How to Train an African Gray Parrot

An African Grey Parrot is a popular pet. Relatively peaceful, its main defense when it feels threatened is ruffling up its feathers to look larger and nipping with its beak. African Grey Parrots are accomplished mimics who learn tricks well. Positive reinforcement is a good way to not only train your parrot, but to bond with her as well. Since African Grey Parrots live for so many years, it is a good idea to include your pet in your will so that she doesn't end up homeless.

Things You'll Need

  • Treats
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Instructions

  1. Speaking

    • 1

      Choose a phrase you want your African Grey Parrot to learn. It won't be able to pick up many different phrases at first, so stick with one short phrase or word.

    • 2

      Tie your lesson to a certain time of the day. Consider saying the phrase right before you cover the parrot's cage for the night. Match your words to a physical action.

    • 3

      Reward your bird anytime it vocalizes. It may not get the tones of the word correct right away, but reward its effort with a treat.

    • 4

      Keep your parrot housed near a common room. African Grey Parrots are known mimics and are more likely to pick up language if they hear people speaking on a regular basis.

    • 5

      Be emphatic--and watch your mouth. Words that you say often with emotion are the words the bird will notice and repeat. If you wouldn't want your parrot repeating you, don't repeat the same words or phrase near it.

    Turning in a Circle

    • 6

      Hold a treat above a perch. Give it to the parrot once it successfully climbs into the perch. Place a new treat in your hand and hold it under the perch. Once your parrot is looking at it, circle your hand under the perch so that he has to move to continue keeping his eye on it.

    • 7

      Give your parrot the treat when it returns to the starting position. Repeat this action several times with the treat flat in the palm of your hand. Try doing it with the treat cupped in your fist. Do not proceed until the parrot follows your closed fist in a circle.

    • 8

      Say a command whenever the parrot begins to follow your fist. Combine the verbal cue with the motion to make the parrot associate the word with performing the trick.

    • 9

      Reward successful tricks and obvious attempts. Practice with your parrot every day for 15 minutes until the behavior is automatic.

    • 10

      Continue using imitation and positive reinforcement to train your parrot to perform other actions or mimic other sounds.