More Great Cockatiel Training Resources

In this post I am going to talk about cockatiel training as in teaching them to talk. Although cockatiels are a bit more difficult to train than other larger members of the parrot family, it can be done.

If you’re thinking about training your bird to talk, there are a few things you should know to make the process a little easier.

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Cockatiel Training Resources

Teaching Them To Talk

Here are a few tips for training cockatiels to talk.

Interest

You need to be aware that cockatiels will only try to repeat words that they’re interested in.

If they show little interest when you say the word, then it’s pretty much guaranteed that they won’t try to say it.

You can easily tell if he’s interested when you say something, as he will perk up and move closer to you or cock his head and listen to you.

You can try varying your voice, or talking in different tones to make it sound more exciting for your bird.

Simplicity

When in the process of cockatiel training, it’s best to start out very simply.

Don’t try to teach them big words or phrases from the start. Instead, begin with a word that has only one syllable. Keep repeating this word during every training session. Don’t move on to a new one until your bird has learned the first one.

A wolf whistle is something that I have always found easy to train, as all birds seem to pick this up quickly.

Sex

You also need to consider the sex of your bird when doing cockatiel training. If you want a talking cockatiel, then it’s best to get a male as opposed to a female.

Male birds can mimic human speech a lot easier than their female counterparts. It’s pretty hard to tell what sex your bird is if he’s young, so you may need outside help in determining this.

Treats

It’s best to have treats handy while training cockatiels to talk. If he shows interest in what you’re saying, then you should give him a treat. You could try a piece of fruit or the Nutri-berries below. This will encourage your bird to listen better and try to mimic the word.

Most birds love Nutri-Berries, so you could also try this as a great treat.

• NUTRITIONALLY COMPLETE FORAGING BIRD FOOD: formulated by top avian veterinarians and avian nutritionists; twice the foraging of pellets and the same complete nutrition
• SUPERIOR SHAPE FOR FORAGING: the round Nutri-Berries shape offers important beak play and exercise, which helps prevent bird boredom and feather picking
• NON-GMO AND HUMAN-GRADE INGREDIENTS: no artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives; real pieces of mango, papaya, and pineapple
• RICH IN ANTIOXIDANTS & OMEGA 3&6 BALANCED: help support healthy skin, feathers, and immune system
• 100% SATISFACTION GUARANTEE: we are a small, family company that works hard to produce premium pet bird food, which is why we’re confident in offering a 100% satisfaction guarantee

Here is a great little resouce you can purchase online that will give you some wonderful cockatiel training advice.

Elaine Radford’s amusing and easy to read text makes this little book a joy to use and follow when creating a training program for your cockatiel.

Every aspect of cokatiel training is covered, and emphasis is placed upon training as a life-long learning experience for both the pet cockatiel and the owner.

Full-color photos and drawings throughout.

For more resources and parrot training tips, click here.

Please don’t hesitate to comment below if you have any cockatiel training tips that have worked well for you in the past, especially when it comes to training your cockatiel to talk.