None of my suns talk, but maybe they have each other too much. It does not matter is they never talk. Periodically I get updates on the babies I have sold and it would appear that 75% of the babies that came from one pair Charming & Cinderella talk quite well. I don't have any of their babies in my home. One of these an 8 month old female, is talking in 2 languages English and an Indian language. The next best talker is a 2 year old male that lives with an african grey, the 2 birds hold conversations with each other, in English. Only one of Mom & Pop's babies talks a little, about 10 words last count at almost 2.

The babies from Mom & Pop, Peanut's parents do not seem very bright we already know this but appear to be extra loyal and enjoy interacting, very helpful on dinner tables and anything else going on with the people in the home. It seems that all the babies I have raised, that I have manged to stay in contact with, live largely cage free, it pleases me so much to know this as I always worry about them after they leave here. I don't even think I like birds in cages. they always look like they in jail. If I am not able to keep and eye on mine they go to the aviary to do bird stuff.

My question is this, do genetics play a role in the ability or desire to talk, or is it simply the homes those babies have gone to?

2horse you crack me up. Great post, too. The big question nature or nurture.

I don't really know. But I'm 100% sure that everything including talking is maximized by their environment.

This Toby male Parrotlet chatters ALOT on the days he's spent more time sitting with me and I purposely talk to him versos days where he's just doing his own thing. Piper never speaks a word. After sitting with me alot, Toby chatters all by himself especially at bed time on a perch somewhere all alone even when I'm available. He never talks TO me though he just listens lol. Who knows. He came here at age 3 months and was always yakky and still is. In Parrotlet though not English.

A 12 year old Grey I placed came from a quiet home and only talked a bit originally but when he moved to his "chosen" person's farm turned into a rowdy bossy, ULTRA verbal guy like a different bird. Never shuts up now and it's been about 13 years lol.

Birds I sold in my store all came from the same breeder but different parents obviously. They ranged in talking from age 2-3 months, 1 year or never. They all started out in the same envioronment - my store- but even siblings would either not talk young or would talk young I never knew why. And we couldnt sex them back then.

Suns ran about 50-50. Senegals too. My personal Senegal talked from 2-3 months old. But I had a bunch of Maroon Bellies chattering like mad young and forever and all from the same parents. And one of them in two languages, too Farsi and English. Just like the humans. Go figure. How come out of one clutch some spoke in the store their first 5 or so months of life and others didn't?

I really admire the great job you do placing everyone and following up. What a bunch of lucky birds and people. To be able to be mostly cage free is a wonderful life, imo.

Are Mom and Pop "good parents"? That may be a clue if they are really great bird parents then maybe the offspring make better birds than "talkers". But then you'd wonder why they are so loyal and curious if they are more bird-like. Interesting questions....

I just reread your post and since you say 75% from one set talk, then prolly it's genetic first!

Mom & Pop are brilliant parents and very calm, they are older than some of the others, they never get stressed by me going into the aviary. Their babies are always the best taken care of in terms of keeping crops full. They made a peephole in the inspection door and spy on the babies so as not to disturb them by going in to the box. Charming & Cinderella's babies go from feast to famine, but I don't think allowing a crop to get empty is a bad thing. They are also good parents but have a different style of parenting.