Hi. As you may know from my other threads, I got Timmy my timneh one week ago. He (we were told it is a male but not documented or tested) is 1 year 8 months. In his previous home he talked a lot (words and phrases). As I also mentioned in my previous thread, Timmy's previous owner spoke to him in Arabic. I speak to him in English. I was assured by many that this isn't a problem and he will learn the new commands or words or phrases and reassociate them with the corresponding action or object or situation.
I was very surprised that he started taking 2 days after I got him. And he talks a lot (mostly mornings and evenings) which I find very fun and entertaining. However till now he has only been saying the things he knew from his previous home. Nothing new. Even though he is in the living room where we spend most our time and there is a lot of talking around him. Also I have been following the recommendation to always talk to him and explain what I am doing and name things I am giving him (like apple or water..etc...) Also I have been repeating a few phrases I thought it would be fun for him to say. I have been repeating these phrases several times in a row, multiple times each day. But he still isn't saying anything new. Note that the previous owner said he could get him to say a new phrase in a day or two. And he was learning new things up till the day I adopted him. I have a few questions:
Question 1: is this expected with moving to a new home? To keep on saying old things but not learn new things for a while till he gets more comfortable with his new environment?
Question 2: the previous owner called me yesterday to check up on Timmy. I explained to him he was not saying new things. I told him I am speaking in English to him and he told me that Timmy would pick up Arabic words and phrases in two days but once he tried to teach him the English phrase "I love you " and Timmy did finally say it but after 2 or 3 weeks of repetition. So he concluded that Timmy was better at learning Arabic than English. This is nonsense, right? I mean I new word or phrase is just a new sound to the parrot no matter which language it is, right? I mean before any meaning is given to this word or phrase. It doesn't make any sense that it would take him longer to learn English words, right? The "I love you " example is just a coincidence, right?
Question 3: if I want to teach a new words or phrases, should I only do one at a time. I mean for example chose the phrase: "my name is timmy" and keep repeating for how many days it takes for Timmy to start saying it, then move on to another phrase? Or is it ok to work on multiple phrases at the same time? Is it best to be near Timmy or across the room or perhaps speaking loudly from the next room? Eye contact or no eye contact. (I know eye contact is threatening to birds).
Question 4: I've read that sometimes parrots mumble new words before saying them clearly. Timmy mumbles a lot in between the clear things he says. So let's say the parrot hears the phrase: "pretty bird" and a few days later starts mumbling it. Will the mumbling turn into clearly saying "pretty bird" only if the parrot keeps hearing the phrase "pretty bird" said over and over clearly after that? Is it is possible that even if it never hears it again, the parrot will keep on working on it and practicing till it says it more clearly?
Question 5: I am not repeating any of the Arabic phrases Timmy says because I don't want to reinforce them. I want him to transition to the new English words and phrases. I know parrots communicate with their flock members vocally. So if Timmy is in a chatty mood and is going through the phrase and words he says, is this a good time to talk to him and repeat the new phrase i want him to learn? Or is he too busy talking to be listening? I mean if he is saying his Arabic phrases and words and I am joining the conversation and saying English phrases to teach him, is this good? Or should I wait till he is quieter and more attentive?
Thank you very much.
I was very surprised that he started taking 2 days after I got him. And he talks a lot (mostly mornings and evenings) which I find very fun and entertaining. However till now he has only been saying the things he knew from his previous home. Nothing new. Even though he is in the living room where we spend most our time and there is a lot of talking around him. Also I have been following the recommendation to always talk to him and explain what I am doing and name things I am giving him (like apple or water..etc...) Also I have been repeating a few phrases I thought it would be fun for him to say. I have been repeating these phrases several times in a row, multiple times each day. But he still isn't saying anything new. Note that the previous owner said he could get him to say a new phrase in a day or two. And he was learning new things up till the day I adopted him. I have a few questions:
Question 1: is this expected with moving to a new home? To keep on saying old things but not learn new things for a while till he gets more comfortable with his new environment?
Question 2: the previous owner called me yesterday to check up on Timmy. I explained to him he was not saying new things. I told him I am speaking in English to him and he told me that Timmy would pick up Arabic words and phrases in two days but once he tried to teach him the English phrase "I love you " and Timmy did finally say it but after 2 or 3 weeks of repetition. So he concluded that Timmy was better at learning Arabic than English. This is nonsense, right? I mean I new word or phrase is just a new sound to the parrot no matter which language it is, right? I mean before any meaning is given to this word or phrase. It doesn't make any sense that it would take him longer to learn English words, right? The "I love you " example is just a coincidence, right?
Question 3: if I want to teach a new words or phrases, should I only do one at a time. I mean for example chose the phrase: "my name is timmy" and keep repeating for how many days it takes for Timmy to start saying it, then move on to another phrase? Or is it ok to work on multiple phrases at the same time? Is it best to be near Timmy or across the room or perhaps speaking loudly from the next room? Eye contact or no eye contact. (I know eye contact is threatening to birds).
Question 4: I've read that sometimes parrots mumble new words before saying them clearly. Timmy mumbles a lot in between the clear things he says. So let's say the parrot hears the phrase: "pretty bird" and a few days later starts mumbling it. Will the mumbling turn into clearly saying "pretty bird" only if the parrot keeps hearing the phrase "pretty bird" said over and over clearly after that? Is it is possible that even if it never hears it again, the parrot will keep on working on it and practicing till it says it more clearly?
Question 5: I am not repeating any of the Arabic phrases Timmy says because I don't want to reinforce them. I want him to transition to the new English words and phrases. I know parrots communicate with their flock members vocally. So if Timmy is in a chatty mood and is going through the phrase and words he says, is this a good time to talk to him and repeat the new phrase i want him to learn? Or is he too busy talking to be listening? I mean if he is saying his Arabic phrases and words and I am joining the conversation and saying English phrases to teach him, is this good? Or should I wait till he is quieter and more attentive?
Thank you very much.