[QuoraParrot]

Could it be possible to train the parrot in the matter of a few days?

Is it also easier if the phrase (such as "spring break") is mentioned in the context of something that doesn't seem "forced" to the parrot? E.g. if the phrase is mentioned in a repeating song, or if someone uses the phrase as an emotionally charged swear word? (apparently parrots can be good at learning swear words b/c swear words are often spoken with extra salience over regular words). Do parrots learn faster from these more-naturalistic settings which don't seem "forced" to the parrot? (as compared to even the model/rival technique?)

Also - just out of curiosity - is there online video available of a parrot saying "spring break"? And also - what are some parrot meetup groups in the Boston/Cambridge area? (I'm new to the area so I'd like to be able to meet some parrot people - I know that the Alex Foundation parrots are in the area )

 

[Mr Peepers]

Every bird trains different with speech, it depends on the owner talking to the bird repeatedly over and over again all day every day for hours on end.

I trained a bird to say, "Whatchadoin?" in about 4 weeks. It was a young budgie about 3 months old, I had his cage beside my desk and I would play with him as I worked and spoke saying "whatchadoin?" over and over to him saying this 30 - 40 times in an hour in funny ways with lots of inflection in my voice.

It was fun listening to him practice out trying to say this word as he would start saying "whicha woocha doodoo" and eventually got to say "whatchadoing" perfectly. After that I started saying another short sentence to him to add more words like "I love you."

Just know that what ever you teach your bird they will often mix up the words so I often heard jumbled "whatchloveyou!"