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Conference 7.286::pet_birds

Title:Captive Breeding for Conservation--and FUN!
Notice:INTROS 6.X / FOR SALE 13.X / Buying a Bird 900.*
Moderator:VIDEO::PULSIFER
Created:Mon Oct 10 1988
Last Modified:Tue Jun 03 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:942
Total number of notes:6016

176.0. "Do cockatiels talk ???" by ALCTRZ::BROOKS_DO () Tue May 16 1989 21:40

    I have a cockatiel named spot he had full flight feathers
    for a year and in March I had him clipped for the first time
    he makes a wolf whistle but nothing else. Will he ever talk?
    
T.RTitleUserPersonal
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176.1Talk-a-Tiel!BETTER::DESILETSWed May 17 1989 12:0411
    re: 176
    
    How old is your bird?  If your tiel is under a year old and you
    are consistent with your training, your bird can talk.  However,
    cockatiels are better whistlers than they are talkers, but I've
    known and read about owners who's birds had quite a vocabulary.
    A suggestion I might have for you is to go to your local pet
    store and get a book specifically on the training of cockatiels.
    
    Hope this answered some of your questions.   Good Luck!
    
176.2A lot depends on the individual birdGLDOA::LROMANIKWed May 17 1989 16:0110
    Yes, cockateils can talk.  But just like with the larger parrots,
    how much they talk, or if they talk can very much depend on the
    individual bird.  Some have no intereset in it and never try;  others
    are constantly trying to imitate those funny sounds that humans
    make :-)
    
    Of course the more effort you put into it, the more likely you are
    to spark an interest.
    
    Laura
176.3YOUTH AND TIME IS THE KEYSVCRUS::BUCCIERIThu May 18 1989 19:0419
    Hi,
    
    I have two cockies .... one that we inherited and is almost two
    and one that is a hand fed baby that I purchased from a breeder
    at 7 weeks.  The older bird will whistle and SCREAM but my baby
    is learning a good vocabulary.  The baby spends almost all his time
    with me while I am home.  He has learned a number of phrases like
    "hi little cockie" and "pretty bird"  These were all phrases that
    were picked up through normal conversation.  This little guy is
    one of the most affectionate birds I have ever owned as well.  He
    loves to have his head scratched and will snuggle up during the
    evening and fall asleep.  I guess what I am saying is that every
    bird has the potential to talk.  How much they interact with humans
    and how old they are when you start is very important.  There are
    many good books on taming cockatiels.  Keep in mind that all the
    books in the world will never do any good unless you are going to
    stick to a consistent schedule of training your feathered friends.
    
    Jim Buccieri