Shy talkers...

[kittyhazelton]

So, my macaw knows "Hello" and "What" (as far as I know) only issue, is she only seems to say these words when she's by herself in the evening. If I approach her when she does this she just stops talking and reverts back to her little "cluck/rahrp" noise that she makes.
Been trying to encourage her to speak on command, but so far she just refuses to do so... funnier yet, when she's by herself saying hello to herself she's also practicing her little foot wave that she does when people say hello to her.
When she does this, if I'm in the room within sight I'll say hello back to her, tell her good girl and give her praise. I don't know about giving her treats because whenever I go up to her while she's doing this she stops talking and I feel that would enforce her to NOT talk.
Any suggestions on how I can encourage her to say hello back at us when we're interacting with her?

[liz]

She is practicing her new language. They all do it while alone and quiet.

I heard Rambo talking quietly. When I went to check on him he was looking out the window. I laughed and scared him. He turned and yelled at me: "DON'T YOU EVER EVER EVER". He ment don't sneak up and scare him.

She will start using words as soon as she is confident. You will hear more than you taught her.

[kittyhazelton]

That's the thing, I didn't teach her those words, she came to me knowing them already. This is a 15yr old bird, so I'm sure there's more to her vocabulary than what I've heard so far. I guess I'll just have to wait and see what else she knows... and hope she doesn't pick up any of my boyfriends own "naghty lanquage"

[liz]

That's the thing, I didn't teach her those words, she came to me knowing them already. This is a 15yr old bird, so I'm sure there's more to her vocabulary than what I've heard so far. I guess I'll just have to wait and see what else she knows... and hope she doesn't pick up any of my boyfriends own "naghty lanquage"

Naugty language is fun to say. She will pick it up fast. I had a couple of "potty mouth" words that I had to correct.

Rambo came to me with a very good vocabulary and has increased it since he has been with me. I did not really teach him. He learned "help" by me asking him if he needed help. Myrtle told me she needed help when she dropped a toy.

They learn like children. They hear words and repeat them until they understand how to use them when they want to.

[dorp]

They learn like children. They hear words and repeat them until they understand how to use them when they want to.

Yea, I wouldn't be so sure about that liz

[GlassOnion]

Dorp, you have not lived with parrots or worked with them to even be remotely qualified to have an opinion. And still, some opinions matter more than others.

[liz]

If we ignore him he might go away.

[GlassOnion]

Or if Michael just blocked his IP address.

[FutureDVM]

Don't feed the troll...

[ljeanne]

when i got Gabby (my 1st quaker) for my husband i was told he was mean and mumbled alot . i get him home and sat next to him asking if he was a good bird, stuff like that , and he starts saying ok, ok, i was thrilled so i'm talking more and suddenly he starts singing old mc donald.! now when i go to another cage he starts saying" step up, step up!" she will surprise you one day. you'll see