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Training Your African Grey Parrot

Author: Azmi Adnan

The African Grey parrot is a popular talking parrot among enthusiasts because of its intelligence and clear pronunciation. The Timneh African Grey and the Congo African Grey are sub-species that are very popular and much sought after by parrot keepers. As a proof of its intelligence, an African Grey parrot can store 2000 words in its vocabulary. It has the intelligence equal to a 5 year old child. This, in the world of birds, is considered extremely intelligent.

The bird is very sociable and a very curious pet. It needs plenty of attention and training if you want it to become an adorable talking bird. But training can be challenging for the owner, especially if you are new to keeping birds. If you decide to get one you must be willing to stick with a training plan to fully develop its full potential.

The African Grey can learn very quickly, so it is important to only say things you want your bird to mimic. They can copy sounds around the house, like the phone or microwave beeping. If you have a unique cell phone ring tone, be prepared to handle false rings because your pet bird will be able to duplicate that sound pretty quickly.

The bird is also shy especially in the presence of strangers. Gradually introduce your bird to the rest of the family and to people who visit you often for the bird to get used to. Once they are comfortable with the rest of the family, they can be quite an adoring pet and family member.

The African Grey loves to play with toys. But don't overwhelm them with too many toys all at once. Introduce a toy gradually and let the bird get used to the feel of the toy. If the bird is playful, use training methods with positive reinforcement for better behavior. Use food as a reward for good training and your bird will learn to behave fast. Find out what your bird likes to eat first by watching its food tray. Use that favorite food as your reward for the bird.

You need to spend time with your bird everyday. Talk to your bird and let it get used to hearing your voice. Let your bird out of its cage and socialize with it. Feeding time is a great time to do this. If your bird feels uncomfortable, give it some time by itself to build its confidence.

Consistency and patience will pay off. Over time, your African Grey will feel itself as part of the family and you will have a lot of fun living with it.

About the author: Azmi Adnan is a writer and a bird enthusiast. Subscribe to his newsletter for fresh video clips on parrots and other bird species, ezines and interesting bird stories at his website http://www.power-to-live.com/parrot.html

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