Shouldering you Parrot

[Ray P]

First things first, I am not an advocate against shouldering your Parrot and I am not an advocate for shouldering your Parrot.

All my parrots are and have been shoulder birds. Many so called experts say you should never shoulder a Parrot because of the damage they could do to your face.

I will not argue the fact. but I will say that many care givers come to over time a very special trusting relationship. It`s the most beautiful relationship you could ever have with your companion

It`s based on a strong bond and mutual trust and that each has no fear of the other. If you are afraid a parrot is going to bite you, well guess what, they will.

Good comes with trust and bonding and the building of a relationship.

When working with your Parrot, talk to them and not at them and make sure your presence is non-threatening, This is just a start to a long time partnership.

It`s up to you so make it a good one.

[neoow]

I personally try and keep Alfie away from my shoulder- simply because after a minute or two of being there he will start trying to find my ears to nibble at. So he's not allowed up there. Or if he is, it's for a very brief spell before he is moved back to an arm where I can see what he's up to.

[LNCAG]

I avoid letting my grey ride on my shoulder because even though he is a gentle sweet loving parrot -- if he should get startled -- I don't want an injured eye (or any facial bite). I know he wouldn't hurt me on purpose, but I can't control everything in our environment all the time. Thunder outside, cat knocking something off the table, etc.. Since I can't guarantee there won't be some sudden noise or something that might make him react poorly, it's just not worth the risk to me. Just my 2 cents worth -- good people will weigh in differently, I am sure.

[birdhouse]

About 25ish years ago, I was visiting my favorite bird shop. A remember the lady her w/DHA, waiting to have his nails trimmed. They were regulars. So I knew how the 18 yo Zon had been w/this woman since it was an egg. They were so bonded that the woman had the bird on her shoulder practically all the time, wherever she went.

 

But I've always remembered this particular day because I saw her beloved Zon inexplicably rip a chunk & an inch long strip of flesh off the woman's face. Best guess was the bird who was already wired about getting it's nails done over-reacted to something none of us ever saw.

 

Happy to say the plastic surgery was totally successful. The lady still has her beloved Zon. Still takes him everywhere on her shoulder. I on the other hand, credit that episode as the reason I developed a beak size restriction. I also truly believe it's why I'm apparently imuned to the Zon "thing".

 

Dave007 said shouldering a fid is like sticking your face in a can opener. I've never forgotten it because I can't say as I disagree.

 

What I can say, is that Phenix has earned his bad risk rap. So there came a time to admit it was crazy to ignore the obvious. I'll show him enough trust to stick my face in his to get kissed. But I don't shoulder him anymore.

 

Whereas Kura is the exact opposite. Whenever she's on her favorite roost it's all cuddle & preen & snug into the collar of my robe on a cold night. I trust her implicitly. I accept that the day may come where it could be my turn to drip blood all over the floor though. In Kura's case the risk is more than worth the reward.

 

For me, there's no set rule. It's always been on a case by case basis. And moment to moment, being aware of whatever might influence things. So under those circumstances I pretty much feel like if I get bitten, I've probably earned it.

[SRSeedBurners]

I'm living on the risky side of this topic. My Grey is too cuddly and loves to ride there. She has nailed me before but I'm willing to risk it. Everytime she's nailed me it's a jealousy fit because I'm loving on one of my other birds right in her face. No woman should have to stand for that and I definitely deserved it.

[Acappella]

When I first got Dorian there was no way he was trustworthy enough to be a shoulder bird. He was aggressive and extremely high strung. Now that I could probably trust him on my shoulder, he has absolutely no interest in being up there, I've tried. He wants no part of it.

[judygram]

I trust both my birds to be on my shoulder, my conure is on my shoulder any time she is out of her cage, the only danger she presents is tearing up my shirts which look like rats have been gnawing on them. Josey sits on my shoulder from time to time for she has shown that she can be trusted there. You have to know your birds well.

[Timbersmom]

Timber sits and rides on my forearm. Accidents happen to easily and I'm not willing to take the chance. However, if he's sitting on my forearm and gets spooked, he heads up to my shoulder. He's going for the highest point I assume. I remove him as soon as the "danger" has passed.

[Kya]

For me, it depends on the bird.

 

Sookie, our sun conure pretty much stays on my shoulder or inside my shirt when she's out. She's less likely to slice a carotid artery, and although she has nipped me trying to remove my reading glasses, she has never been a problem.

 

Gracie is so insecure that I have allowed her on my shoulder, even against my better judgement. She has some arthritis in her little feet, and I think it's easier for her to grip cloth, I rarely wear long sleeves, so the shoulder it is. I may regret it, I know I may regret it, but I can tell how secure she feels in that particular spot, kinda resting her body against the side of my face, and I can't deny her.

 

Kya will occasionally fly and land on my shoulder, but I remove him quickly. He's nailed me pretty good before and he thinks I am trying to interfere with his love affair with my husband, so 9 times out of 10, he's flown to me to bite me, anyway. I am a threat that is only tolerated because I am a good cook. But this week, his new saying is "I am going to the court house". We have no idea where that came from, but I'm pretty sure he's trying to file for our divorce.

[SRSeedBurners]

I am a threat that is only tolerated because I am a good cook. But this week, his new saying is "I am going to the court house". We have no idea where that came from, but I'm pretty sure he's trying to file for our divorce.

 

Hilarious!

[LNCAG]

Court indeed -- made me laugh! :rolleyes:

[FirstPenguin]

We used to shoulder our Senegal but she's since been trained to stay on our knee when we're sitting on the couch since she can be a nipper. My Congo, was shouldered probably starting at the breeder. He's never been clipped so he has an almost perfect fight or flight response, meaning, if he gets spooked on my shoulder he flies up, boomerangs around and then lands exactly where he was on my shoulder. In fact, he literally flew out of his carrier for the first time and landed on my shoulder. Elwood came from Texas to New York via Delta pet cargo, and then had to be transported on public transit, in a cab through holiday weekend traffic. It was a long trip. Finally we get him home and place the carrier down. You always read, open the carrier and let them come out on their own. Don't rush. Well Elwood bolted from the carrier the second the door swung open did a quick circle, landed on my shoulder, and he's been there ever since.

 

Also over the years he's learned to use the blunt front of his beak to get my attention. I'm fairly confident with him on my shoulder.

[Timbersmom]

Haaaaaa! Love it! Going to the court house indeed...

[Kya]

Haaaaaa! Love it! Going to the court house indeed...

 

And, he's still saying it, and we still have no idea where it came from! He must have heard it on tv. He's such a mess. If no one is paying attention to him, he loudly announces his departure for the court house. He knows it makes us laugh, and we always respond in an effort to try to figure out where that particular phrase came from, but when we do, he responds in this deep voice gibberish of his. It sounds very much the same every time, which makes us believe even more so that it is something he heard on tv, and just didn't get the rest of what was said so he's winging it.

[shanlung]

Written long long time ago.

But perhaps might still be useful for you to decide if your birdie can be on your shoulder

As sure as the sun rises in the East, you will be pooped on. Accept that as the truth enshrine in stone. A more fundamental question will be should you let the parrot be on your shoulder. Nothing to do with that silly notion of height placement . Perhaps this might be a guide to your eventual decision.

Parrot on shoulder - being gentle

 

Tinkerbell Legacy - - Rant 03 (a flighted parrot mentality) & Understanding the mind of your grey

Tinkerbell homepage

 

Edited July 10, 2018 by shanlung