How to Train a Girl Parakeet to Talk

Parakeets are small, brightly colored parrots that come in a variety of color mutations. Also referred to as budgerigars or budgies, parakeets are popular pet birds. In addition to their reputation for playful antics, vibrant coloring and affectionate personality, they are also well known for their talking ability. Parakeets talk in fast, high-pitched voices that can be hard to understand sometimes. Males are said to talk better then females, but with patience and persistence, you too can teach your female parakeet to talk.

Things You'll Need

  • Treats
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Instructions

    • 1

      Select a word or short phrase you wish your female parakeet to say. Generally it is good to associate a word with an action that you do daily. For example, saying "Good Morning" as you take the cage cover off the cage each morning, or saying "Yummy" as you feed your bird.

    • 2

      Repeat the word or phrase several times throughout the day while interacting with your parakeet. Keep your tone of voice bright and vibrant, as if you were rewarding good behavior. Parrots respond better to positive tones of voice and are more apt to repeat words said with emphasis.

    • 3

      Listen to your bird carefully. Birds that are beginning to talk will practice their words, sometimes sounding like they are mumbling. Reward any noises you interpret as the beginning of a word.

    • 4

      Reward your bird the first time you hear it utter the learned phrase. You can reward with verbal praise, or by giving your bird her favorite treat.

    • 5

      Repeat Steps 1 to 4 each time you wish to introduce a new phrase into your bird's vocabulary. Remember the amount of time it takes for your parakeet to learn a new word varies from bird to bird, so be patient.