Pet birds are beautiful, intelligent creatures, and many of them have the interesting feature of being able to speak. Answers to the following seven questions will increase your chances of choosing one who can speak.
1. What is the best way to determine speaking ability? The only way to ensure that your pet can talk is to hear him talk. Although some breeds appear to be more capable of talking than others, every bird is an individual and there is no guarantee that the bird you choose will be able to talk or live up to the breed’s usual standard.
Make sure that the ability to talk is secondary to your commitment to providing a healthy and loving environment for the bird of your choice. He depends on you from day one.
2. Are there certain types more likely to occur? Yes, larger parrots have a reputation for being more talkative. These include the cockatoo, the yellow-headed Amazon macaw, and some parrots. Smaller breeds such as cockatiels, parakeets, and conures are often able to vocalize as well.
3. What age can I expect to start hearing words? The speaking age varies with the breed. Most birds need to start young, as during the first several years of a bird’s life there is limited opportunity to train them. However, the Congo African Gray is the exception to this rule because he talks later and continues to learn new words throughout his life.
4. Does it matter where I adopt the bird? A hand-fed bird is the better choice (usually from the breeder) because it has developed a trusting relationship with humans. Having a bird that is not afraid of humans is a huge advantage, and it can come with great benefits when you start training.
5. Are there factors that can help determine whether a bird will talk? In general, male birds are better talkers than females. A little bird makes a better student. A healthy bird is a good choice for obvious reasons. And the breed is very important.
6. I bought a bird because he was supposed to be able to learn words, but he couldn’t. Why? Depending on the age of your bird, you may be missing out on learning your bird. It may also be an individual or gender trait. Some birds, no matter what they are supposed to be able to do, don’t have the ability.
I hope you continue to provide a good home for your bird despite this flaw in your plans. You may get to the point where you are enjoying your bird because does not speak. Think about it a bit.
7. Is there a way to pick a bird from the pet store that can talk? Trying to decide which bird will speak is a risky business. Watch the bird at different times of the day to see how talkative it is; The more chatter, the better your chances of bringing home a speaker. Also avoid birds that show signs of disease such as swollen feathers, low energy, and any secretions from the eyes and nose.