Instructions
Hand-train your bird early on so it becomes familiar and forms a bond with you. The closer bond you form with your bird, the easier it will be to interact with and teach it to speak. Hand training means teaching your bird to perch on your hand or finger so they become accustomed to handling and grow comfortable with you.
Watch your bird for signs that she is ready to learn to speak and mimic sounds. These signs include curious tilting of the head and widening of the pupils when she is interested and listening to something. Take advantage of these opportunities to stimulate learning.
Establish routines your bird will begin to recognize and expect. For example, use the same signal phrases whenever you wake your bird up in the morning, replenish its food supply, leave the house and put it to bed at night. Over time your bird will begin to identify these routines with the signal phrases you use.
Speak in a clear, enthusiastic voice when communicating with your parrot. Even if your bird does not begin to mimic you right away, don't let your discouragement show in your tone of voice.
Teach your African Grey how to answer questions by metering your tone of voice. Signal questions should be spoken in monotone, while answers should be spoken enthusiastically. The excited tone of voice will capture your parrot's attention, encouraging it to mimic the excitement. For example, ask your bird, "How are you doing?" in a monotone voice, and answer, "I'm fine!" enthusiastically.
Use caution when speaking in front of your bird. Even if you aren't directly speaking to your African Grey, it will always be paying attention. Shouting out profanity and other negative phrases will encourage your bird to do the same.
Interact regularly with your African Grey parrot so it feels like a regular part of your family or environment. Making the parrot feel comfortable and loved will encourage it to continue interacting and trying to please you as well.
How to Train African Grey Parrots to Speak
Establishing a bond with your young African Grey parrot is one of the key elements in training your bird to speak. While birds learn to speak through repetition, simply repeating words and phrases over and over again may provide results, but an interactive bond with your bird will encourage the bird and increase your success. Your bird will respond to your enthusiasm and attention much the same way children do.