What are your thoughts on changing a birds name once it knows it already?

[Beako_N_Kiwi]

Hi, I was just curious what you're thoughts were on changing a birds name? Lets say it's about 4 years old and already says the name itself. Is it kind of cruel to start calling it something else? Thanks

 

[wenz2712]

I have a feeling at 4 years old, it would be hard for it to get used to a new name! but on the other hand they pick up new words all the time.

Are you thinking of changing the name?

 

[Lesa1211]

Paco's about a year and a half. His name was not Paco when I got him, I named him. I think it depends on the bird. In the past week Ive heard him say Paco, Ive never heard him say his old name.

 

[Mayden]

I think it depends. If they've been abused/neglected then I'm all for name changing, putting the old life behind etc.

If you really don't like the name, just call him another name and he'll catch up. It's more association than actual 'knowing' it if you understand me.

They'll learn that by saying X they're supposed to respond/listen etc. You're just changing the word.

 

[vicky2200]

I wouldn't change it unless it was a terrible name. But I don't think it will really do any harm (the bird may be confused for awhile, but would likely figure out when you say his new name, you mean him.)

 

[henpecked]

There's been some study on something similar to this. Some people studying a bird in Aus. found that baby birds in the nest are assigned a name, there's some sound associated with that bird.So yes our birds probably associate some thing as their name. It might be a chirp or word ,but i believe most have a name for themselves. If you where to switch that name, i think they would recognize a new one. It might take awhile but if you were consistent, they would recognize that you were talking to them.

 

[amysaviary]

I am not a big fan of the name change thing. If my birds came with a name that is what they still have. I think I would not change a child's name if I adopted a child so I would not do it to my birds either. Just my opinion.

 

[Molcan2]

I got Rome at 16yrs. She had all male characteristics so her 1st home named her Romeo, her second home kept the name. I got her, DNA tested her, surprise - female. We tried changing her name to several different things, she didnt like anything. So we just dropped the O to Rome. She does good with that. She hasnt said her old name in 10 months or so, she used to say it all the time when she first came to us. She also gets called Princess and Chicken (long story, its not used to make fun of her). Rome seems to just really fit her really well. If you think a name doesnt fit well with the bird then why not try something else and see how they do with it? They are so intelligent, as long as they like it i dont see wjat it would hurt.

 

[Molcan2]

Sorry for the miss spellings and the improperly placed . Was sent from my phone.

 

[IcyWolf]

If they obviously know their names then I don't change them. The only birds I have renamed were the three budgies we just got a couple weeks ago and that was only because the one didn't even have a name and the other two didn't know their names. The guy told me he didn't really call them by their names but his niece called two of them winnie and pooh, while winnie is kind of cute I just couldn't see having a bird named pooh lol.

 

[Mare Miller]

I'll still use the names given to my birds while talking with them but I also use endearing names like boo or boobers. They'll respond as though I was using their given name. I'm thinking that they like the tone and special sound of your voice, regardless of the word you use.

 

[KatherineI]

Loki came with his name. It's what the store called him and try and try as I did to come up with something 'better', Loki was definitely his name, lol.

Sugar was originally Dragon. I'm sorry, but when we adopted our bearded dragon, Norbert, and someone said "just call him Dragon", I about fell out of my chair! That's like name a cat, Cat! She didn't seem to respond to her name, I didn't like it to begin with, so I saw absolutely no harm in changing it. She does, however, respond to Sugar.

I think it's perfectly alright to change the name if you don't like it, or they were abused and what-not. And not to be mean or anything, but yes, adopted children DO get their names changed. Even older adopted children, not just ones adopted at birth. It happens every day, particularly with International Adoptions, amysaviary.

 

[Featheredsamurai]

There's been some study on something similar to this. Some people studying a bird in Aus. found that baby birds in the nest are assigned a name, there's some sound associated with that bird.So yes our birds probably associate some thing as their name. It might be a chirp or word ,but i believe most have a name for themselves. If you where to switch that name, i think they would recognize a new one. It might take awhile but if you were consistent, they would recognize that you were talking to them.

+1

I feel it's wrong to change a highly intelligent birds name, unless the name is very similar to the original.

 

[MikeyTN]

Birds know their names!!!! BUT people change their bird's names all the time. Will they recognize their new name? Absolutely! Just like dogs and cats, they recognize their new names just as easy as birds can. For instance, our chihuahua whom we named Bucky, he had a strange name that we just didn't like so we changed it, he's been called Bucky for the past 6 years and he's just fine. Our ekkie boy, JoJo. I know in one of his previous homes he was called Yoshi cause he say it all the time. But he also say JoJo all the time as well. When I call him by JoJo, he responds just fine. We usually keep their existing names unless we absolutely don't like the name, especially when they named them really strange names....

 

[amysaviary]

I think it's perfectly alright to change the name if you don't like it, or they were abused and what-not. And not to be mean or anything, but yes, adopted children DO get their names changed. Even older adopted children, not just ones adopted at birth. It happens every day, particularly with International Adoptions, amysaviary

If u ready my post it said "I" would not. I never said it didn't happen! The title of this thread is "What are your thoughts on changing a birds name"
I was giving my opinion and my thoughts sorry u can't see the difference in my thoughts and opinion and what other people do!!! I am entitled to think what I want and I would not bash u for ur thoughts so please don't do it to me! Many other people said they would not change the name and u r not calling them out??? I simply said Y I feel that way! I feel my birds r my children and I would not do it to a bird or a child!

 

[lizardsmells]

Hi, I was just curious what you're thoughts were on changing a birds name? Lets say it's about 4 years old and already says the name itself. Is it kind of cruel to start calling it something else? Thanks

Kazi's name was originally Kazam, which I thought was just the stupidest name to pin on a poor animal. or anything other than a late-night infomercial cleaning product. So I changed it, but I changed it to something similar so I wouldn't confuse him. It took him just a couple of weeks to start responding to his new name, so I know it can be done. I'd just pick something close and start calling her that

 

[Molcan2]

Kazam.... sorry, I had to laugh about that one. Definitely sounded like an informercial, I think Kazi is way better.

 

[KatherineI]

I think it's perfectly alright to change the name if you don't like it, or they were abused and what-not. And not to be mean or anything, but yes, adopted children DO get their names changed. Even older adopted children, not just ones adopted at birth. It happens every day, particularly with International Adoptions, amysaviary

If u ready my post it said "I" would not. I never said it didn't happen! The title of this thread is "What are your thoughts on changing a birds name"
I was giving my opinion and my thoughts sorry u can't see the difference in my thoughts and opinion and what other people do!!! I am entitled to think what I want and I would not bash u for ur thoughts so please don't do it to me! Many other people said they would not change the name and u r not calling them out??? I simply said Y I feel that way! I feel my birds r my children and I would not do it to a bird or a child!

1. My apologies, as I didn't see the I part. Yes, that is a personal opinion
2. No need to be quite that nasty. I wasn't bashing, in any way, shape, or form. I was pointing out that it does happen.

 

[Beako_N_Kiwi]

Kazam! That made me laugh

So one of my birds was neglected, so the bird rescue changed her name, and she now knows her new name!

Another bird I have in - a 28 year old FEMALE named Paco. It's really funny that HER name is Paco, she says it and everything... but I feel bad that she has a boys name. I think I'm going to start calling her Paca to make it sound feminine. Hopefully that doesn't mean something awful in Spanish! Haha

I only asked what everyone's personal thoughts were on name changing because the thought crossed my mind but I felt conflicted. Everyone is entitled to their own opinions, I don't like when people get worked up or judge someone else's opinion. I've had weird comments left for me on posts that I didn't feel were very nice, and have wondered why people act like they own the place.

Come on people - Remember we are on a darn parrot forum - talking about BIRDS, lets have fun, and share!!!

 

[osnyder]

Geordi was "Jake" when we got him (at around 5 years old to boot), and that just wasn't going to work. I have a brother Jake, a BFF Jake, and my son has countless friends who are Jake. So, change it was. He's a smart little bugger and it seemed to not be an issue at all.