Suggestions to increase CAG vocabulary?

Question

I have a Congo African Grey that just turned 2. He does say "Hello" and "Whaaaat?" but he wont say anything else. I talk to him, carry him around, and even bought a harness for him for outdoor flight. I know that some greys never speak, but he does talk so I'm stuck. Any suggestions on how I can increase in vocabulary? He is NOT food motivated so that option is out.

Answer 1

An African grey is an extremely intelligent animal. Repeating words will not teach him to talk. It will bore him and cause him to switch you off. Speak to him as you would any person. It will take a little time but you will get a bird who actually understands what he is saying when he does talk. Some birds may not talk at all but do not love him any less for that. They have the ability to learn all their lives so maybe he hasn't even gotten started yet. Be patient and love him and whether he talks a lot or not, love him for who he is..

Answer 2

I have a CAG who has just turned 2. Since he was months old he just started chatting. He surprises me with words he picks up when my husband and has a vocabulary of over 200 words. His latest one is that he lost a claw and we asked him "how's your toe". He know says it all the time, holding up his claw to show you what he's talking about. He also tells you what he wants for breakfast i.e. organge, and what he doesn't want i.e. pear.
I think the best way is to talk normally in front of him with other people, you can actually see them cocking their head and listening to you and learning from this.
You could try leaving the radio on and he may pick up words from this.
Unfortunately not all greys will have a great talking experience. I had another who only said about 10 words at 2 years old.
Good luck and keep talking to him.

Answer 3

You're doing all the right things by talking to him and spending time with him. It is possible that he talks more than you think he does; many birds won't talk when people are around but talk up a storm when alone.

I've never put a great deal of emphasis on language when looking for a bird. The problem is, not all birds are Alex (the CAG trained in a university setting) who have someone working with them more than 8 hours a day.

Additionally, someone else said that their bird didn't need to talk because she spent too much time with him. That got me to thinking. Our White-Eyed Conure (whom we re-homed at 15 yo and talked before he came to live with us) who has an extensive vocabulary, only talks when on his cage and never when he is with us. If he wants my attention, he runs through his entire vocabulary but once on our shoulders, he never talks. He uses his language as a means to an end and when he gets it, he no longer needs words. You might try giving your friend a little less attention for a few days and see what he does.

One question, does you CAG make the sounds of his surroundings? For instance, does he make the sound of a ringing telephone, beeping microwave or the doorbell? CAGs are notorious for mimicking sounds around them.

Answer 4

Hi, I have blue front amazon that tals alot but, they call a bird like him a closet talker he bearly taljs when people are near him, be cuse he is busy looking out for him self. When he is alone in his room he talks alot. He now says good night automticly when I shut the light in his room at night. You can try putting a cd player in his room and have it start at the same song every morning you start the song with the cd, he might copy after awhile make it go like this for hours on auto replay, with time he might catch on. Thats how I teach him somthing new.
Remember some bird might not talk at all. Some might be better in making sounds from around the house. and some might just say a few words.

Answer 5

hi..the hard part is over,,youve taught him to speak.now thats youve done that the best thing to do is take whatever word you choose and repeat it over and over evertime you walk by his cage ,everytime you have him with you.it sounds like you are doing a good job raising him.buying a flight suit is great,he now has another option besides being in a house all day.another way to get him to say different things is to buy a CD called feathered phonics.this works great if you have things to do for a couple (2) hours.put him in the cage,cover it and place the cage in a quiet,draft free room.place youre Cd with the word you want him to say(it has 98 phrases and words) press repeat..then let play for 2 hours,make sure to repeat this same word when youre with him.i know its hard but have some patience,it may take a couple of months but well worth the wait,my cockatiel took exacltly a month but now he doesnt stop....good luck to you and youre lifetime pal...

Answer 6

Awww be luck yours can do that! I have a pair of TAG's that really just don't talk. They do say a few things, but they prefer whistles and clicks to talking. Really it all depends on the bird, and his personality. Keep talking to that bird, and always repeat words everyday. I have also heard that if you spend too much time with a bird, they really won't have any need for words since yo already know what their whistles mean. Basically don't smother your birds. LOL, explains why mine don't really talk though, they don't need to.

Answer 7

all you can do is just keep repeating the words you want him to learn it takes a little time. there are also audio tapes you can buy to help with this. but they do learn mine has a vocabulary of over 2000 words in 2 different languages plus a lot of different sounds and noises.

Answer 8

I have an african grey timneh,... It just turned 1 and it says Hello, wooooo, no, give me kissies, bubba,.... and many other things that it is practicing. I find that leaving a tv on where they can hear it when we are gone really helps. Or maybe some music.

Answer 9

Garfield Comics are the final vocabulary books around. My son began interpreting them whilst he replaced into youthful, for exciting, and from that component on on no account ceased to amaze pals and kin with tips from asserting certainly the impressive word, interior the final suited way, on the final suited 2d. He maintains to advance in vocabulary and his writing skills, yet i will constantly credit Jim Davis' Garfield books for commencing him off on the final suited foot and helping him study to love interpreting as properly.

Answer 10

problematic subject. research from search engines like google. just that could actually help!