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Tabu
Just hatched
Joined: 05 Aug 2005
Posts: 32
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| Why you should never allow your bird on your shoulder... |
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I often read here messages from people that have problems with a biting bird. In most of the cases the bird is allowed on the shoulder. It is not wise to allow you bird to sit there, and I'll tell you why:
In the wild, parrots live in groups. In the group there are individual differences in character. You will notice, that the most alert birds sit in the treetops, they are on watch. They have a view of 360 degrees, and on the slightest movement that could be a predator, they are alarmed and take flight. The others, in the lower branches, react on their movement, the moving group disturbs the predator, who will only succeed in catching weak or ill birds.
In a group of birds everybody tries to occupy a position. They will defend the spot where they sit. A bird that feels insecure will try to climb up the tree, to a position where he can overview the environment. So he will threathen with his beak other birds to defend his position. But he doesn't need to do that vigorously, because birds have learned from hatching to interprete each others body language. And they can get out of each others way of course.
And now we go from the wild bird to the bird in captivity. He has to interact with a human. In the beginning, he feels insecure. The human, like all predators, has eyes that look straight upon him, and, as an extra, the friendly human smile shows, like predators do, a row of teeth. many humans try to be friendly and stretch out their hand to pet the bird... So, the insecure parrot starts climbing up, if he hasn't already been shying away or jumping to the ground. You allow him to climb on your shoulder, and take the watch position. The bird will be the alert one in the group. He will, of course, defend his position against other members of the group ( your partner, or your children), and, alarmed, he will sometimes do what he does to a branch or a perch... bite your cheek, or ear etc.
So what to do when your bird climbs you shoulder? Just gently put your hand under his breast and let him step up your hand/arm and hold him below breast height. This way you will take the watch position and be in control. The bird will notice that you are calm, and this way he will be more and more relaxed. You can practice this, by walking in or outside your house, with the parrot on your hand or a rope-perch, while you show him round. You tell him what you see, without watching him. Remember: our watching makes a parrot feel insecure. Another good excercise: put on a nice cd, and start dancing with your parrot. Try to remember ballroom dance steps, latin, folkdance or whatever, and concentrate on the steps and the fun the two of you have. anytime he climbs up your shoulder, you take him over on the other arm or on the perch. Remember: you are in control, and he relies on you! |
Thursday August 25, 2005 10:37 pm |
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lisaandzachary
Flutterer
Joined: 17 Aug 2005
Posts: 161
Location: Canada |
| Thanks |
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I read your message and I'll stear clear of the shoulder from now on. I would like to stay away from biting it just to painful. |
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Friday August 26, 2005 1:45 am |
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shells picasso
Flier
Joined: 29 May 2005
Posts: 900
Location: Sydney |
My vet warned me about shouldering birds too. He showed me how to stop him climbing up my arm by putting my thumb gently on his foot while he was perched on my hand. I am a bit of a softy though, Picasso snuggles into my neck when we're out if he gets scared, it is his safe place. Aside from going out I don't often let him on my shoulder even though he has never bitten me, I don't want to risk his becoming aggressive when he hits puberty. |
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Friday August 26, 2005 3:44 am |
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lisaandzachary
Flutterer
Joined: 17 Aug 2005
Posts: 161
Location: Canada |
| 1st met Regan |
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when I first met regan and I went to visit her all the time she used to snuggle under my chin. now that I brought her home nothing she seemed to have lost the cuddling thing I'm not sure weather to be happy or disappointed. Will she be cuddly again or is it gone? |
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Friday August 26, 2005 11:02 am |
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Greg Sujecki
Experienced flier
Joined: 21 Mar 2005
Posts: 1650
Location: Australia,Melbourne |
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I dissagree with this Tabu  All my trained parrots have and continue to sit on my shoulder without and problems what so ever  .We shouldn't disallow a bird to sit in a prime position on our shoulders, providing it has the time spent with each other.You cannot disallow a bird to do something without the proper time and training??We can train a bird to do good..at the same time we can train a bird to do the bad without knowing it  , we humans don't like that,for a bird think's it is good..My belief and experiance is because we don't spend enough time with out birds..It's easier to say a Vet told me,
but what experiance has a vet had to make
that statement
.Reading is good, but what you read can be misguided also,experiance is real life and you can't change that.We have two different species of animals trying to interact here.One is mean't to be smarter the the other(human)but unfortunately we let ourselve's down to often and it's the bird that misses out...The more time we spend with our captive creatures the more they will learn.We a free to please oursleves so we should show the way....
This comment is just my opinion through experiance and in no way mean't to offend anyone 
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Friday August 26, 2005 11:14 am |
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lisaandzachary
Flutterer
Joined: 17 Aug 2005
Posts: 161
Location: Canada |
I like what you said to do you have any ideas on how to train them not to bite me while up there? She's also growling at me whenever I go in and around her cage, although she only bit me once most of the time she just puts beak to hand or fingers. I would love to know how to stop it before it becomes a real problem. Thank you for all your help.
Lisa |
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Friday August 26, 2005 11:47 am |
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Chaquita's Mom
Experienced flier
Joined: 29 Jun 2005
Posts: 1028
Location: Pennsylvania, USA |
You can never "fully" train a parrot. Their wild instincts are too strong. Having a bird on your shoulder is done at your own risk. I let Chaquita on my shoulder and she has nipped me before. Just avoid giving your bird the chance to nip at your face and cause real damage, like loosing your eyesight. |
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Friday August 26, 2005 12:32 pm |
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shirin
Moderator
Joined: 27 Apr 2005
Posts: 7401
Location: Canada, Toronto |
In my opinion putting smaller birds on your shoulder is ok, because there's no chance of them taking an eye out or anything, but larger birds like a cockatoo for example could really do damage like Chaquita's mom said. Also I've read that it's the height of the eye level that determines dominance. My lovebirds sit on my shoulder all the time, it's their most favourite spot to be  But I don't let my Grey on my shoulder, although he never actually tries to get on my shoulder. |
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Friday August 26, 2005 1:42 pm |
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lisaandzachary
Flutterer
Joined: 17 Aug 2005
Posts: 161
Location: Canada |
ok I'll just continue and see if things change or stay the same. take it one day at a time, maybe she's having a bad day or something. |
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Friday August 26, 2005 1:47 pm |
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Greg Sujecki
Experienced flier
Joined: 21 Mar 2005
Posts: 1650
Location: Australia,Melbourne |
| re:lisa |
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All depending on your bird's personality depends on how long it takes.It can be done though,firstly you have to remember who's in control in your relationship here.If it's you then 2: When it's on your shoulder don't look into your parrots eye to eye until such time that your parrot leans over to look at you.3:As soon as you parrot bites or even misbehaves on your shoulder put it back into it's cage and leave for at least 1/2 hour without contact(like grounding a child)Don't yell at this time either at it, for it might scare it more and then become defensive.Just sat No with
your head up
and this is done eye to eye so it see's what you are saying/doing is wrong.It might not work the first time but it will depending on it's attitude and how old it is. |
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Friday August 26, 2005 1:47 pm |
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Greg Sujecki
Experienced flier
Joined: 21 Mar 2005
Posts: 1650
Location: Australia,Melbourne |
Be careful what we read .All this we read about
height dominance is a
myth
,I personally never ,had a bird that is over my shoulder or height seen a change in his/her attitude.I have had a bird below my shoulder bite me and so it does above me so to speak.  |
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Friday August 26, 2005 1:58 pm |
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shirin
Moderator
Joined: 27 Apr 2005
Posts: 7401
Location: Canada, Toronto |
Greg I agree! My Greys swings are all higher than me, and he never acts like he's dominant over me, he lets me give him head scratches while he's up there and never bites But lovebirds like to bite even when they're on the floor  |
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Friday August 26, 2005 2:22 pm |
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Greg Sujecki
Experienced flier
Joined: 21 Mar 2005
Posts: 1650
Location: Australia,Melbourne |
Thank you Shirin It all depends on the bird and nature it's in,your Grey obviously has more time with you than it is said in text which is great to hear |
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Friday August 26, 2005 2:30 pm |
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andrea
Just hatched
Joined: 08 Jul 2005
Posts: 40
Location: costa rica |
| shoulders |
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its all about your birds personality, if you feel nervous then dont do it but if I never let Lorito on my shoulder I would never get anything done
Andrea and Lorito |
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Tuesday August 30, 2005 2:21 am |
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fruitbatjellybean
Egg
Joined: 13 Aug 2005
Posts: 22
Location: ADVERTISING NOT ALLOWED! |
I have a blue and gold macaw, Sophie, she is allowed to go on my shoulder, I trust her completely. If she's up there and I tell her to step up, she will do it immediately.
When on my shoulder, she's actually taller than I am, even so, she dosen't try to challenge me one bit, she knows mommas the boss and thats it, and she's fine with that.
She will playfully grab my cheek or my nose, but she knows how hard is too hard, and if she gets too rough she gets put down, and she knows why, so she behaves herself.
I think that if you want to let your bird up there, first be sure that you are the one in control, and the bird has a very reliable "step up". When you try to get them down and they try to run behind your head, or bite, they definitly need more training.
But yes, it does depend on the individual bird, I certainly wouldnt let any bird do that, But my Suga-Girl behaves herself
Tammy |
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Tuesday August 30, 2005 12:25 pm |
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