight begins and, with short naps along the way, continue its day until darkness. Many parrots adjust this pattern because of artificial lighting, but parrots need quite a bit of sleep time to be healthy.

During waking hours that are not spent interacting with the human flock, a parrot will spend time eating and grooming. A great deal of time is spent each day preening feathers so that every feather is in perfect condition. Play is another parrot behavior you’ll see daily.

If you have a companion parrot in your home, you may notice that your parrot eats when it sees humans eating. This parrot behavior is because in the wild parrots eat as a flock frequently. Your parrot will probably love it if you include it in mealtimes, serving some healthy human foods to the bird and introducing new foods at this time. It is much more likely to try new foods when it sees its owner eating them.

Good and Bad Parrot Behavior

Generally, a parrot makes noise in the mornings shortly after waking and during the late afternoon. This is the parrot’s way of saying it is glad to be alive. It can also be a means of attempting to attract a mate and you may hear special sounds that are indicative of sexual calls.

A parrot behavior that simply can’t be changed is the fact that every parrot that is a companion parrot will make contact calls with its humans from time to time. Your parrot can be expected to call to you when you return home after being away for any length of time, from a few minutes to a few hours. It is telling you how happy it is to see you return.

Some parrots also call when their humans leave them. It is not normal for a happy, healthy parrot to scream all the time, however. This can result from boredom, lack of attention, improper training or socialization, behavioral problems due to improper hand feeding or weaning, or illness.

Another parrot behavior that can’t and shouldn’t be changed is the desire to chew on wood and engage in other forms of play with its beak. Parrots in the wild chew wood to wear down their beaks, to create nesting cavities in trees, and as a form of play. Do not expect to teach a parrot not to chew on its toy. In fact, this parrot behavior should be encouraged because busy beaks are happy beaks.

Changes in Parrot’s Behavior

If you notice your parrot’s behavior changes significantly suddenly, you should watch closely to be sure your parrot is not ill. A parrot that stops playing, grooming, interacting with humans, eating, or begins to sleep an abnormal amount is probably ill and medical attention must be sought quickly to ensure the illness is treated before the parrot becomes so ill it can not be saved.

Parrot behavior is a complex issue and if you watch your parrot closely, you’ll begin to understand the meaning of the parrot behaviors it exhibits. You’ll understand your parrot much more if you watch behaviors, keeping in mind what has just occurred that elicited the action on the parrot’s part.

Stop Parrot Screaming

Have you ever been awaken by your parrot screaming early in the morning? Does your parrot scream when you leave the room, come home from work or scream for what seems, “just the fun of it”? Why do parrots scream and what can be done about bad parrot behavior? Parrot training is essential to help Stop a Screaming Parrot.

Remember, parrots are social creatures and vocalization is normal for all birds because that’s their primary way of communicating. So there is going to be a certain amount of squeaks and chatter from your parrot. You have to understand this but also be able to determine normal chatter from distress screaming.

Normal Screaming Parrot

It’s normal for parrots to scream a little bit first thing in the morning. I once owned a Cockatiel who was notorious for waking me up every morning and wouldn’t let up. He refused to be ignored until he got his morning neck rub. Parrots will typically scream when you get home from work also.

These are normal screams and usually will subside once you greet your bird, spend a minute with them to let them know you’re there by simply responding to their way of saying “hello flock member”.

Of course if your bird is hungry or without water you can bet he is going to let you know about it.

Bad Screaming Parrot

Bad may not be the best way to describe this but your parrot will also scream if he is bored, lonely and continually isolated. Don’t forget, parrots are very intelligent and social birds and they need interaction from the flock; this means you. The worst thing you can do is ignore your parrot and throw a sheet over his cage to make him shut up when all he wants to do is talk to you.

Parrots need something to do. You can help by first of all making sure you have a large enough cage so your bird isn’t cramped up. Make sure there are plenty of toys for your bird to play with. Leave the T.V. on when you go to work so he gets some sort of stimulus when no one is home. Try sitting in a room all day by yourself and see how you like it.

Always remember that parrots communicate through vocalization and you will never completely stop all screaming. Birds do this naturally in nature and you don’t want to totally deny them of their natural expression. But there are a few things you can do to alleviate some of the birds screaming.

Train Your Parrot

A trained parrot is a happy and more controllable parrot. Spend time with your bird and teach him bird tricks. You are the dominant flock member so take charge. Start out by teaching your bird the “step up/step down” command and move on from there.

This is the most important thing you can do. Stop unwanted behavior before it progresses by imposing dominance over your bird. When you “make” your bird step up you are showing him who is in control. You exert your dominance by insisting your parrot “do” what you want him to do, not what he wants to do.

A noisy house will also contribute to a loud bird because parrots tend to emulate their environment. If the T.V. is loud and the kids are screaming your bird will naturally ramp up the volume and “communicate” likewise.

Don’t yell or scream back at your bird and tell him to shut up. That’s a positive response for the parrot and he thinks he did the right thing. You’re giving him the attention he wants but it will backfire on you.

Of course you never want to hit your parrot or shake the cage violently because now you’re only making the situation worse and producing a bird that’s fearful and a scared bird won’t trust you and can be dangerous.

It takes a little time and a little patience but you can get your parrot under control and make your bird a happy family member. If you would like to get free parrot video training you can right here.

Stop Parrot Biting

As beautiful and affectionate as your parrot can be there’s nothing worse then a parrot that bites. Parrot training is the answer. There are a lot of reasons your bird may bite and the biggest reason is most likely a test of dominance. How you respond to a biting parrot will determine how quickly you can bring the situation under control.

Understanding Parrot Behavior

In the wild birds use their beaks for eating, playing, display and defense; not for biting. But they will use the beak when necessary for dominance against other birds. The natural instinct for all animals is to try and be the dominant member of the group, pack, or in this case the flock.

Young birds may bite as they mature but this is natural and is simply the result of them teething and discovering the abilities they have with their beaks. But older birds may very well be testing you and attempting to gain control of you.

Of course fear is a primary consideration which we don’t want to leave out. But if you have established a relationship of trust with your bird then you can rule this out altogether. So if you have a bird from a previous owner then the first thing you are going to have to do of course is start out slow and gain your birds trust.

Don’t rush it, you have to take things slow in the beginning. Remember, your bird doesn’t know you don’t want to hurt him.

Don’t Let Your Bird Punk You

If you got your bird when he was a baby chances are he was hand fed and you may not have had any issues with challenge biting. But after about six months or so even a sweet baby bird may bite you. If you have an older bird and he/she starts to bite you in an attempt to gain dominance you have to let your lovable friend know who is in charge.

Parrots are among the most intelligent of birds and they can, and will, push the limits of your patience. It’s up to you to make sure you stay in control and remain dominant.

How To Stop Parrot Biting

• Parrot Dont’s

Don’t pull your hand away in fear. I know this is a hard one but don’t do it. Birds can sense the fear and when you pull away quickly you are yielding to the bird and that puts them in a position of authority. You have to stand your ground and be the leader.

Never yell at the bird in a loud voice when you get bitten. Birds communicate through loud verbal exchanges and in fact they actually enjoy being loud. So when you scream in pain you’re actually responding in a positive way as far as your bird is concerned and therefore reinforcing a negative behavior, and this will not help stop parrot biting.

• Parrot Do’s

Put yourself in a position of dominance by placing your birds perch below you. Never put your bird up high in a cage or perch so that they look down on you (literally). You’re giving your best friend the high ground; Don’t do it!

Do you want your bird to look down on you? Of course not, you want him to look up to you as the dominate member. It is as much psychological as it is physical for you and for your bird it becomes instinctive to submit to dominance.

Stop Your Bird from Biting

Make your biting parrot submit by commanding him to step onto your hand with the “up” command. Instead of backing away place your hand up high against his chest and make him step up. By imposing your force you are displaying dominance once again.

Do this over and over again, at least five times after a bite so that you end the session on a positive note but most of all with you in control.

One last thing, and this may sound a little crazy, but make sure you use facial expressions when disciplining your parrot. Did you know parrots actually do recognize expressions of happiness, anger and disgust.

Use these techniques to stop your bird from biting. Be patient and take it slow. Find out more by getting free video training on the best way to stop parrot biting.

How to Stop Parrots Feather Plucking Problems

Some parrots are great pluckers like the African Grey. The reason behind the plucking is almost always due to behavioral problems like parrot boredom, parrot physical problems or disinterest on its surroundings or its owners.

Because plucking is a cycle behavior, once a parrot starts to self-mutilate, it is very hard to stop him from doing it. So, you must know how to stop the cycle.

But why do parrots pluck in the first place?

There are a variety of reasons for a parrot to be a feather plucker, and I will just name a few below…

Feather Plucking

Your parrot is not receiving enough human interaction – if you don’t give proper attention to your parrot he may turn into a feather picking parrot!

Your parrot is receiving too much attention – parrots are like small babies who need your beloved and dedicated attention. But like a spoiled child, if you manage to give them too much attention, your parrot will probably behave on a feather plucking manner!

Someone hit or screamed to the parrot and he got emotionally abused or there was a single frightening experience in his life.

Dietary and nutritional imbalances.

Environmental problems – this can be the air being too dry or smoking around your parrot.

To end a parrot feather plucking behavior, you must consider to spend quality time with your parrot, for his psychological health and well being, as activities help him to avoid distress and prevent some of the most common feather picking and screeching problems parrots face. For instance, rotate its parrot toys on a consistent basis.

Parrot feather plucking tips to consider:

Place tree branches around your parrot – this is to remove attention from his feathers to the branches, and he will probably start to chew them instead of his feathers.

Get your parrot natural vitamins and minerals – these are crucial to the natural feather condition of your parrot.

Provide daily fresh eucalyptus branches and also fresh water – this helps prevent boredom.

Any bird is trainable but you have to remember that its up to you to make sure conditions are optimal for successful training. Bird have needs just like people. You need to make sure you’re feeding them correctly with nutritious food. Make sure they have plenty of fresh water, toys to play with to keep them stimulated and of course a really nice big cage. You would be surprised at how many people get a cage that’s way too small for their bird.

Exotic birds are absolutely wonderful pets. They’re super smart and inquisitive too but they also require interaction and can be very demanding of your attention. That’s why it’s vitally important to interact with your parrot and that means training them.

The family of exotic birds vary among species and there will be differences in training but the main thing you must first do is build trust with your bird. That means taking it nice and slow and building a relationship with your bird. Yup, a relationship and with any relationship that means having patience and taking things slow.

One method of parrot training is the use of repetition with a treat given when the bird responds in the correct way. Your bird gets the treat and further positive interaction with you. When the bird does not respond to the right command, you ignore the response and don’t give a treat.

Bird training is all about repetition; giving the command and having your bird do it over and over again. This needs to done everyday for a specified amount of time, like 15-20 minutes a day. Don’t over do it but make sure you reward your bird when he gets it right. You’ll be amazed at how fast your bird will catch on.

Have a Perfect Parrot Pet

You can have the perfect bird or parrot. A parrot that doesn’t scream and lunge at you when you get too close. If you have a bird that’s scared of you the first thing you need to do is give him a little room. Some species tend to be more jittery then others but one thing you can do right away is simply back off.

Approach the cage slowly and as soon as your bird becomes noticeably uncomfortable STOP!. Stop right where you are and talk to him in a peaceful calm manner for a couple of minutes. Walk away, wait for awhile and then repeat.

What does this accomplish? First, it lets the bird know that you’re not trying to hurt him and it also calms him because you’re not invading his space. This is a fundamental technique which is very effective in allowing you to get close to even the most agitated type of bird. Clicker training birds is another method used as well.

Teach Your Parrot to Talk

You ever notice when visitors come over and see your pretty bird someone will always ask “Can he talk?“ Parrots are known for talking and most people simply assume if you have a parrot he must be able to talk, right? Wrong. All parrots have the ability to “mimic” human speech and some species are better “talkers” then others. Your parrots ability to learn how to talk is going to be dependent upon YOU having everything in place to allow your bird to learn properly. Which means conditions for learning should be as ideal as possible.

Help Your Parrot Learn to Talk

A healthy and happy trained parrot will learn to talk faster then a bird who is not trained. Parrot training is the first thing you need to do. Make sure your bird has a nice big cage, plenty of food and water and interaction with you on a daily basis.

Your bird has to trust and love you but also know that you are the dominate one. You have to be caring and very patient when it comes to teaching your bird how to talk. It’s also easier to teach younger birds how to talk then it is trying to teach older ones, so the best time to start is shortly after weaning if you’re fortunate enough to get a young bird.

You have to be consistent and set a daily routine when training your bird to talk. This is a rule of thumb for any type of bird training whether it’s learning to talk or learning basic bird tricks.

Best Bird Talkers

There is some controversy as to which birds are the best talkers but the general consensus is that some of the best talkers include:

• African Grey
• Eclectus Parrot
• Budgies
• Sulfer Crested Cockatoos
• Double Yellow Heads
• Long Billed Corellas
• Blue Front Amazon
• Quakers and the Yellow Nape

This is the short list and in no way rules out the ability of other species to talk. The moral to the story is every bird will be different. Yes some birds are “prone” to having a better ability to mimic than others but in the end it all comes down to environment and your ability to be patient and consistent in your bird training routine.

Here’s The Rub

Every body loves a good old neck rub. The neck rub is that special attachment you have with your bird and it represents total affection between you and your bird.

Work up to the neck rub. The first step to a talking bird is an affectionate bird so if you have the ability to handle your bird comfortably do so. Talk to your bird repetitively as you rub his neck. Place him in front of you and repeat one word like, “kiss”, and then give him a kiss. Your parrot will associate the word and the action together.

This is one way to start training your parrot how to talk. It takes time and patience but you’ll be surprised at how fast your bird will catch on if you maintain regular training regiment.

6 Techniques to Get Your Pet Parrot to Talk

Start Young – The earlier you start to associate words with objects the better. Your bird may not respond initially, but many will understand what you mean long before they are able to actually say words.

Be Consistent – Set aside a short time for training each day-10 minutes is enough when getting started. If your student seems to lose interest during training, stop the session, reward, and be upbeat about what you accomplished.

You always want your bird to enjoy the interaction with you, be excited during the sessions, and be eager for more. You can train on your finger or on a perch, but be consistent so your bird knows what to expect and can relax and focus on what you want to teach each time.

Be Generous With Your Reward – The reward is so important and builds such trust, respect, and love between you and your bird. It can be a favorite treat, and don’t forget one of the best rewards is praise from its human.

Your happy and animated voice while stroking your bird on the head, under the chin, or on its back can be an invaluable incentive.

Keep it Personal – There are many automated tapes that you can play for your bird, and whereas some of this has its place, the best teacher for your bird is you, up close and personal.

Remember, only part of the process is about teaching your bird to speak. An equally important part of the process is having your pet feel a sense of accomplishment, and be able to please you.

A bird that feels successful and is praised after each session is much more likely to talk. And even if it never speaks, you’ve developed a bond that will only deepen with time.

Repeat and Repeat – When trying to get your bird to make associations, use the object and repeat the word slowly several times. As it masters words, reinforce the word by giving it the object it requests such as ball, toy, cracker.

Use words consistently when certain things happen. When people enter the room the cue might be welcome, welcome, welcome. When it’s time for dinner, the cue could be dinnertime. If you cover the cage at night it could be night, night or see you in the morning!

If you’re lucky, you’ve got a living tape recorder that is eager to soak up the words and say them back to you at just the right time. Be creative with what you decide to teach. You may be hearing it for years.

Don’t Worry, Be Happy – Don’t take your bird’s talking too seriously. Each bird has its own personality and will learn at its own rate. Set goals, but should you and your bird not be able to reach them, don’t let it spoil the fun.

Almost all parrots have the capacity for speech. It’s one of the biggest attractions for parrot owners, but it quickly becomes frustrating and disappointing when the birds don’t seem to catch on. Take heart, it’s easier than you think! Teaching your parrot to speak is very rewarding, and can be accomplished easily, as long as you keep three things in mind: patience, repetition, and dedication.

If you remain dedicated to the task, patient with your parrot, and continue to repeat the sounds on a regular basis, there is no doubt that your parrot will be talking in no time. Then, it’s just a simple matter of introducing new words and sounds.