It is not true that Eclectus are shy to speak.The best vocabulary in the parrot world can be found when an Eclectus is calm and comfortable.It's not difficult to teach your Eclectus to imitate sounds.In a calm environment, you don't need to introduce those words or sounds.Continue to repeat them until your Eclectus starts to mimic back.If you stick with it, your feathered friend will be able to mimic most words and sounds.
Step 1: Establish a routine with your bird.
The best way for parrots to learn is through repetition.Introduce words through a daily routine.Incorporating your training into small, regular intervals will help teach your Eclectus what to say.It's important to be consistent whenever you pick.The more phrases your bird hears, the better they will remember them.
Step 2: Spend some time with your bird.
When a parrot has a close bond with its owner, it learns to talk better.Eclectus are prone to stress and won't talk if they're not comfortable with their people.Get to know your Eclectus by feeding them, talking to them and letting them fly in a safe environment.Take precautions to keep your bird safe.Close doors and windows, turn off appliances, and cover chewing dangers, including cords and small decorative items.
Step 3: A calm, quiet space is created.
As you get ready to train your bird, you want to give them a relaxed space.The TV should be turned off.Allow your Eclectus to be comfortable.If they stand tall on their perch with their eyes open, place it back in its cage and allow it to calm down and assume a less rigid posture before bringing it out.It's a good idea to train your bird in a familiar area.They will not be able to speak if they are brought into a new room or environment.
Step 4: Be patient.
It will take your Eclectus a while to start talking.It may take weeks or even months of repetition to get your bird to speak.While your bird learns its new words and sounds, be kind and patient.Birds won't learn to speak.Even within the same species, speaking is a very individual thing.A bird that does not speak is not damaged or bad.
Step 5: First words are easy to say.
Pick words from your daily routine that are easy for your Eclectus to mimic.Your bird will have the chance to practice saying these words daily.Food names are good to teach your Eclectus.You can tell them what they are eating since they have to eat mostly fruits and vegetables.Even if that is your ultimate goal, don't start with full phrases or questions.Start by speaking around the house with your bird.
Step 6: Go back and repeat yourself.
Repetition is the best way to learn.As much as possible, use your starter words around your bird.When you feed them, repeat the food names you taught them.Even if it's only for a moment, tell them "hi" and "bye" whenever you enter and leave.
Step 7: Reward them after they speak well.
Any other form of training is the same as training a parrot to speak.Positive reinforcement works best with it.Pick a small treat that you only use during training and give it to your bird after they say a word successfully.Almonds, grapes, and seeds work well.Remember to include these into your Eclectus' daily diet so that you don't eat too much of them.
Step 8: Supplemental audio tools can be used.
Many audio tools are available for bird owners.While you are out of the house, you can record your voice and play it on a CD.Don't rely on these tools to do all the training for you.New words should still come from you during happy interactions with your feathered friend.
Step 9: Add actions to the words.
Adding actions to individual words will help build phrases.For example, if you are teaching your Eclectus food names, you might add " eat" before the food.A couple words at a time is how your bird starts to build meaningful phrases.Once your bird has that down, you could even add in their name so that they say, "Birdie eats mango."
Step 10: Keep the training structured.
As your bird learns more words, it can be tempting to stop training them.Be sure to designate talking time a couple times a day until they are comfortable and fluid.Every training session, go over five for six words.Keep training on the same set of words until your bird is comfortable talking on its own.Adding too many words could confuse your bird.
Step 11: As you speak, add inflection.
Like many parrots, Eclectus likes to play music.Adding sing-song style inflections to your words as you move to longer phrases will help your bird mimic back more easily.Many Eclectus can be taught to mimic music.Don't teach them too much at a time.