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Questions and Answers

Q.  I'm considering getting a Parrot. Are they a lot of work?

A.  YES! I must ask you... Is raising children a lot of work? DO NOT get a parrot if you do not want to make a life time commitment to care for this animal for the next 50 to 80 years.  Parrots live a long time!  They require time, attention, a good diet, and a clean environment.  They are expensive, noisy, messy, and needy. I've said it many times, they are like having a 2 year old for the rest of your life!  Parrots are not like dogs and cats and the are not toys. 

Before you decide to get a Parrot, PLEASE do some reading and some homework. READ, READ, READ!  I highly recommend the techniques of Positive Reinforcement Training as taught by Barbara Heidenreich of Good Bird Inc.  I also recommend Sally Blanchard of Companion Parrot Online. She has written extensively about Parrot Parrot Care and Behavior. Her "Companion Parrot Handbook" It's FANTASTIC!  She writes about all facets of parrot care. She also has a team of very knowledgeable guest writers who contribute to the magazine.  Here are other online link that I recommend. 

Avian Education and Resouce Center
Bird Channel
Birds -n - Ways
It's a Greys World

Q.   Is Einstein a girl or a boy?

A.  We don't know for sure.  We named her Einstein when she was 3 months old because we liked the name.  When we took her in for a check up with an avian vet, he told us that you can only determine the sex of an African Grey through DNA testing.  DNA sexing is really only necessary if you plan to breed a bird.  He also told us that from his physical examination he was 90% sure it was a girl.  So, we stuck with that assessment.  Someday we may have her sexed or she may lay an egg!  It really doesn't matter.  We love her and and gave her the first name of "Albirda".

Q.   Do you use any CD's, tapes, or movies to help Einstein learn to talk?  When did she start talking?

A.  We use no tapes or CD's when training Einstein. She started to talk at about 17 months. Her first sound was that of a Turkey.  We heard "gobble, gobble, gobble!" coming from her kitchen perch as Grace was being said at our Thanksgiving table in the dining room. Needless to say, the outburst of laughter from my family and friends was tremendous and she has not stopped learning and saying new things since!  We talk to Einstein like a member of the family. If we are home, she is out of her cage. She is either on us or a nearby perch. Her wings are clipped so she depends on us for transportation. When we are gone, her only entertainment is a radio and toys. Bird learn speech from other birds. Not from tapes, TV, etc. We are her other "birds". Einstein says so much more that what these movies of her can show. However, she does react to sounds on the TV. For example, when a telephone rings on a soap opera, she says, "Hello".  When I teach Einstein deliberate things like songs, counting, etc. I have 2 methods. For songs I dance. Yes, I know it's silly, but here is the reason. In the wild birds display for each other. They do tricks and spread their feathers out and do all kind of crazy things. Well, I do the same thing. When I taught her "Who Let the Dogs Out", I sang it while bouncing my head and upper body just like the group who recorded the song. For teaching "Shake your Bootie"... well, you can only imagine what I shook! :)  When I taught her how to count. I gave her white index cards with the number written on each one. I'd let her take it from me in her beak and she would bite it and drop it. Then I  would go to the next number and so on. I do not know why she skips "2" and "7". We are working on that, but I think she has decided they are not worthy of learning!  I've done the same thing with colors.  I give her a blue toy and I say, "BLUE", she takes it from me and drops it.  She can say, "red", "blue", "green", "purple", and "orange".  Most all the other words she has learned on her own. Just from us talking to her and playing with her. (Which we do a lot!)

Also, when Einstein is learning a new word, the new word is usually not perfect. However, I know she is working on learning something new. So I listen.  When she says the new sound, I try to figure out what it is. Just as if she was a 2 year old human and helping a child learn to talk. For example: "squirrel" was not perfect the first time out of her beak. The first sound we heard was "squ", then it was "squel", then I figured out she was trying to say "squirrel", so I started saying it a lot. I also associated a sound to it like a squirrel would make. She loved it! Now she asks us all the time, "What's a squirrel?" and we answer with a "chik-chik-chik" sound.  P.S.  We do have to be careful what we say and we DO NOT use curse words or fowl language in our household. :)  

Read this VERY GOOD Article from BirdChannel.com  5 Ways To Rev Up Your Bird's Vocabulary 

"Train Your Parrot To Talk" is a very good DVD/CDRom by Barbara Heidenreich of Good Bird Inc. She demonstrates proven methods for encouraging your parrot to vocalize and how to train your parrot to talk on cue. 

A. Yes, I believe it does. We have always talked very clearly and never used "baby talk". Texans speak slower too! :) That might be another reason!

Q.  Is Einstein Potty Trained?

A.  She is potty trained.  Einstein is more fastidious than most other parrots.  We don’t really know why.  We did train her to poop on command when she was about 4 months old.  The command is “bombs away”.  (She will also poop at will, so she doesn’t depend on us to give the command.)  If she is perched on us, she will get fidgety and we know to take her a designated “safe” poop area.  She will not poop in her favorite kitchen drawer or cabinet because we take her to the perch to relieve herself very often.   Take a look at these links if you want information on how to potty train your parrot, http://www.birdsnways.com/articles/ef8jan1.htm  and  http://www.mit.edu/~rei/birds-potty.html

Q.  My Parrot is a feather picker, any tips on this?

A.  No one knows WHY they feather pick!  I am not an expert AT ALL!  Has your parrot had a complete medical work up? Was a blood panel done? I would do that first to rule out any medical problems. Then, your guess is as good as mine as to why he is picking. Could be diet - does he get fresh vegetables on a regular basis? Is he on a good pellet? Does he eat healthy things? No pizza, hamburgers, etc? Could be behavioral - could be bored, not getting enough attention.  Do you change his toys periodically?

Q. My Parrot is picking on his chest and he leaves the feathers alone until they are almost all the way in and opening and then pulls them. The vet said this is probably because they hurt when they are growing in.

A.  Sorry, I DON'T agree with your Vet at all!   If this is true, why aren't the bird out in the wild ripping their feathers out?  Do you hurt when your hair or fingernails grow? Feather growth in birds is a natural thing and doesn't hurt them at all.

Q.  My Vet says my Parrot is allergic to peanuts. That is what is causing his feather picker, do you agree?

A.  I worry about what your Vet said about the peanuts. I agree, peanuts are not the best nut/treat for a parrot. However, I doubt he is allergic unless tests were run. I give Einstein only organic Almonds and Pistachios. Sometime organic Pecans. ALWAYS ORGANIC!  So are most all of the fresh fruits and vegetables. If they are not organic I wash them very well with a Vegetable spray like "Veggie Wash". www.citrusmagic.com .  Pesticide residue is deadly for birds!

Q. Are Einstein's wings clipped?

A. Yes, her wings are clipped, but she is still a strong flyer and can “fly-hop”  for example, from her perch to the kitchen counter.  We have to be careful when one or two wings grow out and we clip those as soon as we can. Feathers are like hair in that it doesn't hurt them when they are cut.  Trimming the wings also keeps them safe in the home environment.  They are unable to fly into windows, mirrors, ceiling fans, or worse, out the door. However, we do take her "flying".  (Sort of!)  She perches on my hand and I run with her through the house.  We have a large living area and she hangs on to my hand and flaps her wings.  It's great fun and good exercise for her!  That is how she learned to say, "Wanna go fly? Weeeeeeeeeeee"

Q. How do I get my parrot to stop screaming?

I have to refer you to an expert, Barbara Heidenreich.  I am a big fan of hers and she is an excellent animal trainer.  Read her Blog Post on this subject. She has many helpful Books and DVD's.  I recommend them all!

Q. Does Einstein understand what she is saying? Or is she just mimicking words and sentences?  

A. Generally speaking, larger parrots are thought to have an intelligence that rivals a 2-3 year old child. While most of their "speech" is just repeating the sounds they hear, if someone spends time with their bird, they can understand that certain items are identified by specific words.

Q. Does Einstein Bite?

A. Einstein has learned to trust us and is very gentle with us. She knows the power of her beak and she will bite us if she doesn't want to play or be petted. We have to watch her body language to know when to "back" off. If you are a person she doesn't know or doesn't trust, and you try to pet her, she will bite you. We must always remember that she is still wild and has wild instincts designed to protect herself. She is a parrot and will bite if provoked.

Q. How can I get my parrot to stop biting.

A. Trust Building & Positive Reinforcement Training. Visit Good Bird Inc. for more information.

Q. How long did it take for Einstein to learn all those words?

A. It varies.  Sometimes it takes weeks to get her to say something.  Other times just a few days.  There are some things she will not say.  For example, she has never said the number “2” when she counts to 10.  She has a mind of her own!

Q. I've always been interested in parrots and I'm looking into buying one. What would you say is the best and worst thing about your Pet African Grey Parrot? Is it a guarantee that they will in fact talk? Are they a dirty bird? Annoying?  

A. Before you buy a parrot do some reading and research.  They are like having a 2 year old child for the rest of your life.  Best part.. Companionship.  However, you MUST spend time with them.  Make them part of the family.  There is NO guarantee that they will talk.  Dirty?  They poop and drop food everywhere.  Yes, they are dirty.  I clean about 3 times a day.  Annoying?  That depends on your personal level of tolerance. 

Q. I am looking for African grey breeders could you give me some info on good breeders.  

A. I don't make recommendation for breeders. I do recommend looking into adoption of a previously owned parrot.  Many parrots are in rescue sanctuaries because they were brought into a home situation and then no longer wanted.  These birds need "Forever Homes".  Here is a link to a list of Rescue organizations by state.  Or, you can do an internet  search for "Parrot Rescue (insert your location)"

Q. Does Einstein's constant talking annoy you?  I would of think she would be pestering you and will she be quiet if you tell her to be quiet?  Does she go to bed when you tell her to go to bed?

A.  Annoying…not really.  You tend to block it out, just as you do with children and such.  When something is on TV and she is interrupting, she will get quiet if we pick her up.  She does go to her cage at night and is, for the most part, willing.  She doesn’t talk in the dark, so going to bed is no problem.  However, you should never keep a parrot in the dark just to keep them quiet.  If you like a nice quiet environment, don’t get a parrot.  Simple as that!

Q. I have a parrot I'm trying to teach to talk and nothing works! What's your secret?

A. Barbara Heidenreich of Good Bird Inc. has a very good DVD/CDRom titled, "Train Your Parrot To Talk".  Einstein is featured in it and Barbara has some very good ideas about how to teach your parrot.  However, some parrots just do not choose to learn to talk. Do not own a parrot with the expectation of it talking. Many do not ever talk, however, they still deserve all the love and attention any living creature deserves.

Q.  I noticed a lot of toys and things around your house, as well as the fact Einstein is always on the loose. How do you keep your house clean? Does she know where her space is and where yours is?

A. When we are home Einstein is out of the cage but always on a perch or in a place we approve of.  She is never on the loose.   She is not free to fly or roam the house.  Her wings are clipped, she knows she must depend on us to take her someplace.  (Just like a child, we have set boundaries.)  Cleaning up after her is a constant chore.  We put plastic tablecloths under her perches to protect our floors from food and it also makes cleaning up easier, as we can just shake them outside.  

Q. How does Einstein behave when you have guests at home?

 A. Einstein is shy and quiet when new people come into the room. After awhile, she warms up and will sometimes talk.  If we all go into another room, where she can hear us, but not see us, she will start talking to get attention.  Very much like a child.  Shy at first, but will do anything to get attention if you are not paying attention to her!