I have some questions about budgies talking: 1. Will budgies usually talk if you train them to or will only some budgies talk? I've been told by some people that they have never heard of a budgie talking. 2. I've also read that males are better talkers/are easier to teach to talk/can remember more words. Are any of these true?

thanks for your help!

1. Budgies can talk, some will some won't. More outgoing birds that spend alot of time with people are more likely to talk.

2. Males are better at mimicking, in fact I haven't hear of a talking hen? (I could be wrong!)

Hi Kyle, Budgies are one of the best mimmickers in the parrot world. If you want a talking budgie then you need to find a young male (one where the bars on his head come all the way down to his cere (nostrils).

 

You need to spend a lot of time around your budgie training him. It can take some time, but if you don't give up it will happen. You need to pick a phrase and start with that. If it is "Good boy, (insert name)" then everytime you are with him, or walk past him etc you need to say "Good boy, (insert name)"

 

It will help if he trusts you, so finger training him would be a good idea as well.

 

Hope this helps,

 

 

Feathers.

2. Males are better at mimicking, in fact I haven't hear of a talking hen? (I could be wrong!)

I have believed for a long time that only male talk, some have stated they have had a hen that could talk and of cause I can be wrong as well. But from what I have read males learn the words becuase in the wild the male will 'sing' differently to a hen to bond with them (this is for the cheating males) so they learn different whistles and chirps.

I have believed for a long time that only male talk

 

I'd believe that. I have never come across a talking hen. Even with untrained budgies in a flock when they are all nattering on, especially late in the afternoon, it is always the males that almost seem like they are talking away to themselves. They definitely have different vocal range and ability.

 

 

 

Feathers

A way to teach a budgie way (what i have read):

Say the exact same word or phrase in same pitch and length

in morning and night

every day

may takeeven a year, depends on budgie may even never learn to talk either too.

I have not really been teaching mine to talk but after a few years he had copied some whistles

i have sang to him.

He is starting to talk and when he trys to talk he goes eh.

One of my baby budgies that has a new loving home, is talking the leg off an iron pot right now. He is the son of Shiloh and Rocket, a little YF type 2 spangle and his name is ROCKY. He is around 5 months old and says about 8 phrases. His new owners are ecstatic

 

and girl budgies DO talk

 

 

http://forums.budgiebreeders.asn.au/index....533;entry170299 karma-k

Edited May 2, 200718 yr by Kaz

Pretty talked and I didn't do anything special but talk to him daily and repeat the same words over and over. Here is he talking http://s33.photobucket.com/albums/d51/elly...nt=100_1493.flv

 

I can tell you though when I got Merlin the 2nd budgie he did stop talking completely. We will see if Merlin will mimic now since he is flying solo since Pretty passed away 7 weeks ago.

thank you guys sooo much for all the replys

Our 16 year old hen is a great mimic. She doesn't talk, but she sure does some great imitations. She makes the front door squeak, native bird calls, kisses and several months ago she started copying Cupid's warbling and babbling.

 

Elly, i wanted to hear Pretty talk, but the link said the page didn't exist.

Edited May 3, 200718 yr by armchairangel

I will go into my account and check and see why it is not working odd because it worked on his memorial page when he died...thank you for letting me know.

http://s33.photobucket.com/albums/d51/elly...nt=100_1493.flv

I listened to it (Laughing out loud) he was saying Pretty bird there I was telling my daughter to wait . Makes me sad thinking he is gone :sad:

Don't be sad Elly, it is something more to remember Pretty by. I used to work with a lady that had a budgie called Hobo and I cannot remember HOW many words or phrases he spoke but I believe it was 30 plus. (I have mentioned Hobo on different topics before, his favourite foods were Chinese and Roast Beef Dinner and he got put down at age 15 due to a stomach tumor). :sad:

I just thought of one more question: I plan to put my budgie in the family room so it will get the most attention and be able to watch TV (I have Heard that birds like to watch tv) but i am worried that its abbiity to talk will be ruined because it will hear a lot of random talking as well as what i want it to say. Could this ruin its ability to talk?

thanks again for all the help!

My old budgie was between the lounge and the kitchen- Ive never heard any bird talk so much as him. We ALWAYS left the radio or tv on while we were out to no bad effects. Still couldnt shut him up

Mum would let him out in the morning and say go wake her up (me) so he'd fly down sit on my forehead and talk until I woke up- favourite words in the morning- Nyree wake up, cmon wake up," then go off on his little spiels like " oh you are such a pretty pretty pretty pretty pretty pretty PRETTY BOY" (had tabs on himself didnt he!(Laughing out loud)) "BJ is such a pretty NAUGHTY BOY, your a s@#t!!" (a few other words as well) "Breakfast" come have breakfast" as he had brekky with us in his own bowl every morning. "Puss- wheres puss" Plus many many others

They love all the noise and attention that will not ruin him talking what will take away from talking is another bird . So go for it but not too close to the T.V. and make sure that at night he still gets his 10-12 hours of quiet and dark sleep that is important for budgie's health.

okay when I get a budgie I will definitely keep it there

thank you sooooo much!

best place never in the kitchen though .

They'll pick up some things faster than others. Paris got his name in only a few repeats, but still can't say my name. I think they can't say H's very well, more spitting type sounds like P.

 

Talk in a higher pitch. I've noticed when Paris has his eyes closed it seems to sink in more quickly. He also imitates my laugh, which isn't that flattering. I don't sound like a hyena though!

 

You can also get them to say phrases: Paris can say 'I love you.' They will also copy body mannerisms, like bobbing up and down. Watch what you say too - a housemate taught Paris to say 'Poofta' and I wasn't impressed. Once taught, its stuck! Oh having a single bird is better - I have heard if you get another they lose interest in you and stop talking.