Instructions
Begin training your cockatiel right away. Young birds learn much more easily and quickly than their older counterparts, and cockatiels have demonstrated an ability to speak as early as three to four months of age. The average cockatiel begins speaking at eight months of age, according to ParrotFeather.com.
Choose very simple words and phrases such as "Hi," "Hello" and "Love you." Eliminate any distractions such as your television, and say the words repeatedly to your cockatiel in short, ten-minute sessions throughout the day. Repetition is your most effective teaching technique, according to Cockatiel.org.
Interact directly with your bird. Don't just shout the words mindlessly, but make it a bonding experience. Let your cockatiel out of his cage, show him some new surroundings or allow him to perch beside you. ParrotFeather.com recommends taking the bird into the bathroom and letting him see his reflection in the mirror while you repeat the words.
Try using different words and even different vocal pitches when teaching your bird. If your cockatiel fails to repeat the words you say, you may just need to introduce different words and change your technique a little bit. Some birds respond better to specific voice types, so try changing your pronunciation from time to time. Raising and lowering the pitch and changing the speed of your voice can improve your results.
Talk to your cockatiel throughout the day, aside from your training sessions. Simply letting her hear the sound of your voice and allowing her to bond with you can make all the difference when trying to train her to speak.
Remain patient. It may take months to successfully teach your cockatiel a single word, so keep training and interacting every single day.
How to Teach a Cockateil Bird to Talk
Cockatiels are highly intelligent birds that can often learn to talk by mimicking your speech patterns. Some cockatiels have an easier time learning to speak than others. Males can typically pick up speech more easily than females, as they use mimicry as a mating call. Not every cockatiel will respond to your teaching, but if you approach the process correctly, you just may equip your bird with a sizable vocabulary.