Einstein

 

Einstein

Hi! I'm Einstein. I am an 11 year old Congo African Grey Parrot. I live with Marcia and Jeff in a place called Texas! I am often mistaken for the famous "Einstein" that was featured on the TV show Animal Planet Pet Stars. The only things we have in common is our name, good looks, and the desire to entertain humans!

Q.   Is Einstein a girl or a boy?
A.  We don't know for sure.  We named her Einstein when she was 3 months old because we liked the name.  When we took her in for a check up with an avian vet, he told us that you can only determine the sex of an African Grey through DNA testing.  DNA sexing is really only necessary if you plan to breed a bird.  He also told us that from his physical examination he was 90% sure it was a girl.  So, we stuck with that assessment.  Someday we may have her sexed or she may lay an egg!  It really doesn't matter.  We love her and and gave her the first name of "Albirda".

Q.   Do you use any CD's, tapes, or movies to help Einstein talk better?  When did she start talking?
A.  We use no tapes or CD's when training Einstein. She started to talk at about 17 months. Her first sound was that of a Turkey.  We heard "gobble, gobble, gobble!" coming from her kitchen perch as Grace was being said at our Thanksgiving table in the dining room. Needless to say, the outburst of laughter from my family and friends was tremendous and she has not stopped learning and saying new things since!  We talk to Einstein like a member of the family. If we are home, she is out of her cage. She is either on us or a nearby perch. Her wings are clipped so she depends on us for transportation. When we are gone, her only entertainment is a radio and toys. Bird learn speech from other birds. Not from tapes, TV, etc. We are her other "birds". Einstein says so much more that what these movies of her can show. However, she does react to sounds on the TV. For example, when a telephone rings on a soap opera, she says, "Hello".  When I teach Einstein deliberate things like songs, counting, etc. I have 2 methods. For songs I dance. Yes, I know it's silly, but here is the reason. In the wild birds display for each other. They do tricks and spread their feathers out and do all kind of crazy things. Well, I do the same thing. When I taught her "Who Let the Dogs Out", I sang it while bouncing my head and upper body just like the group who recorded the song. For teaching "Shake your Bootie"... well, you can only imagine what I shook! :)  When I taught her how to count. I gave her white index cards with the number written on each one. I'd let her take it from me in her beak and she would bite it and drop it. Then I  would go to the next number and so on. I do not know why she skips "2" and "7". We are working on that, but I think she has decided they are not worthy of learning!  I've done the same thing with colors.  I give her a blue toy and I say, "BLUE", she takes it from me and drops it.  She can say, "red", "blue", "green", "purple", and "orange".  Most all the other words she has learned on her own. Just from us talking to her and playing with her. (Which we do a lot!)

Also, when Einstein is learning a new word, the new word is usually not perfect. However, I know she is working on learning something new. So I listen.  When she says the new sound, I try to figure out what it is. Just as if she was a 2 year old human and helping a child learn to talk. For example: "squirrel" was not perfect the first time out of her beak. The first sound we heard was "squ", then it was "squel", then I figured out she was trying to say "squirrel", so I started saying it a lot. I also associated a sound to it like a squirrel would make. She loved it! Now she asks us all the time, "What's a squirrel?" and we answer with a "chik-chik-chik" sound.  P.S.  We do have to be careful what we say and we DO NOT use curse words or fowl language in our household. :)  

Q.  I'm considering getting a Parrot. Are they a lot of work?
A.  YES! I must ask you... Is raising children a lot of work? DO NOT get a parrot if you do not want to make a life time commitment to care for this animal for the next 50 to 80 years.  Parrots live a long time!  They require time, attention, a good diet, and a clean environment.  They are noisy, messy, and needy.  Before you decide to get a Parrot, PLEASE do some reading and some homework. READ, READ, READ!  The 1#  thing you should do is subscribe to Companion Parrot Quarterly Magazine. I highly recommend everything Sally Blanchard has written about Parrot Parrot Care and Behavior. Here is the links to her website. http://www.companionparrot.com/   I also highly recommend her "Companion Parrot Handbook" It's FANTASTIC!  She writes about all facets of parrot care. She also has a team of very knowledgeable guest writers who contribute to the magazine.  Are they worth it?  YOU BET!

Q.  My Parrot is a feather picker, any tips on this?
A.  No one knows WHY they feather pick!  I am not an expert AT ALL!  Has your parrot had a complete medical work up? Was a blood panel done? I would do that first to rule out any medical problems. Then, your guess is as good as mine as to why he is picking. Could be diet - does he get fresh vegetables on a regular basis? Is he on a good pellet? Does he eat healthy things? No pizza, hamburgers, etc? Could be behavioral - could be bored, not getting enough attention.  Do you change his toys periodically?

Q.  My Vet says my Parrot is allergic to peanuts. That is what is causing his feather picker, do you agree?
A.  I worry about what your Vet said about the peanuts. I agree, peanuts are not the best nut/treat for a parrot. However, I doubt he is allergic unless tests were run. I give Einstein only organic Almonds and Pistachios. Sometime organic Pecans. ALWAYS ORGANIC!  So are most all of the fresh fruits and vegetables. If they are not organic I wash them very well with a Vegetable spray like "Veggie Wash". www.citrusmagic.com .  Pesticide residue is deadly for birds!

Q. My Parrot is picking on his chest and he leaves the feathers alone until they are almost all the way in and opening and then pulls them. The vet said this is probably because they hurt when they are growing in. A.  Sorry, I DON'T agree with your Vet at all!   If this is true, why aren't the bird out in the wild ripping their feathers out?  Do you hurt when your hair or fingernails grow? Feather growth in birds is a natural thing and doesn't hurt them at all.

 

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