Grey speech learning process?

[misstahken]

Hi all my 4 year old grey came to me with no speaking he was never taught due to his environment. he only really knew how to do phone sounds. but he is learning "hello" he says it on que but i have a question for all of you that have taught words to a grey

He can say hello but it a high pitch voice but it is getting to be deep like mine, do greys have their own "voice"

im just wondering because i see a lot on the internet of them sounding exactly like their owners.

 

[Birdman666]

The best way to do this is to simply talk to them, in my opinion.

If you take the time to "explain things" i.e. use words and phrases in context with a CAG, they will pick it up in context, and use it back with you in context.

Every bird learns in it's own way. Tusk, my CAG, studies everything and everybody. He doesn't talk until he is comfortable with you. They play dumb sometimes.

A lot of times you'll hear them practicing and its just gibberish... then all of a sudden a day or two later, it makes perfect sense and it's clear as a bell.

 

[texsize]

What Birdman666 said.

When my Amazons tack on a new word you can hear them practice it. It will develop from a " did my bird just say xzy" to My bird really did say XYZ.

My bell just comes out with the word fully formed and 90% correct. I have always tried to speak to her in context and have been getting correct context back.
Just yesterday she started to say "want to go poopie".
I have never asked her if she wants to go poopie.
I ask her if she wants to come out of the cage.
I ask her if she wants to go into my Son's room.
She was the one to put that sentence together.
Grey's are amazing.

Most of what she says is "in her own voice" I don't recognize it as "my" voice.
Sounds are so perfect you can't tell if the microwave finished or you bird made the noise.

 

[Billdore]

I have a Timneh and she has her own little munchkin voice but I can tell who shes trying to copy usually. Timneh used voices she picked up from the pet store during her stay there for a little while. I think its neat Bella chooses her own voice!!! Congos can imitate voices really well.

 

[LeaKP]

What Birdman said. I just talk to Nigel all the time, whenever I'm in the room I chatter with him and so does my husband and daughter. He just picks it up. He now says, "wanna take a shower" and fluffs up indicating he wants a shower. He says it's "time to poop." And other phrases, he even speaks Chewa our local language here that we speak.

 

[Birdman666]

Tusk and Kiwi are my talkers.

Both are "conversational" at times, which is really just astounding.

Kiwi learned from watching Sarah, she always calls me "Dad" and I respond to "Dad" so now whenever Kiwi wants my attention she starts with "HEY DAD!"

They learn a lot by watching other people interact.

And again, if you take the time to talk to them in context, they will tend to pick it up in context.

 

[Birdman666]

What Birdman said. I just talk to Nigel all the time, whenever I'm in the room I chatter with him and so does my husband and daughter. He just picks it up. He now says, "wanna take a shower" and fluffs up indicating he wants a shower. He says it's "time to poop." And other phrases, he even speaks Chewa our local language here that we speak.

That's one phrase Tusk will never in his lifetime utter... only bird I've got that HATES getting wet... I make him do it anyway, but he's never happy about it.

My macaws and my amazons, you have to turn the water OFF on them to get them OUT of the shower. Happy (and loud) when wet!

 

[Kiwibird]

Even though AG's are known to be great talkers, do remember each and every parrot is an individual. Some will master a large vocabulary of in-context speech, others will pick up a few random words and other will never utter a single human word their whole lives. Just keep on talking to him and be happy with who he is as an individual.

Our rescue amazon (also known to be good talkers) came saying a very limited few things but despite us talking to him all the time, he never has picked up anything new since we got him. He has, however, learned quite a few verbal commands and communicates his needs and wants very well through body language. Close observation on our part and consistency allows very easy communication with our bird though he is not a talker. I know when my bird wants to poop, wants a ride, wants to hang out, wants to go home, wants food, wants to be left alone etc... all through observation of body language and acting upon that. Parrots are intelligent and social beings and as long as your willing to "listen" they will all find ways to communicate

 

[DRB]

My Perjo has been talking for a month, and I hear her practice, and reward her with a treat as often as I can when she articulates a word. She says hello, what what and kind of says poop. LOL

Now I make sure to talk to her clearly and or in a consistent tone.

 

[AmyMyBlueFront]

Smokey had a couple voices..One was definitely my mom's coz mom was with her a lot..and one was "sorta" mine..a deeper voice,and then there was HER voice...kind of a high girly type



Jim