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I live alone and have a speaking Grey, but he doesn't do it alot. In fact, he hasn't been talking as much as he was. My friend had him since he was just a chick and she had two kids that grew up with him. So when she rehomed him to me, she said that he has tons of words even the naughty ones. He's never spoken a naughty word and I have no idea what happen to his vast vocabulary. I speak to him like he's a child at times and at other times, we are adults. Does that make sense? I talk to him when I'm in the kitchen as he is in the dining area, and he can see me (holding that knife). I have my craft table in the front room, directly across from his cage and so is the couch. I speak to him from the bedroom, as the vent is between the bedroom and the front room, and I hear him in the morning calling for me. My apartment is not very big, so I can talk to him from any room.
I sit at the table next to his cage and we have conversations. Granted he's not saying much, if anything but I know he's listening. The tilt of the head, the eyes refocusing and the head down asking for a favor. I bought him CD's on how to talk--the phrases, the songs, the sing like a canary-which he can.
I found something out this week, that he likes opera type music. I had Charlotte Church on the cd player along with some big band music. Well he did pick up a couple of tunes and sings like a bird. I try to encourage this with him, and also keep trying other music too.
My neighbors stop by the window to talk to him. They all love him and he either gives them a kiss or says hello to them. He's picked up the sound of water running, as the manager cleans the patio by the pool; he learned the whistle I use to use for my dog a long time ago and now barks like a dog, from that "Babble Ball" toy (i LOVE THAT!). He's learned different phone rings because everyone has a cell phone. He's like a little kid to me, because when a plane flies over I say "airplane", hoping that he will make the connection and say it later. His treat is called a "cookie" but he's never said that, yet.
Do I wish he would talk more? Oh yeah. Even one of my neighbors mentioned that to me today. He said "he doesn't talk much anymore", to which I replied "he doesn't like men"...lol. He will in due time, I guess. I would love to get another parrot to keep him company during the day...maybe one that does talk more, then I won't be able to get them to stop!!
Sandra
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