Does anyone know how to train a Parrot? more specifically an African Grey?

Answer 1

All african greys can be trained, there are just a few considerations to be thrown in. The easiest one is that the younger you get your parrot, the easier it will be to train, quite simply because it hasn't had tme to pick up bad habits yet. The second consideration is that you don't choose your parrot, it will choose you or not as the case might be ( I know of a grey that loves one of his owners and won't have anything to do with the other although they both treat him the same way).
The third and most important consideration is time. When it comes to training these intellegent birds, time is everything and you will need lots of it. In the beginning you will have to earn your parrots trust only then can you really start training it.
When this bond is established, start small, either one word or one action at a time. Wait untill the parrot knows the first word/action before moving on to the next one.
Above all remember that its all about trust, if your parrot loves you and trusts you it can (but not always because some just don't) learn quickly, but if you lose the trust, you have to start all over again.
Even more important is to remember that some birds won't talk or wont like being cuddled, thats just how they are (they can be very demanding even when they are trained). If you can be prepared to take that risk go ahead and get an African Grey, but if you will lose interest if it won't talk, you will end up with a very unhappy bird and in that case you must choose to take a different pet. Decide before you get your parrot because once you get it, its very traumatic for the bird to be abandonded.
I was once told and its very true - that an African grey is like having a child with the intelligence of a five year old and the temper of a two year old and it will never grow up even in its old age ( can live to 80yrs old).
Good luck and enjoy these magnificent birds.

Answer 2

I've had an african grey for about 10 years now. I've also raised solomon island eclectus parrots for many years. Training parrots takes alot of patients. It's best to use the reward method. Parrots don't respond with punshiment, it just makes them untrustworthy of the person being aggressive towards them. Take of one of their favorite foods..one that is givin to them ONLY when you are training them and use that as the reward. Whatever food you are going to use...don't give them that food as part of their everyday diet because they won't want to work for it.
It's all about being repeatative...doing the same thing over and over. Grey's are smart, and they know when they are wanted to do something and coaxing them with their favorite treat has always worked for me.

Answer 3

There are a lot of websites with great info on them, just type in how to train parrots and get reading. I got to know a parrot who was 26 when I first met him 3 years ago, and he didnt want me to pick him up and didnt really say too much. Now three years later he loves me to bits, he climbs up my arm and sits near my face, he chats and says hello and carla (thats me) and is very happy. It takes a lot of time and effection, give your parrot so much attention, repeat things over and over til he/she learns it, once learned dont stop. The parrot will soon learn with some one he can trust and love. All the best and enjoy your parrot, they are such great birds.

Answer 4

The answer is yes but would need to no a few details IE age of bird,sex, if known is it hand reared, British bred,or aviary bird i have hand reared a lot of parrots inc African Gray's and also spent a lot of time studying the behaviour and taming down aviary birds would be happy to give you some advice if your interested e mail me on [e-mail]

Answer 5

You need to read a good article on African Grey Parrots. They are highly intelligent and sensitive creatures. You can't use punishment. You can only use rewards and use patience.

Try this website.
http://birdsnways.com/wisdom/ww27eiii.htm

Also, you can join an online forum where you can read and ask questions. http://www.msnusers.com/AfricanGreyOwners/otherspecies.msnw?all_topics=1

If you treat a bird with love and respect, it will return that love and respect to you.

Answer 6

well there's 2 ways that i would use to train an African Grey.

- to train an African Grey it is better for it to be young (if not you can still do this). you have to spend alot of time with it talking and repeating the word(s) you want him or her to learn.

- if you dont have time to spend time with your bird, then record your voice on the computer and put it on repeat and play it all day to your bird. **** thats what i would do.

Answer 7

go to thealexfoundation.com. this is a awsome website with scientific research done on alex the african grey. It will give you ideas on teaching your grey. Look specifically at the newsletters, they are very cool.

Answer 8

That depends on what your training it to do.

To fly and retrieve items. you have to have the bird first trained to fly to you on cue.

To talk or talk on demand, be repitious and patient and use your birds favorite food as positive reinforcement.

I've tried it on my African Grey and he is very smart he does what I tell him to say and I give him a piece of food as a reward, he likes bananas so I give him a banana slice.

Answer 9

showing and repitition. You must repeat and do everything the same every time or they will confuse. African greys are very smart and learn quick. Accurate repitition is the key.

Answer 10

If you contact an organisation such as The Association of Pet Behaviour Therapists, they have members who specialise in this area and will be able to give you more info.