Bird answering your questions?

RavensGryf

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Jan 19, 2014
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College Station, Texas
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Red Bellied Parrot /
Ruppell's Parrot /
Bronze Winged Pionus /
English Budgie
Anyone have a bird that will answer a question on cue?
We've all seen a bird show at the zoo or on tv, where the person is standing there with a microphone and a parrot. For example, the person asks the bird a question: "Sparky, what does a cat say?" and of course the bird answers "Meow".

I'm interested in knowing how the bird is taught to only say the answer, and not learn to say the whole thing including the person's question?

I can think of one way that might work, but instead of making you confused by my lack of being able to explain it in text :30: I'll wait for your answers.
I'm only curious, I don't think I'll actually try it with my Pi or Poi, since I think the species that are known for being the best of the talkers (Grey's, Amazons, Hahn's, etc) would be the best candidates for this. Besides, patience (animal training) isn't my strong point :)
 

Terry57

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Have you watched any of Ant's videos of Mishka? She has some wonderful training videos that kind of explain how to do that:)
 

Kalidasa

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May 8, 2013
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Sometimes, when my conure is doing something "bad", I go to say "no"!, and he beats me to it. He says no before I can say it. :)
 

tab_xo

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Aug 9, 2012
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Fargo- Blue and Gold Macaw
I think they just say the whole sentence, then ask the bird to make the correct answer, then reward..

It isn't really a question, but i say to Fargo- Fargo can you give a kiss..

and he will make the kissing sound ! :)

At first i would make the kissing sound as well, and reward when he did it.. So i guess they figure out which response is the right one !
 

MomtoPercy

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I wish my bird would answer questions! All I get out of him is "Huh?" (Or sometimes he gives me this very hoity toity sounding laugh!) after any question I ask. He sometimes asks himself questions when he's in his cage and thinks no-one is listening. No idea what he's asking but he answers himself by saying "okaaaay!". ;)
 
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RavensGryf

RavensGryf

Supporting Member
Jan 19, 2014
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College Station, Texas
Parrots
Red Bellied Parrot /
Ruppell's Parrot /
Bronze Winged Pionus /
English Budgie
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I'll have to check out Ant's vids of Mishka... I know he's famous! Beautiful bird too.

I guess Fargo knows how! Somersaults, answers questions... What next?!

@MomtoPercy - are you sure that's not YOUR laugh Percy's imitating?? LOL!! Kidding!! Hahaha:D
 
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RavensGryf

RavensGryf

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Jan 19, 2014
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College Station, Texas
Parrots
Red Bellied Parrot /
Ruppell's Parrot /
Bronze Winged Pionus /
English Budgie
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Sometimes, when my conure is doing something "bad", I go to say "no"!, and he beats me to it. He says no before I can say it. :)
Robin also says things at appropriate times. Tonight he was jealous of Raven and wanted my attention again, so he yelled at me "hey!!" I told him that's rude to scream hey at someone haha
 

MikeyTN

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My birds would do it IF they're in the mood. Like Willie, I would tell him are you a big eagle he would raise his wings up high and say Big Eagle. If Dixie starts to scream he would say Dixie Ann Hush. If the back door is open he would call the dogs and say Come On Rocco Come On Alexis, he screams for them. i wwould ask JoJo give me a kiss, he put his cheek forward and let me kiss him and he make kissing sound. If Gracie or any bird that flies to the floor he would go weeeeeeeeee. When he sees Gracie he would say Come here Gracie, Your A Pretty Girl, I Love You! And give her a kiss on the cheek. They do bunch of things like that and it just cracks me up.
 

Nathan1

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Nov 30, 2013
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Quaker- Stitch
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RCA - Polly
Well, My Quaker says "Gimme a kiss?" and then when you kiss him, he says thank you. When someone yells from downstairs he says WHAAAAATT(Because that's how I respond when someone calls me from downstairs)???? He also says "That's a good bird" when I say "be a good bird".


Try asking just the question for example "What does the dog say", once they learn that you bark whenever they say it, they should associate it and then you can ask them.
 
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RavensGryf

RavensGryf

Supporting Member
Jan 19, 2014
14,233
190
College Station, Texas
Parrots
Red Bellied Parrot /
Ruppell's Parrot /
Bronze Winged Pionus /
English Budgie
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Try asking just the question for example "What does the dog say", once they learn that you bark whenever they say it, they should associate it and then you can ask them.

Ah, makes sense Nathan. I'll have to make sure all doors and windows are closed before the neighbors hear me barking...
 

cnyguy

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Apr 23, 2010
1,021
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Syracuse, NY
Parrots
Quaker parrot, Ralph
Ralph will respond to some questions I ask him, like "Can you be a duck?" He'll (usually) reply by quacking. He can also be a chicken and can sneeze on request, if he feels like it, of course. :) He learned to do those things by having me ask the question and then making the appropriate sound.
 

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