When Diana was a baby I had her in a cage in the living room right next to my chair. She came to live with us at 9 weeks old. I made a heavy black cage cover because we, especially hubby, are night owls. About 30 minutes after I caged her she would begin to mumble and practice her words. I couldn't understand her for a while because it was just practice. Finally the words came through.

I think by the time she was 4 or 5 months she was repeating our silly phrases. I think I kept a log of the words and phrases and the dates but cannot find it right now.

She responds to my hubby a lot. He has taught her to gobble like a turkey, quack and do a silly doo-be-doo-be-doo, plus losts of other sounds.

I crashed my pc and lost everything but I hope I had saved all my sound files to cd. If I can find them, I'll attach one.

Annie

Thanks for your reply!  That's what concerns me about taking home the 7 mo.old.  He's precious and sweet, but I'm afraid that his window for optimum learning has passed. . . there are two others here, 2 mos and 4 mos, for the same price who are still with their breeders.  I would think it would be worth something to get one directly from the breeder (who will be around to ask questions) and to get one younger.  This other guy is in a shop with other birds. . . I'm concerned about diseases.  He's also missing some feathers on the back of his head/neck.  The shop says he's rubbing. . . but I don't know if to be concerned or not.

We got our little green guy Shannon when he was 7 months old, and didn't hear a peep out of him for almost 6 weeks.  He was in isolation from our other birds in our bedroom, one morning just as it was getting light we started hearing little R2D2 noises and chuckles from his cage.  This went on for a few minutes, with us trying not to laugh, and then as soon as I opened an eye he stopped.  Not a peep.  He's going on 5 years old now, and is what folks call a "closet talker".  Won't talk as long as anybody is looking at him, but will chat up a storm (words, whistles, noises) when he thinks you can't see him.  That has included sticking his head in his food bowl and talking, talking with his eyes closed, talking while hiding behind a toy...and his favorite is talking when it's still dark.  I've been having a riot with my digital voice recorder catching him talking when nobody's in the room...he can carry on limited conversations with himself.  I never tried to teach any of my birds to talk, it just hasn't been a big issue with me, so any words that they speak at all have been surprises.  I agree with birdlady that you probably won't be able to tell if a bird is a talker or not unless you actually hear it speak something--and then there's no guarantee that they'll continue to talk in the future. 

 

BTW, I read an article in the latest Birds USA mag that said budgies were the #2 most intelligent birds, and #3 best talkers.  Eclectus didn't even get on the list.

Hi, kkr....

I have a female SI that I brought home at the age of 5 months...ekkies take a while until they are weaned, and 7 mos. is still a baby.  Ekkies can live from 35-50 years, so I would not be concerned

about 7 months being anywhere near any kind of window for learning.  A bird does not live by

"being too old to teach a dog new tricks" as they learn all throughout their lives. 

My ekkie Tiara came from a breeder as well...I visited her 3 times a week for 2 plus hours each visit.  It didn't matter to me if she talked or not either...but I was very curious to hear the "little girl voice" ekkies were noted for.  I was in for a very rude awakening on that score, because

when she did decide to speak, she spoke like a human adult male...in male voices I could not

recognize.  She can talk, but chooses no to.  And as mentioned before, she is a definite "closet talker"...I have only heard her when there was no one in the room.  And I have been astonished to hear all the things she can say, but does not.

In my case, I am very grateful that she is not a chatterbox...I have one in my IRN, Logan...he is

enough for all of my flock of 14.

Tiara  and I have one of the closest relationships in that we deal with each other on an entirely

different level...we are equals.  She understands me and my moods better than my precious Logan who is the love of my life.  T-Bird is an old soul who communicates through body language and eye contact.  If I am upset, although I try not to show it, she knows.  She is my

avian "girlfriend", as equally as I have human "girlfriends".  She is my ground to reality and my

commiserator.  I am thankful every day that she is there for me to talk to, because of all my sweet little ones, she is on my level.  I wouldn't trade one sentence from her for all the close companionship I share with her.

Thank you so much for all of your replies!  I have fallen in love with this male ekkie.  There is NO question. . . and, I think if he never says a word, I will be ok with it.  He needs a home who will love him no matter what. . . and I love animals too much to reject one for ANY reason.  I left work early today to go see him because I couldn't stand it not seeing him today.  Today was the third day I went to visit and he was just as sweet as ever.  For the second time, others in the bird shop have asked "Is that your bird?!"  and I say "No."  And they say "Well, he should be!" as they observe us interacting. 

 

I read earlier about a lady who has bought a baby who is still being weaned. . . he thrashes in the cage when she comes to visit.  He flies away from her if the owner gives him to her. . . I have exactly the opposite with this little guy.  He's so calm and seems so content while I hold him and stroke his back. The thought of him not coming to live with me almost makes me cry. . . but he's the first and only ekkie I've met. . . I'm going to meet two more before the weekend is over, but I imagine he'll be coming home with me soon.  He's too precious.

 

I imagine one has to listen to his/her instincts when picking a bird, right?  I feel like he's picked me already. . . his first home didn't want him. . . I can't imagine walking away from him now.

Hey! I was wondering the same thing as you are and I can help with a few things. My Eclectus female is now 1 yr old. She is now making silly sounds and she will make the sounds of words I say, but it isn't the word straight out. She can say hello pretty well. I feel it takes time just like a child. As far as greys go, they are very good talkers and not many other species can even compete with them. The cam start very young and say clear words. Eclectus can too from what I understand, but they won't be like a grey. At any rate, I have learned that even greys can have problems with talking and may never talk. As of now Cleopatra makes silly noises and muffles her words. Its something you just know she is saying. Also, Eclectus tend to sound more like little girls. Their sound is very sweet, where as greys sound like whatever human that has been around them the most. I'm sure that regardless you will adore your new baby. I think what Lilbit said was very true. With age parrots learn more and more as we do. They will all of a sudden say something and shock you.