Siobhan
New member
I've been taking Rocky Too into the little birds' room for visits. Last night I was playing with my cockatiel, Freddie, whom I've been teaching "pretty wings." I point at him and say "pretty wings!" and he spreads his wings out. I've found that the best way to teach a bird a "trick" is to find something they do anyway and attach a verbal cue to it, and he likes to show off.
Rocky was watching while we did this, and when I was putting him to bed later, he spread HIS wings and said "whoo!" (I say "whoo" when Freddie does it and then say "Freddie's a GOOD boy!" So naturally, I had to say, "whoo! Rocky's a GOOD boy!" Then I said "pretty wings!" and he did it again. He learned this from watching me and Freddie. In one session. He's also been working on his whistling. The little birds all whistle Beethoven's Fifth (just the first few notes). I'm really hoping he does more whistling and talking and less screaming if he learns things from the little birds.
Rocky was watching while we did this, and when I was putting him to bed later, he spread HIS wings and said "whoo!" (I say "whoo" when Freddie does it and then say "Freddie's a GOOD boy!" So naturally, I had to say, "whoo! Rocky's a GOOD boy!" Then I said "pretty wings!" and he did it again. He learned this from watching me and Freddie. In one session. He's also been working on his whistling. The little birds all whistle Beethoven's Fifth (just the first few notes). I'm really hoping he does more whistling and talking and less screaming if he learns things from the little birds.
