2006-10-10 22:34:42 · 20 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pets ➔ Birds
That's awesome. He can come to my house.
2006-10-11 04:37:23 · answer #1 · answered by hairstylist1970 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sadly you could have a long term issue here! My parrot also swear and it took him only 3 weeks to learn one word - and yes it's due to the fact the word was used directly at him on a regular basis (big thanks to my boyfriend!!) The parrot now thinks it's highly amusing to use the word when he's told off, or my partners father comes to visit!
The more attention you give to your parrot when he uses the foul language the more likely he is to use it.
It could take time to cure him of his bad habit - i.e. teaching him new words or tunes! Whistling a short tune repeatedly will give him something to listen to.
My parrot has become fascinated by mobile phone ring tones! These can be left on repeat play for him while I'm doing jobs around the house Dont use a ringtone with foul language though or you're defeating the object!
The main thing you need to realise is parrots seek attention - no matter how they get it - being noisy / causing damage / making a mess. They are high maintainence pets. They need to be kept occupied and have set routines (this includes "down time" / "chill out times").
The best thing I suggest is giving him something new and interesting to learn to say / sing / whistle and giving him treats and praise as he learns. IGNORE him when foul language is used. Parrots are clever - it will not take long for it to sink in that bad language is a negative thing - especially if you reward when acceptable words are used.
You are also going to have to change your ways though, as the parrot has only learnt these words from you or someone in the household. Make a pact in the house not to swear - try having a swear box, or using an alternative word if you really have to use foul language e.g "bobbles" instead of "bo*l*c*s" this way if the parrot does pick them up it's not so bad!
GOOD LUCK!!!!
2006-10-11 06:06:59 · answer #2 · answered by smoking_gremlin 2 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Teach him new words. He won't forget the the foul language, but he'll use the new words, and gradually you'll find him not using the foul language, but replacing it with the newer words. Also, do not let anybody use foul language around him, as that would be a negative reinforcement and he will continue to use the foul language.
When I first got my Amazon Parrot, he would tell me to "Shut the f****** lights off"..I have gotten him out of this, but now he calls everybody a "Liar"..lol. He is 18 years old and I got him as a rescue bird, so I know he didn't pick this up in my house.
2006-10-12 15:49:12 · answer #3 · answered by karmor_22 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
parrots learn to imitate what they hear. If yours is using foul words it's because it hears you using them.
If it doesn't hear a word for some time, it will eventually stop using it. Teach it other things instead.
If the foul words offend you, why use them in the first place. Look to your own language before the parrot's.
2006-10-12 11:06:27 · answer #4 · answered by fenlandfowl 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't think you can. We got a parrot from friends and she also uses foul language. She's been with us for almost 3 years, and she still won't forget it. We even tried using a word that sounds similar, but it's no use.
2006-10-12 11:22:40 · answer #5 · answered by Charmaine V 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sadly, no. You can not "unteach" a bird which has picked up a behavior you think is bad. I've had a little over 20 years with parrots and they pick up the darndest things, and when they do, there is only one thing, totally IGNORE the bad things and reinforce the GOOD things. No punishment, since even a punishment in your eyes is attention in the bird's eyes, which is a form of positive reinforcement for the bird. Hey they don't call them bird brains for nothing. So, what you do is this: stop exposing the bird to the language, completely, not even one utterance from ANYONE in the vacinity of the bird. Next, start teaching new words using positive reinforcement, treats. If you are handling the bird and he uses a bad word, casually put him back in his cage and ignore him for a while. Soon, the bird will associate the bad words with being put back in the cage, a negative reinforcement which is not a punishment as such, but rather a denial of socialization time with you. Bad words will mean denial of you paying attention. It will take a while for this technique to work. Remember, being in the cage is not punishment, but a restoration of the normal state of affairs, a denial of a treat of being with you. Being with you out of the cage is a treat of sorts for the bird. Be good and I will play with you, be bad and I will not play with you, that kind of thing, It is NOT punishment to restore the normal state of affairs, the bird in the cage. Birds, cats, dogs, all are hard wired on stimulus and response. Do something to stimulate them and they will respond in a predictable manner. They can't help it, they are hard wired to respond to a given stimulus. So, make that response work for you. If the bird speaks a bad word, the worst thing you can do is pay attention, even if it is in your opinion, a negative punishment thing, to the bird it is still a reward of sorts. They do not reason, they react to a given stimulus.
Time for a sea story (I am ex-Navy, 21 years) about birds. Last year, I was on my way from WA to CA and stopped in a state park in OR. Oregon has the BEST state parks of any I've been in, some even have hot showers! Anyway, I pitched my tent, made dinner, built a campfire and later went to sleep. I woke up to a phone ringing. A phone? Ringing? Here? The park has less than 10% of the campsites occupied. It took me a while to locate a bird way up in a tree, a magpie I think, who was in the trees making the noise of a phone ringing. Where did a wild bird in the middle of a forest miles away from a city hear the distinct chirping ring of a phone? Obviously, the bird DID hear a phone ring at some time, but a wild bird? Why did this bird pick up on this particular sound to repeat? It does not matter, but what does is that birds can pick up sounds to mimic from anywhere in their environment and if something triggers them, they will repeat it. Hence, your problem with bad words. So, you can not unlearn the behavior of the bird, just like even with no positive response to the magpie repeating a ring tone, the bird did it anyway, over and over and over... until I packed up my things and left the park a few hours later. For all I know, this magpie is repeating that ring tone to this day...
2006-10-11 06:20:47 · answer #6 · answered by rowlfe 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Hi Daniel
just ignore your parrot when he does do that,, or whenhe starts take it to another room. When it stops bring the bird back again, do it each time untill the bird learns.
2006-10-11 05:45:59 · answer #7 · answered by chass_lee 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
you have a problem!!!I had a African Grey and he told every date that I brought home what I wanted and when. It was a great ice breaker and worked (women listen to parrots) but!!!When I got serious and made a commitment and her having a 2 year old son, I had to sell him to a bachelor. Two more things 1) Parrots do not forget what they learn and 2) ladies, please don't take it personal about what I said about women listening to Freddie, that was just an excuse because I always scorXXXXyou know
2006-10-11 06:43:03 · answer #8 · answered by dhwilson58 4 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Well, how did it learn in the first place, keep repeating new words to him and maybe over time he will forget the bad ones.
2006-10-11 05:37:39 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Totally ignore him when he does it. Teach him new words and give him lots of attention when he uses those. He'll eventually stop but if it ever gets him attention he won't. Also you can never use those words around him.
2006-10-11 05:36:58 · answer #10 · answered by tenaciousd 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes it is possible you can use a techique called "evil eye" wherever it uses foul language stare it in the eyes and say "no"
2006-10-11 07:33:21 · answer #11 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋