chico (african grey)

[gregs2008]

hi there im new to this forum as well as being new to parrot owning i have recently bought chico a 2 year old african grey.... a few things maybe some one can help me with?? 1.. chico is not an aggresive bird he takes nuts out of your hand and lets me stroke his head (when he feels like it) ha but how long does it or should it take for him to feel a bond we have had him for a week by the way?? 2... the person we got him off said he speaks a few words we have not heard him speak yet he loves to whistle so we all play along but also try and talk alot to him as well he loves attention but is there a time span on this or is it down to the bonding thing again?? as you probably can tell im rather impatient just after some good advice more than anything?? what is going to be the best method of training him i.e coming on my hand flying down to share our tea etc we want him to be a big part of our family there is me and my missus and jordan who is 9 and our other son harvey whos is 2 ADVICE PLEASEEEE

[laducockatiel]

Usually, It takes a couple of weeks for a bird to bond to you, but really, it depends on the bird itself.

Here are a few things to make your parrot bond to you well:

- Feed him his favourite treats from your hand
- Give him scratches (if he lets you)
- Sit next to his cage and sing or whistle and talk to him to make him feel happy and positive towards you
- Overall, make all of his time with you positive, reward the good and forget the bad

Good luck!

Regards,
Laducockatiel

[Naurthon]

When I brought Dante home, the owner of the store, who has been working with parrots since God was a little girl, suggested I NOT whistle to him if I wanted him to talk. Talking is more effort, and if he gets the attention he wants from whistles, he'll naturally take the easiest path. I talk to Dante and sing to him, but I don't whistle. Not all parrots talk, not even all greys, but I've found Dante picks up new words and phrases pretty quickly. He very typically WON'T talk if I'm actually in the room with him, and I understand this is fairly common with greys too. Again, if I'm in the room, he has my attention, so why bother to speak?

Funny side note: The last two days, I've noticed Dante making this very weird hissing kind of sound. It was a little alarming when I first heard it. It wasn't aggressive or threatening, just weird, and I wondered if there was possibly something wrong with him. This morning, while laying in bed, I heard him do it again and realized what sound he was actually making: my partner has had a cold for the last three days and Dante has started imitating the sound of him blowing his nose!

[laducockatiel]

When I brought Dante home, the owner of the store, who has been working with parrots since God was a little girl, suggested I NOT whistle to him if I wanted him to talk. Talking is more effort, and if he gets the attention he wants from whistles, he'll naturally take the easiest path. I talk to Dante and sing to him, but I don't whistle.

This actually isn't true (at least, in my case). I taught Ladu to whistle and after he learnt to whistle, he adapted his whistling, so that it started to sound like talking. Now, he talks and says phrases and stuff, he's a very good talker for a cockatiel.

[Terbear]

Patience is the key to anything in the animal kingdom. But if he will accept treats from you, theres no reason why you can’t start clicker training.
Here is an article the forum owner wrote, it’s a great article - I wish I had found it when I got my first bird.
http://theparrotforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=227

A bird talking is as unique as they are. Some birds will, some will not. Some can but refuse to, some can not. However I agree with Naurthon, they seem to talk more when you are out of the room, or away from home. However when he does start to talk, click and reward it, even just praise it to high heavens and they will become more apt to do it more frequently.
As far as the talking / whisteling debate, I am not sure which holds true, so when you find out – be sure to come back and let us know!
As for a bond, some people you click with and some you don’t that’s why we date to find the right one and why the term “ex” is common. With anything the bond can happen quickly, other times it takes years to form. But in either case, don’t give up. Patience is key!

Careful what you wish for, my lil is a jabberbox! He constantly asks me "wha do'n" and when I answer him, (dishes, laundry, sweeping,) he laughs at me!