Everyone wants a
cockatoo who talks! Many people originally purchase large birds (parrots,
cockatoos, and macaws) simply because they are so vocal. It’s important to
realize that not every large bird will develop the ability to talk. And
teaching a bird to talk does take patience and often times months (if not
years) of training. Although not all large birds may learn to talk, they can
still mimic many other sounds- such as whistles, animal noises, and certain
tones of your voice. But- you’ve come to this page in the hopes of teaching
your feathered child a word or two! So how exactly can you teach your cockatoo
to talk?
Click their name to learn more about this great rescue!
Pick a short word to begin: The very first word you attempt to teach your cockatoo should be short. Do not pick a phrase- stick to a single word. Try to keep the word under two syllables. Some good beginner training words are “Hi” “Hello” or “Bye Bye”. Choose only one specific word that you would like to teach your bird and focus on that particular word.
Repeat the word to your bird every day: Once you have chosen the word you’d like to teach your bird, begin by saying that word to your bird every day. Every time you greet your bird you could say “Hello” – or every time you leave the room you could say “Bye Bye”. Make sure to do this consistently and frequently- allowing your bird to hear the word as often as possible.
Show them the meaning when you say it: Cockatoos are intelligent creatures and can understand the meaning of certain
words. If you say “Hello” each time you see your bird, they will associate that
verbal phrase as a greeting. To the contrary if you say “Bye Bye” each time you
leave the room, they’ll, overtime, realize that that word means you are going
away.
Reward attempts at copying: Most birds develop speech in the same way a human baby does. They may not get
the entire word correct the first time. But, if you begin to hear your bird
attempt to mimic the word- reward them. Praise them by giving them a treat or
attention.
When they copy, repeat the word very deliberately: When your bird does begin to mimic the phrase (or attempt to mimic the phrase),
repeat the word very clearly. Enunciate all of the sounds so your bird can
clearly hear the word and try to repeat it. This will allow them to ‘practice’
their vocals with you.
When they say the word, copy them: When your bird does fully say the word, always copy them. If you hear them
saying “Hello”, always respond with “Hello”. This will reward your bird for
learning the new word by showing them that they can communicate with you with
it. Each time they say the word, you, their flock mate, will return the same
sound. This is a great way to discourage squawking as it gives your bird an
alternative form of communication.
Move on to short phrases: Once your bird has mastered their first word, you can begin to teach them other
short phrases. Common “easy-to-train” phrases include: “Pretty Bird” “Yes” “No”
“Treat Please” and “Thank You”.
