Quaker parrots may be smaller but their ability to talk is better than those of the larger parrots. They are very sociable birds, not to mention very intelligent. These make them the perfect candidates for training how to talk. If you have a Quaker parrot as a pet, or if you plan to get one, below are some tips on how to make them talk.
- Find out how old your Quaker parrot is. Although Quaker parrots can be taught how to talk at any age, the younger ones can be trained faster. If you’re training an older parrot, expect progress to be slower. The ideal age for parrots to be trained is between 2 and 5 years.
- Make sure that your pet is healthy most especially during the training. Birds are like people who are feeling under the weather. They will not be able to concentrate fully while trying to learn if they are not physically well. This is the same if they are unhappy. Make sure that you provide them with enough space to move about, and give them some toys so they can be more active.
- Establish trust. Birds should be able to trust their owners. In fact, they should love their owners. If they have no interest in their owners, then they would lack the initiative to communicate. Be attentive to your parrot’s needs and establish rapport with them by talking to them and by making your presence known. A lonely parrot is a quiet parrot.
- Be patient and caring during training as well. Do not expect them to learn to talk overnight. They will sense your frustration or anger, and these negative emotions will also affect their willingness to learn. Observe and you’ll see parrots that adore their owners are the ones that are great talkers too.
- Write a vocabulary list that you wish for your parrot to learn. Try to teach the words one or a few at a time. The best way to do this is by establishing a routine with your Quaker parrot. Set two to three short training sessions (15 to 45 minutes each) each day. Combine these training sessions with some activity that has something to do with the word you are teaching. Here are some examples:
- The first thing you need to teach your pet is its name. Use its name every time you call its attention.
- If you wish to teach the word “Yum!,” you can incorporate this during feeding.
- To teach your parrot to whistle a particular song, you can whistle while you are cleaning the cages.
- To teach your parrot to say “hello,” always say the word when you enter the room where it stays Say the word “goodbye” every time you leave. This will eventually train it to send you off with a greeting.
- Remember to put a lot of genuine emotions behind the words. Quaker parrots pick up on the intensity of emotions behind the words. This is the reason why a lot of birds, not just parrots, learn to curse easily. So, if you wish your parrots to learn faster, assume a happy tone during training.
- Don’t forget to reward your pet when it gets a job well done. Genuine praise, an offer of a treat, and a soft scratch against its neck will encourage your pet to be more communicative.