An Amazon parrot named Bogarte sits on a blooming cherry tree at the Tidal Basin in Washington DC. (AFP)

There is nothing more entertaining than observing birds chirping words and imitating the human voice. But to teach your birds how to talk you need to keep several factors in mind. While selecting the species, go for parakeets and budgies. Cockatiels and lorikeets also have the capacity to mimic speech. African grey parrot is said to be the best in the parrot family. The most important thing is the personality of birds. Some birds may be able to pick up words very quickly, while others may need months of training.

While buying a bird, test how it reacts to your voice. If it shies away or squawks in fear when you approach it, don’t go for it. If it babbles and shows interest in you, buy it. The younger the bird, the greater its chance to learn how to speak. Also, male birds are better talkers than females.

Birds should be kept in the corner of a room, so that they can hear human voices all the time. Sit or stand in front of your bird and talk to him softly. Start with small or simple words, like ‘hello’, ‘good morning’, or small names. Talk to your bird whenever you get time so that it gets used to your voice. Birds respond better to high-pitch voices, so ask your wife/mother and kids to take part in the training.

You can record your words and play it in front of your bird for five to 10 minutes, three to four times a day. At first you may notice that your bird is very enthusiastic. Encourage it by giving its favourite food as a reward. Slowly, the chirping will become clear and your bird will start uttering words. Once it speaks a word, it will learn others much faster. Never whistle in front of your bird or encourage it do so, as that would hamper the training.

Feather picking: One must also be aware of some of the typical behaviours of birds. One of these is feather picking, an obsessive and destructive behaviour pattern where birds pluck their own feathers. There are both medical and non-medical causes for this. Medical causes include change in hormonal level, external and internal parasite, bacterial and fungal infections of the skin. Non-medical causes are psychological and stress-related — stress from being confined in the house or absence of mating. Birds that are very prone to feather picking are cockatoos, macaws, cockatiels and Amazon parrots.

To stop feather picking, change the location of the bird’s cage. Also, change its meal and serve it some interesting food. Non-shelled walnuts, other kinds of nuts, beans, macaroni and cheese can be given. Some birds like fish and meat. Once engaged in eating, they will find less time to pick feathers. Giving them toys to play with can also be helpful. Birds love toys to tear and break. Ice-cream spoons, raw hide, hard wood, small branches of non-toxic trees can also be given.

Tips: Boil neem leaves and mix some turmeric in it. Give your bird a bath with that water. Spraying Listerine water on the feathers is also helpful.

More about cockatiels: Cockatiels love attention. In fact, if they do not get enough of it they scream. Remember not to reward screaming or negative behaviour. If screaming becomes a problem, gently cover the cage with a light cloth and remove it only when the bird quietens down. Many cockatiels are hand-fed and relatively tamed. Even in case of a very tame cockatiel, it may take a lot of patience before it gets used to you.

Start by putting your hand in his cage every day. Do not wave; just hold still. A little later, you may teach it to step on to your finger by gently nudging its legs. Again, patience is the key. If your bird gets agitated, back off and try again later.

Talk to your bird every day. It doesn’t really matter what you say; you can read the newspaper to it. Just use a relaxed monotone. Cockatiels make wonderful companions. And as with any other pet, the more love you shower on it, the more you will get back.

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