I want to buy a 7. y.o african grey…. is he too old to teach new things?
Considering the average lifespan of an African Grey is around 50 years, he's still got some learning left in him. Just make sure to be persistent and rewarding.
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I want a bird i can use for magic tricks. It has to be friendly and easy to train. It would be GREAT if it could talk! What species is the best?
I want a bird to perform magic with but also for a pet. I need it friendly so i can get along well with it and to be easy to train so it can perform.
That's really cool! It's good to hear that you are into magic which is really fun to watch. Parrots would be your best bet. However, they are VERY expensive and require a LIFELONG commitment on your part. I would suggest a cockatoo which is the easiest to train to talk. I would do a lot of research on different types of parrots and even visit some breeders. One thing you can do is go to BirdTalk.com which is a magazine and website for pet bird lovers and breeders. See if there is a bird fair or show around you that you could attend. This is a good way to meet breeders and learn about different types of birds. Macaws also learn to talk quite easily. Expect to pay atleast $1000 for a parrot and $300 for a good cage (and that's an avg. for a good USED cage). It is recommended that parrots have vetanarian check-ups which is another $100 a year (more if you figure in possible emergency calls). You have food,toys, and treats as well. However, the biggest thing to consider is how long they live! Parrots can live up to 100 years and most outlive their owners provided they are well taken care of. However, most don't live with the same person their whole life like they should! People don't consider life changes like moving, having families, and not having time for their parrots. Parrots get VERY attached to their owners and do get quite lonely if left alone too often. They often get so stressed they'll pull out all their feathers and become depressed. Others may become aggressive. IF YOU DO GET A PARROT, GET IT USED TO ALL SORTS OF PEOPLE FROM AN EARLY AGE! I would definitely get a baby parrot since older ones may have bad habits and may not be as trainable as you'd like. If you aren't quite ready for such a responsibility but still want a bird, how about a cockatiel? They live long as well though (up to 30 years!). However, they are much easier to care for and much cheaper as well. The males can learn to talk but not every one does. They are a bit more stubborn, in my opinon, than parrots. They will sit on your shoulder while you move around the house. However, I don't think they'd be easy to train to do tricks quite like Parrots which are so smart. I have one more suggestion! Have you thought about using another type of animal for your magic acts like a dog? Dogs can be taught so many things and could really do some amazing stuff. You could teach them to bring you certain things you need and really work them into the acts. If you want a breed that is very easy to train and gets along well with people, consider a Border Collie or Jack Russell Terrier but both require a lot of exercise! Just something to think about. People really love dogs and seeing a magician with his "AMAZING CANINE ASSISTANT" would be so cool! GOOD LUCK IN WHATEVER YOU DECIDE! I do think a dog would be best for a beginner magician. There is so much that you can teach them and they wouldn't be stubborn like birds can be. You wouldn't have to worry about the dog not wanting to do something because it's not in the mood. Most happy, well-trained dogs will do anything to please their human companions. ONCE AGAIN, BEST OF LUCK! Also, what's your magician name so I can keep an eye out for you in the future? Oh, the first guy is right. Mynahs are good mimicks but they aren't too friendly and they look like crows.
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How do i make my cockatiel talk… if cockatiels even do talk 
.
And also, how do i get my cockatiel to sing some songs??? I want him to sing the entertainer :3
Some cockatiels do talk but mostly the males. You can take it to a bird store (where they groom and clip the wings) and they will be able to tell you if it is male or female.
Not all male cockatiels will talk just like any other parrot talking, some just do and some just don't.
All you can do is work with it and repeat things over and over and play the song you want it to sing over and over, either it will do it or it won't. Either way it will love the attention and you will be making a good bond with your bird.
Good Luck
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This weekend I attended the Panama City FL Exotic Bird Fair and had the opportunity to meet Linda Morrow, Professional Bird Trainer and Educator. What an experience it was to watch Linda in action using clicker training with a Blue and Gold Macaw.
Linda has been presenting educational and entertaining parrot shows since 1995. She has been partners in a parrot retail business, co-produced two day bird fairs, hand raised birds, trained and tamed birds. She only uses positive reinforcement methods without force or punishment.
Linda has traveled around the country teaching other parrot owners how to train their birds and improve their relationships. She has even appeared on the national TV show, “The View” with her birds. She has written articles for several avian publications and been interviewed by “Bird Talk Magazine”.
Some of the venues Linda has presented talks and training demonstrations are:
If you would like more information about Linda Morrow and what she can do to help you or your club, please visit http://www.avitrain.com/.
Yours,
Michael Camire
Bird Buffet N Things
Birds, Birds & More Birds Sanctuary
Do you know the best way to get your parrot to talk?
I’ll give you a hint…
A guy by the name of Chet Womach, over at Bird Tricks has discovered some powerful strategies for getting parrots to talk.
He calls it the ‘instincts factor’ and is getting amazing results with it. You can see exactly how it works at his website below.
http://locatereviews.com/1306682476
It will only take you a few minutes to hash over the information and see eactly what you have been missing when it comes to teaching your parrot how to talk.
And just in case you were wondering, the exotic bird training method talked about at the above website works for all parrots. If your parrot has a hooked shaped bill, no matter how small or big he is, these methods will work for you.
I’ve personally seen these strategies in action and a lot of people have used them to train their birds to not just talk, but talk on cue… Saying whatever their owners want, Whenever their owners want.
Here’s the webpage that shows you what I’m talking about again: http://locatereviews.com/1306682476
Enjoy,
Michael Camire
Bird Buffet N Things
www.birdbuffetnthings.com
Reading you bird’s body language is one of the most important skills you can learn to help you build a relationship with your parrot based on trust. It is how your parrot communicates. In this DVD professional animal trainer Barbara Heidenreich guides you through the process of looking at a combination of body parts and what they are doing under different circumstances to give you an idea of just what might be going on in those very special bird brains. 46 Minutes. Filmed in High Definition. Click here to purchase your copy today.
