Frodo's Vocabulary

My green cheek Frodo has been expanding his vocabulary of late. He is constantly surprising me. In addition to his first phrase, "Peek-a-boo", his favorite go-to word is "Baby." He uses it in a variety of ways. "Baby", "Hello baby", "Hi baby", "Hey baby" or just "Baby, Babeeeee, bee." He also shushes me when I suggest that he be quiet or when he pipes up loudly at bedtime. He has also learned to say "Pssst" like he is going to whisper something to me.

First, he's been hearing me calm down the cockatiels during their night frights on many occasions. To my surprise, he added his own comment to the cockatiels with "It's okay." He's heard me saying "It's okay" or "It's alright" many, many times.

Second, when he's in the bird room and I'm in the living room, I ask him, "What're you doing?" He now reciprocates.

Third, I often ask Frodo, "Who's a good boy?" He says that now as well.

Fourth. His latest word is the name of one of my cockatiels. "Chipper."

Frodo also mumbles a lot in human speech. I call it practicing. When he gets it down, then he'll use it smugly. Such a funny little guy.

Teaching Your Conure To Talk

Products:

• Cockatiel DVD + Bonus Video: Train Your Bird to Talk
• Feathered Phonics the Easy Way To Teach Your Bird to Speak, Vol. 1
• Feathered Phonics the Easy Way To Teach Your Bird to Sing, Vol. 2
• Parrot Training CD's
• Teaching Your Bird to Talk by Diane Grindol
• Train Your Bird to Talk
• Train Your Parrot To Talk
• Wordy Birdy

Print Resources:

• Athan, Mattie Sue. "Eliminate Foul Language and Other Nuisance Sounds,"  Bird Talk, 17 (Feb. 1999): 76-83.
• Beane, C. "Teaching Birds to Talk," Bird Talk, 4 (Jun. 1986): 32.
• Blanchard, Sally. "Parrot Psychology: Teaching a Parrot To Talk," Bird Talk, 14 (Dec. 1996): 12.
• Blanchard, Sally. "Parrot Psychology: To Talk or Not To Talk," Bird Talk, 14 (Aug. 1996): 46-47.
• Davis, Chris. "Yak Kitty Yak, Please Talk Back," Bird Talk, 18 (Aug. 2000): 62-67.
• Doss, J. "Learn to Speak Parrot," Bird Talk, 10 (Aug. 1992): 68.
• Grindol, Diane. "5 Ways to Rev Up Your Bird's Vocabulary," Bird Talk, 23 (Aug. 2005): 32-35.
• Higdon, Pamela L. "Talking Birds," Bird Talk, 11 (June 1993): 50-62.
• Higdon, Pamela L. "Talking Questions and Answers," Bird Talk, 13 (Jun. 1995): 52-59.
• New, K. "How Birds Learn to Talk," Bird Talk, 5 (Oct. 1987): 40.
• Nickolin, Theresa. "Teaching Birds to Talk," Bird Talk, 10 (Apr. 1992): 108-119.
• Samuelson, Phillip & Kathleen Etchepara. "Look Who's Talking!" Bird Talk, 9 (Jan. 1991): 88-99.
• Sweat, Rebecca. "The Who, Why and How of Talking," Bird Talk, 22 (Aug. 2004): 20-26.
• "Talking Success Stories," Bird Talk, 13 (June 1995): 82-90.
• Tevis, P. "How to Train Your Bird to Talk," Bird Talk, 2 (Aug. 1984): 44.
• Wilson, Liz. "Parrot Psychology: To Speak or Not to Speak," Bird Talk, 20 (May 2002): 16-17.
• Wissman, Margaret A. "Causes & Cures: How Do Birds Vocalize," Bird Talk, 20 (May 2002): 18-21.
• Worth, Gail. "Teaching Your Parrot to Talk," Bird Talk, 15 (Jan. 1997): 113.