Cockatiel trying to talk

[TheBirdWhisperer]

Hi everyone!

My cockatiel Rhino (now about 14 weeks) has been trying his very best to talk . He'll look at his toys and start rambling on lol. I've been trying to teach Rhino how to say "gimme kiss?" with a kissing noise at the end. A few days ago he started copying my tone of voice and then doing the kissing noise after, so he's trying to say it Instead it comes out more like "popocheu?" followed by the kissing noise. Hahaha! Very cute to listen to, being it sounds nothing like how I say it . So for my question, I was wondering as Rhino gets older, will be learn to pronounce the words better? Not that I'm complaining because he sounds adorable, but I would like my family and friends to be able to understand him as well. I do speak to him clearly, but I guess he just rather say "popocheu?" lol. Thank you all

 

[antoinette]

Rhino sure is a fast learner OMG
At 14 weeks and he is already trying to imitate you GREAT
All birds begin by "blabbing" he is definitely trying to talk.
Keep repeating a few simple words, in time he will definitely surprise you

 

[TheBirdWhisperer]

Thanks Antoinette, I hope he becomes a big talker when he's older He already knows how to wolf whistle and even though he can't pronounce words yet, he has the tone of voice down for some phrases. Its EXTREMELY hard to decipher, like cracking a code trying to figure out which phrase he is trying to say lol.

 

[lotosha]

That's great, very happy for you. As I understand they rarely talk. Mine at list never ever tried to do so. So good work!

 

[antoinette]

Thanks Antoinette, I hope he becomes a big talker when he's older He already knows how to wolf whistle and even though he can't pronounce words yet, he has the tone of voice down for some phrases. Its EXTREMELY hard to decipher, like cracking a code trying to figure out which phrase he is trying to say lol.

You are so on top of things High Five for noticing how the tone of his voice changes for some phrases.

He is definitely making wonderful progress, soon you will have a 24/7 chatterbox. Keep talking and talking, making sure he understands what is being said or asked.


Mishka my African Grey began talking exactly the way Rhino did.
Watch and listen to the video below

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b9sYyGulb9w]BEST TALKING PARROT IN THE WORLD MISHKA - @ 2 months old - YouTube[/ame]

Below is a thread of how I teach Mishka to talk, sure you will find it most interesting and full of useful tips.

Teach Your Bird To Talk

Talking - How I teach Mishka to talk

From 6 weeks old he sat on my lap and we chatted for an hour and played each and every day.

Still routinely every night he trains for an hour, sitting on my lap learning new words and sentences.

When at home I talk to Mishka 24/7, we have conversations daily.

Mishka is such a keen leaner I must admit, he would rather talk than play.

His biggest and proudest achievement in his life when he won an International Bird Talking competition- posting below

Special announcement

 

[TheBirdWhisperer]

Thanks lotosha and antoinette. Your thread should be a HUGE help for Rhino. I saw that Mishka has done the same thing Rhino does as well. I can just picture Rhino waking up one morning and talking like crazy lol. What's funny is that he also has picked up on how to laugh like me. So through out the day, he will stare off into space and randomly start laughing . And congradulations on Mishka's winning in the International Bird Talking Competition

 

[antoinette]

Thanks lotosha and antoinette. Your thread should be a HUGE help for Rhino. I saw that Mishka has done the same thing Rhino does as well. I can just picture Rhino waking up one morning and talking like crazy lol. What's funny is that he also has picked up on how to laugh like me. So through out the day, he will stare off into space and randomly start laughing . And congradulations on Mishka's winning in the International Bird Talking Competition

Thanks BirdWhisperer !!!!!!
I am very proud of Mishka !!!

Glad the threads will assist you
Before you know it, you will be having conversations with him, he will entertain you 24/7. He is definitely showing signs that he wants to learn how to talk.

Best advise, just talk and repeat, talk and repeat...... and make sure Rhino understands what the words mean. So important .......

EG:

When teaching Mishka about the bathroom I asked him so many questions.... also answered them in the begining as well.

You want go to the bathroom to poopie
Why do you want to go to the bathroom?

Stevie boy went to the bathroom to poopie
Did Stevie boy go to the bathroom to poopie?

I want to go to the bathroom to shower in the water (make sounds) and the bubbles (make sounds)
Come lets go to the bathroom to shower in the water and the bubbles.

Sean went to Cape Town to go to the bathroom to poopie.
I want to go to cape Town with Sean to poopie in the bathroom.

Keep adding in different family members names as well. I that way when he begins talking he will repeat all the names he has learnt as well.

Believe me it takes hours and hours, a lot of patience and perseverance, making sure everything is understood 100%. The reward is truly a blessing.......

Please keep us updated with Rhino's progress

 

[Niner10Tango]

My Tango learned to say Whatcha doin from listening to a youtube video of another cockateil saying it.. First, he was trying to attack my computer screen and the next day or two, Whatcha Doin just came out. Now that's all he asks! He was 7 months old when he accomplished that. Sounds to me that Rhino is going to be quite the talker. Please keep us updated on his progress, better yet if you can, post a video.

 

[ivysaur]

POPOCHEU!!! ahhh!!!

:18:

 

[TheBirdWhisperer]

I will definitely try to get a video up He is starting to say "pretty boy" and "ooo la la". I will try talking and asking him questions about what he is doing and the room we are in as well. Rhino also loves watching the videos with other cockatiels talking. He'll walk up to the screen real close and just stare.... lol.