What do your birds choose to say?

[JSimko]

My green cheek is a very lazy bird, he will only bother to learn a word or phrase if saying it will get him something. His favorite phrase is "Let me out." and says only when he wants out of his cage. He also says please and thank you at appropriate times, like if I have something to eat and I give him some I get the sweetest little "Thank you.".
My blue and gold will also only repeat a word after he is sure of the meaning and can use it at the right time. Usually to get what he wants.
The same is true about Tweety (my budgie), however Angel has not started talking yet. My question to everyone is how do your birds use words and do you feel that they know what they are saying?:cool:

[birdgirl]

I don't know if hamlit knows what he is saying he mostly just talks to the wall behind his cage but some times when he is on my shoulder he will lean in and say "I love you" in my ear I think that is sweet

[Jenny]

My green-cheek only says two words, "Hi" and "kirby", and either way he gets attention when he says it, so he uses it for many things! Mostly though he says "Kirby" when he's in his cage and wants out. At night if he's in his cage and I'm in bed reading, he'll peek out through the bars and say his name over and over and over and over looking me straight in the eye, until I give in. I guess he's realized that one word works for many things, so hasn't bothered to learn anything else, lol! Before when I've walked into my room, he's said "Hi Kirby!" so I think he might think that's MY name, not his! :D

[Mrs.Birdy]

My tiel and budgies chirp and tweet to their advantage.

My Pionus, well he's funny. First thing in the morning, he says "what you want" when he wants to be uncovered and let out. He also says that when my husband comes home.

He also says "hello" over and over again when he is alone and wants attention from us and "nite nite" when he wants to sleep.



:)

[PEPPER]

HOW OLD DOES AN AFRICAN GREY HAVE TO BE BEFORE TALKING.

[Mrs.Birdy]

I have heard from grey owners I know that they start talking at about 1 year.

However, I saw some 7 and 9month old greys in our local pet store that are saying hello and whistling and chirping at customers.

I guess it depends on each individual bird and their owner.

[JSimko]

I think they have to be about one year old. It also depends on how badly they want to communicate. When I first got my blue and gold, he was given his own room with a giant cage. He wanted attention and discovered that the only way to get it was to learn to talk. He also won't say anything new until he is sure of the meaning. Taz learns meanings by watching us and listening. Taz does have another cage in the family room so he can be with us.

[Redstorm1721]

My Keet,says her name, over ,and over, and over, again. When I take out my tiel,she hangs upside down and yells Pretty Girl over and over again. LOL Then when I put Pearl back she yells thank you, and does that over and you know!LOL. My parrot doesn't really talk yet. It sounds like hi very low and she lsaughes just like me all the time. She does most of her talking in the afternoon,and its so funny,she just babbles away on all kinds of things.