Reno's Repertoire

We've had Reno (a CAG) for 14 months now, and he continues to improve, in disposition, plumage (no more chewing, and a brand new set of gorgeous feathers!), and talking.

He's always had an impressive repertoire, picking up words (and clearly understanding their meanings) after hearing them only once. He has hundreds of different words.

What has changed is that he only occasionally speaks phrases now...instead, he speaks full sentences. It's almost spooky (actually, it's REALLY spooky to non-parrot-savvy people!). Last night, when he wanted a treat, he said "How about a cookie, mommy? I could really go for a cookie right now!"

This was, by no means, an aberration. He does this frequently, joining together words to form a sentence that not only is more-or-less grammatically correct, but appropriate to the circumstances. When it's time for bed (according to him), he'll say "What time is it? It's time for bed. Nite-nite, mommy!". Sometimes, he seems to merely intend to entertain (he has a noteworthy sense of humor) - a few days ago, when we had a guest over, he said "How about a cup of tea? I could really go for a cup of tea." Our guest was...amused!

Are other CAG owners having similar results with their birds? I've always known that CAGs have an enormous talent for speaking, but...forming complete sentences, all the time?!?

I don't know about all the time and I don't have a cag but many on here share examples of theirs talking in context.

Birdman666 has a cag or a tag. One day while enjoying tree time Tusk was eating and said to the wild bird want some its good.

As someone who shares her home with a CAG (he's almost 12), I can absolutely confirm that they DO have the ability to speak full sentences and speak in context, sometimes with new words/sentences you've never heard them say before, rearranging known words in new, alarmingly accurate ways. It's almost like an AI that grows its vocabulary as time goes on. We are absolutely blown away on an almost daily basis, like you've experienced. In contrast, my RB2 has a very finite vocabulary. Most of what he can say he learned in his first few years of life. Now if he learns something new, it's usually just adding a word here or there or rearranging what he knows. CAGs are scary smart.

Happy to hear your boy is thriving and happy in your care.

As a new CAG owner (who will get his bird in a few weeks) is it common for a CAG to speak hundreds of words (as the OP says, at just 14 months)?

Sorry, Reno's 11 years old - we've only had him for 14 months. He had a fair repertoire when we got him, but it has at least doubled in the time we've had him. It seems to me that the more engaged you are with a CAG, the more you involve them in your life, the more they seem to learn.

I have two that use complete sentences, occasionally in context.

Tusk, my CAG. And Kiwi my Panama amazon.

My macaws also use certain words and phrases in context, just not full sentences.

If you use language with a CAG in context and appropriately, they will pick it up in context. Teach them what it means, and they will learn it that way...

Alex proved that many years ago!!!

Not only CAGS,but TAGS also..Smokey my TAG <God rest her little soul> was amazing with sentences,and using in context.

Now,what I am about to tell you,happened once,and to this day I don't know WHERE she picked it up.

She was wild caught,and even after 27 yrs,she wasn't too keen on hands. If she was cornered and had nowhere else to go,she would begrugenly step up telling me what a good girl she was

One afternoon I got her on my hand and we went to the kitchen. I put her on the table and gave her a small empty medicine bottle to play with while I cleaned up. After I was done,it was time to bring her back to the living room,so I put my hand down and old her to step up. Of course she had nothing to do with my hand,walking/running around the table,mumbling,while I chased her. I got her to the edge of the table where she stopped,looked down at the floor,then at me..and AS CLEAR AS DAY..she said to me, "what the h*ll are you doing??" I almost pooped myself! And she never said that again. And it was in perfect timing..oh yea...smart little grey that she was.


Jim

Reno continues to amaze us. My wife was sitting at her computer, Reno needed to be "engaged", so he said "Mommy, email me a cookie!". Honestly, we've never even tried to teach him any of this, and his former owner (from his birth) didn't even have a computer, so he's picked this up all by himself.

Anytime someone arrives, he gives a hearty "Hello!" (in my voice), and on anyone's departure he always says "Bye bye now" or "See you later!". He never mixes them up!

Honestly, every single day he comes up with an entirely new, full sentence, that is both grammatically correct and appropriate to the circumstances. It's enough to make the hair on the back of your neck stand up!!

They are, IMHO, the most amazing of all - I love CAGs. I love their intellect, their attitude, and how beautiful they are.

Even 'zons can freak you out! Amy will sit on my shoulder,while we look out the front door,and ask me "outside?..in the car?" she wanted to go for a ride

Yesterday I brought home my new family member..a 14 week old grey teil..As I was fixing up his new house,Amy was intently watching from inside hers..when I opened the box up,and got the little guy on my finger,Amy says "Whats that??"..sppppooooookkkkyyyyyy :19:


Jim

gracebowen said:

I don't know about all the time and I don't have a cag but many on here share examples of theirs talking in context.

Birdman666 has a cag or a tag. One day while enjoying tree time Tusk was eating and said to the wild bird want some its good.

Click to expand...

That's Tusk and Mark shared a story of Tusk being in the tree in the front yard, some new kids approaching and asking Mark to make the parrots talk. Tusk suddenly said "GET OUT OF HERE!" Lol!!! Tusk is a character!


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