by Mona » Thu Oct 01, 2009 11:05 am
Hi Kathleen:
I have a story. When my mother-in-law visited our new home for the first time, Phinney was in her cage. Phinney was chatting away (I call it stream of consciousness talking) and I thought it was cute. I said to my mother-in-law, "Phinney is talking. Isn't she cute? Can you hear what she is saying?" I opened the door and right at that moment Phinney said something she had never said before. She said "Phinney, SH@#!" My mother-in-law said, "Did she say what I think she said?"
Doug and I argued for days about which one of us taught her that.
Any way, I don't want her saying that so what I do now, if I hear her saying the word is I go, "Phinney....SHOOOOOOT!".....and we have modified this so now she does say "SHOOOT!" It is funny because if Doug hits his head or something, Phinney will say "SHOOOT! SHOOT!" (The older the birds get, the more they talk in context and Phinney is 13 years old)
Basically, the word we didn't want has extinguished from Phinney's vocalbulary today in favor or more exciting phrases like: "Out, out, I want out!" and "Kiri, Kiri!"
I think with the African Greys especially, they tend to like a phrase, say it quite a bit and then they get tired of it and quit saying it.
Thanks!
Mona
Mona in Seattle
Phinneous Fowl (aka Phinney) TAG
Babylon Sengal
Doug (spousal unit)
Jack and Bailey (Gremlins)
Kiri (CAG)
http://www.flyingparrotsinside.comyoutube: Avian Flyers