How to Get a Cockatoo to Talk

The cockatoo is an extremely intelligent species of bird, although teaching it to talk can be a long process. Some cockatoos are more willing to talk than others and this is simply because each bird has its own personality. The cockatoo's speech is often unclear and somewhat garbled; however, it is possible for this bird to learn a variety of phrases and speak clearly when it is given consistent training.

Things You'll Need

  • Treats
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Instructions

    • 1

      Begin training at as young an age as possible. Wait until your cockatoo has learned to trust you and is happy to be handled before you attempt to teach it to talk.

    • 2

      Get the cockatoo out of its cage and take it to a quiet room in the house with less distractions.

    • 3

      Repeat a single, two syllable phrase to your cockatoo, such as "hello," "good day" or "hi there." Use a friendly tone of voice. Say the phrase repeatedly for 10 minutes, twice a day. Listen for signs that your cockatoo is trying to talk, such as making little noises or squawks in response. Praise the bird for doing this by saying "good bird" and giving it an occasional treat. Be patient as a cockatoo can take months to learn its first phrase.

    • 4

      Introduce other phrases once the cockatoo has learned the first one. The cockatoo should pick up speech at a faster rate once it has learned its first words.