Leo and the ever annoying "Want some water!" Cry..

[Maiosameru]

Our grey is very talkative..when he wants something he screams at the top of his lungs "Want some water!" Problem being..it takes me a glance at the bird and a quick assessment of the whole situation to know what he wants..I believe my husband called it Mommy Language one time.

 

Now, here is where we have a little problem..I would love to get it to where my husband can understand Leo's wants..and him saying want some water every time he wants ANYTHING is very frustrating..since there are obviously going to be times where I can't play translator. I've been working with him on saying what he wants..for instance, he starts telling me he wants water..yet he's pulling his nails and I'm eating something tasty. I ask him "Do you mean..want some cheese?" And he'll do his typical yes squeak and nod his head, spread his wings a bit and generally give me the yes!! cues. I've been able to get him to say want some chicken..but once again..he uses it for everything. I know he's now practicing these new words, as I hear him quietly talking to himself about cheese and chicken and seeds..as well as attention.

Here's my question..am I going about this the correct way? Or is there a better way to show him that not everything is water or chicken?

[katana600]

With our little guy it is a cracker. "Is that a cracker? Want a cracker? You got a cracker? How about a cracker? cracker?" It cracks me up, no pun intended. We have only had him about a month, so I just get him what he wants and then tell him what it is. Sometimes I just let it pass as his way of trying to communicate. The longer we know him the easier it gets. Then again, we become like those we are around... sometimes I find myself perking up when someone is getting ice cream and call out "Is that a cracker?" Leo will eventually get it. I am guessing he is so thrilled to get a response from you he is calling out to you because he knows you care. I think you are doing the right thing just talking to him, naming things as you give them to him. We are just northeast of Atlanta, so it looks like we are almost neighbors.

[Maiosameru]

Heh I know Leo's going to be picking up some really interesting things with me craving so many different things. I think he was trying to whine at my husband today.."Ice cream?" And yeah, we are close-by ^^ I used to live up in that area but got really tired of traffic and crazy police..so we moved to a pretty nice area south of Atlanta. I know its so much warmer..enough so that it feels like summer already..great news for Leo and the dog..bad news for the a/c

[Luvparrots]

Great idea to name what you are eating or giving Leo. Now my Ana Grey just says, "What some" if I am eating something she wants. But if she wants a nut she says "want a nut" and and if she wants some apple she says "want a apple." So just keeping naming things and Leo will find his own rhythm. Just like a child.

[allie]

Neko knew "want a treat?" when I met him. But I thought it would be better if he could assert his own preferences, so we started naming things we gave him. "Want a pine nut?" "Want a carrot?" But once he learned the word for apples, that's all he has to say. "Want an apple? want an apple?"

 

I'm not sure whether this is because he truly loves apples above all other things, or if he just liked the word better.