Charlie has stopped talking!

[Thekatsmeow]

I was given 2 birds from a close friend. One is an IRN, Charlie, and the other is a quaker, Lola. In the past when I have visited with these birds Charlie has always been a big talker. He taught Lola to talk. She didn't even have a name until she came to my home. They are very bonded and just recently she even laid eggs for him. These 2 have no idea that they are different from one another. Both birds are tame but I found Lola easier to handle. I took Lola out of the cage and gave her more personal attention which she loved but Charlie was very unhappy and vocal the entire time so I put her back to console him. Since this incidence she talks up a storm but he does not want to talk. How can I get him to talk again? Is it best just to leave them alone and not handle her? Will having them together make it more difficult to train her to talk? Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

 

[BirdSquawk]

Well isnt that odd! Is he still letting you hold him? Perhaps having a set time every day where only he gets attention will get him chatting again. You could also try a baby monitor or recorder to see if he is talking when you are gone. I dont think you should seperate them, he might become even more upset. Keep giving each one attention and maybe he will get over what i think could be jealousy.

 

[Thekatsmeow]

I think perhaps I am favoring the quaker because she didn't get much attention before. Although, since they are in the same cage, when I speak to them he might not know that I am talking only to her. I make eye contact with him also. I don't take him out of his cage because he just doesn't seem to enjoy it. The previous owner had a very busy schedule and didn't handle either of them much if at all. I think they are not used to so much stimulation and really prefer to get a hello and goodbye instead. It feels selfish for me to want to take her out and handle her when they are both so content to have each other. Perhaps I should look for another bird who wants and needs more one on one attention.

 

[Pookamama]

How long have you had them?

 

[Thekatsmeow]

They have been here for about a month now. Lol, Lola is reciting her favorite line "pretty pretty pretty bird". I love sundown.

 

[Thekatsmeow]

Re: Charlie has stopped talking! UPDATE

I have great news about Charlies non talking issue. as it turns out I believe he was just mad at me and I didn't realize he was starting his molt. I spent several days sitting by his cage talking softly to him for short periods of time. Then a light bulb turned on. Charlie is a male and any woman knows how to get a male to pay attention.......FOOD! I started offering him treats during our sessions and it started working slowly. At first all he had to do was make any sound at all and he got a treat, then we would be done for the day. We soon advanced to getting a treat when he talks. He even talked to my friend Lori, the conure lover, while I was on the phone with her! As far as I am concerned.....problem solved....case closed lol. I will be posting pics of Charlie, after molting, and his quaker girlfriend Lola soon.