Talking & Training
Good care is the first step to talking and training. Make sure your bird is well fed, well rested, feels safe, and has companionship and plenty to do. Start teaching to talk during hand feeding if possible with your name and his. Then teach targeted phrases. Parrotlets can be nippy, territorial, and dominating so it is important to gently insist on good manners. Clicker training and teaching tricks will help occupy them, They love being told what a good bird they are, so reward and compliment your parrotlet every chance you get.
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Parrotlet CareRead all you can on parrotlet care. Before yours comes home have all the supplies on hand and the same food as the breeder. Make food and water available all the time, millet is good for a baby too. They eat constantly and can starve without enough food. Make sure they can't drown in the water. Give your bird 12 hours of quiet sleep at night with a regular bedtime and wake up time. Put the cage in a corner and arrange toys so they feel like they can hide. Use a cage cover, but make sure they don't chew on it. He needs to be part of the flock/family. Do not leave him unattended . Parrotlets are so tiny and bold, so make sure you know where he is at all times. Give a huge cage that is wider than it is tall, with safe toys, including forging toys, and many kinds and sizes of perches. Keep their mind active with toys and training. And their bodies with exercise and flight.
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TalkingGreen rumped Parrotlet parents in the wild announce themselves with their unique call (name) and give each hatchling a unique call (name). When a parent approaches the nest they call out their name and the babies call back their names. I asked the breeder to start using Ditty's name as she fed him. When I make my call DeeDee he will respond with his "dit-De"
Parrotlets can say the hard consonants best. C, D, P, B, T. So name them and teach them phrases that use these sounds as much as possible. For example, rather than "Water" use "Drink" Change words too, e.g. for "Want your" say "Wancha" They also like to use the same cadence, similar to "Peekaboo" and can say a few syllables easier than just one. Teach them phrases about the things they like. Bird, You, Petting, Food, Toys, Play. Say the same phrases, the same way in the right context. Below are the phrases I'm teaching first: |
Training The basic things your bird should learn first, and if you are fortunate he'll already know these from the breeder: is his name, to drink from water bottle, Step up "Up Up", and Step off. He should be hand-fed from before his eyes open and be imprinted on people. The most important thing with a parrotlet IMO is to not let them nip or bite, Blow air, twist your hand, give them a thumb nail and whatever creative ways you can think of to avoid it. If he nips you it is important not to react or give him attention. Parrotlets in the wild like to sit next to their mate, so take advantage of this instinct and have him sit with you on your hand or shoulder (they like to hide in your hair) especially at night when he is sleepy - you can watch TV together. They love to be called a good bird so praise often. Once they are bonded to you and like to be with you, you can start by having them sit on a training perch and clicker training.
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