Parakeet Training Record

In the 60's, science had an answer for everything, and vinyl did much more than just supply you with the latest pop tunes. For a mere 98 cents, this 45rpm disc from Hartz Mountain claimed to be able to teach your parakeet to talk using a "scientific new method". The idea, it would seem, was to place your bird near the record player while a "carefully trained voice" recited over and over again a series of banal phrases. "Hello, baby", says the voice. "Hello, baby".

Whether this worked or not is anyone's guess (put me down for No), but judging from the wear on this particular disc, it would appear that somebody gave it a shot. It's actually hard to imagine how much easier using this record might have been compared to the "old fashioned" method it replaced. Considering that each side of the thing is only about 3 minutes long, a dedicated parakeet owner would have had to do an awful lot of record-flipping to generate any appreciable amount of listening time. Weigh that against the disadvantage to having your parakeet learn only those phrases carefully selected by the Hartz Mountain engineers, and -- wait, I keep forgetting. This was the 60's, and these are consumers we're talking about.

It's too bad that the parakeet training concept seems to have been a passing phenomenon. With today's multi-gigabyte MP3 players able to hold hours of sound, it might actually have a chance. Hello, baaaaaby...

That was funny says:
I think that this was funny, though maybe a just need more sleep... (08-16-2003)

this site is helpful says:
hey! it teaches me to talk how awsoem is this site!!! (08-14-2003)

Solonia Kiphotan (skiphotan@ecc.bde.edu) says:
Hello, wanting I to say site little of information I useful to find. Thank you for time most stimulating to find no answers for questions I have been posing. (08-10-2003)

John The Parakeet Man (johntheparakeetman@hotmail.com) says:
This is a great website, however I think there are subliminal messages on these tracks! Listeners beware... (08-10-2003)

dissapointed says:
i could not even get the sound to come up. All i was looking for was a site on how to make my parakeet stay on my finger. This website is entirly about nothing! (08-09-2003)

linz binz says:
the sound recordings on this site didn't even play 4 me! it sucked!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (08-06-2003)

mikki says:
great site (08-06-2003)

Parakeet God says:
Stop feeding my feathered children this rubbbish, or I'll strike you down with a mini parakeet-sized lightning bolt! (08-05-2003)

go lick a donkey says:
this is the gayest site i have ever seen (08-05-2003)

u suck says:
this is a gay site (08-05-2003)

Jem says:
This site really isn't that good. The sound recordings suck! They don't even work! You should definetley shut down...This site SUX! (08-04-2003)

Alicia (Skoshi420@aol.com) says:
I also feel this is the most unhelpful site , it taught me nothing about how to train my parakeet. And in fact I have been all over the internet looking for information about training them and all I get is here is a book you can buy or well what I got at this site....A whole lot of nothing!!! (08-01-2003)

primc (princ973@msn.net) says:
all yallarea.s.s.h.o.l.e (07-29-2003)

Ash (PinkPixie1588@aol.com) says:
I downloaded the recordings on this site to see how my two parakeets *budgies* would react, one just watched; entranced, while the other seemed frightened and just raised its feathers as if it was petrified...I wouldn't recommend this method, it seems that your own voice works more effectively, and will let it get used to you...my suggestion is to tape record your own voice saying the phrases repeatedly that you want to teach it, and turn it on before you leave for school in the morning, so it will get used to your voice AND get an expanded vocabulary. That seemed to be most effective...~*~Ashley~*~ (07-28-2003)

get off the site says:
a (07-27-2003)

Id rather not say says:
Dont you get the picture?!?!?! YOure site sucks!! (07-27-2003)

Max E. Pad says:
u suck (07-27-2003)

Mohonrih Moriankimer says:
I cannot even put in words how I truly feel about this website. I have never been to a more ineffective and non-helping website. This site sucks! I hope you go out of business. Because of you...my beloved parakeet died in my arms. I cannot explain my pain and anguish to you. I will never forgive you! Again...I'd like to end with you stink! (07-27-2003)

Pepper M. says:
I love this site. I'm learning to talk! (07-26-2003)

Advertise on this site