Teaching a parakeet not to say certain things

[Golden Dragoon]

Not entirely sure where to put this, but here goes.
My ex has a beautiful looking 5 year old parakeet, that has unfortunately been taught by her brother while he was staying with her a while back to say the phrase "show us yer ***s" to her, now having witnessed this I can say it is hilarious the first time but I can understand her frustration at trying to get the bird out of the habit, it seems that the bird gets more excited and says it more often if she gets angry, but after a couple of months of her trying to ignore it hoping that it will stop with no results, she has asked me to look around and see if there is anything she can do to make it stop, and I was hoping that someone might have a suggestion

[g8ina]

I dont think you can get a bird to unlearn stuff.... Aversion therapy might work but would be considered as cruelty.... I reckon yer stuck with it.








(until the bird dies)

[Golden Dragoon]

Luckily I am not the one stuck with it but waiting til it dies may be a problem, they have been known to live 30+ years

[Phage]

Birds are imitating the flock. To get it to say something else, you have to give it a new phrase to learn. It's a long process, but you can do it on a loop tape.
Give the bird lot's of attention whilst repeating a more acceptable phrase, reinforced with treats when it gets it right. It will take some time to re-programme it though.

[TheAnimus]

Have you tried (as suggested) playing it a recording again and again to try and train it with a new phrase.

"It would be most gratifying if you were amenable to presenting your mammaries in all their glory" for instance.

[abaxas]

Filed under 'failed troll'.

Tigs Edit: Don't be so quick to judge...

[blueball]

Rubber band around the beak?

[shaithis]

Replace it with one of these!

[Golden Dragoon]

It was a serious question you know, but still I can't hold a grudge against this thread diverging into silliness, as I said I found her birds behavior to be hilarious

[Sputnik]

... Aversion therapy might work

What, Like exposing her breasts to it?

I'd try leaving it listening to a continuous recording of something you want it to say when you go out, It will either learn the new phrase or have a breakdown.

[directhex]

What, Like exposing her breasts to it?

I'd try leaving it listening to a continuous recording of something you want it to say when you go out, It will either learn the new phrase or have a breakdown.

"all work and no play makes jack a dull boy"

[Biscuit]

I know you were after serious advice but i love this thread...

[Sputnik]

"all work and no play makes jack a dull boy"

No, Your right! Leave it to watch TV and by the time she comes home It'll be having a Tense, Nervous headache or trying to sell you life insurance for over 50's.

[Biscuit]

If it were me, i would play it this video on repeat (NSFW):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bbIlLmCID5g

[scaryjim]

Before you retrain it, I think we need a video as proof that you're not just winding us up...

[MaddAussie]

My grand parents Cockatoo used to imitate the phone then cackle when my Nan rushed to answer it..