How to Teach a Quaker Parrot to Speak
To teach your Quaker parrot to speak, choose a simple word or phrase, like “Hello” or “Bye-bye.” Repeat the phrase around your parrot frequently, such as whenever you leave or enter the room. It's also important to use the same tone of voice every time, since this will make it easier for the parrot to pick up on the word. As your bird begins to learn the new word, be patient. It may take a while for some parrots to get the hang of saying a word or pronouncing it correctly. If you like, try teaching your parrot a little song or melody.
Start with something simple. Don't start with a long sentence. Instead, stick with a simple phrase or word, such as "Hello" or "Bye bye." Your bird is more likely to pick up short phrases at first. Say the phrase over and over. To get your parrot used to the idea, repetition is key. Say the phrase frequently, such as when you are entering or exiting the room. If the bird hears it often enough, it will likely start to repeat it. Make sure to say the word or phrase clearly and distinctly. Keep the same tone. The Quaker parrot is not only picking up on the sound. It's also picking up on the tone. If you use the same tone or intonation every time you say the phrase, it will be easier for your bird to pick it up. A high, excited voice often works well. Be patient. It takes many repetitions for a bird to learn a phrase. Often, the bird will continue to take it in for a long time before trying to say it. If you have a young bird, it may wait until it's a bit older to start speaking. Try singing tunes. Quaker birds, like many birds, love hearing little songs, and they will often pick these up more quickly than phrases. If you sing the same little song to your bird every day, it will likely pick it up and sing it back to you. Hold conversations with your parrot. Just like kids, parrots pick up on language over time. The more you talk to them, the more words they'll pick up. Just include them in conversations to get the process going. Use treats to reward talking. Just like any behavior, positive reinforcement works well to train speaking. When you're first starting out saying a phrase, give the parrot a reward every time you say. Then only give it to them when they look at you when you say it. Once the bird is doing that, give them the treat only when it starts to say the word. Finally, only offer the treat when the bird comes closer to actually saying it. Some good treats include sunflower seeds, an almond sliver, or a bit of grape. Only do five or six treats in a single session. It may help if you use a clicker when rewarding your bird with a treat. When your bird talks, click the clicker and then give it the treat. Soon, it will associate the clicking sound with good behavior, which will encourage it to keep talking. Teach them phrases for particular situations. Quaker parrots are quite ready learners, and you can help them learn phrases for different situations. For example, you could use the phrase "Crackers are tasty" when you give your bird a cracker as a treat. If you give your bird an apple, say, "Apples are yummy." Eventually, your bird will likely learn to distinguish between the phrases. Keep your sessions short. Of course, you'd like to keep repeating the word until your Quaker gets it. However, you can tire out your bird, just like you can tire out a dog trying to teach it to sit. Try a few minutes several times a day. Skip training tapes. Training tapes repeat sounds and phrases for a bird to learn. However, most larger birds, including Quakers, prefer interacting with you. They enjoy the time they spend with you, so they are more likely to engage in talking to please you than they are if a tape repeats it. 
Start with something simple. Say the phrase over and over. Keep the same tone. Be patient. Try singing tunes. Hold conversations with your parrot. Use treats to reward talking. Teach them phrases for particular situations. Keep your sessions short. Skip training tapes. 