2007-01-07 08:13:20 · 10 answers · asked by lisa m 1 in Pets ➔ Birds
i have 2 african greys. i started them off by saying one word to them each day as slowly and clearly as i could. about every 10 minutes and 10 minutes at a time. it took them a while but eventually they both came around.now they speak clear as day
2007-01-07 08:21:06 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Some good points above about speaking slowly and clearly. I'll add that birds have a hard time saying some sounds clearly that involve lips (since they have none). Letters like "F" and "B" can come out sounding garbled or unclear, as can some other letters. They speak from the throat and don't have any means of modifying sounds with thier beak.
Realize that they won't say everything perfectly for this reason. Just keep at it with clear repetition and things should go well.
A side note: Greys normally don't start speaking until a year or so old.
Good luck.
2007-01-07 23:14:14 · answer #2 · answered by radiantphotographydotcom 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The thing with Greys is that they copy what they want to copy and that may not always be what you are trying to teach them.
I have an African Grey and it makes me realise how WE talk when we are not talking to the bird. The Grey hears speech as as continuous run of words. Eg. My Grey once said :
Dunowotdo. Agh...that's me!! Dunno what to do! So try to become aware of how you are all speaking in the house....do you think this could be the cause?
2007-01-07 18:21:39 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
They mimic what they hear. You could start speaking more clearly yourself when talking to the bird. If you mumble to your Grey, it'll mumble back to you.
2007-01-08 18:32:18 · answer #4 · answered by alienaviator 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
When my bird learns a phrase, I then work on enunciation by saying the words slowly and clearly. It helps with refining the sound for the bird who will practice. Good luck.
2007-01-07 16:24:06 · answer #5 · answered by firestarter 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Sometimes it takes time and they pick up some tones of voise easier than others. Mine speaks in a voice similar to my son but I never hear her mimic my voice
2007-01-08 06:47:40 · answer #6 · answered by Miss RoZy 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Try putting yourself in a cage an see how limited your vocab becomes. Sorry dude but some things shouldn't be caged. Birds are one.
2007-01-07 16:20:28 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋
Elocution lessons
2007-01-07 16:16:47 · answer #8 · answered by Rowdy 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
your african grey what? Wife?
2007-01-07 16:16:03 · answer #9 · answered by Alicat 6 · 1⤊ 2⤋
talk to it often. He learns to mimic from you and will sound just like you. If you mumble, so will it.
2007-01-08 19:22:20 · answer #10 · answered by fenlandfowl 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋