Would you train your Amazon to sit on your shoulder?

Well, apparently my new Amazon Marley who is almost 7 years old doesn't know how to sit on someone's shoulder. I have managed to put her on my shoulder but she is not comfortable there.
So, I find it odd that she has never learned something like that.
Would you put your effort into teaching her to do that? She is a very sweet bird and no biting has occurred as of yet.

To be honest with you most people train their birds not to sit on shoulders. If this bird is new to you and the fact that it is a larger bird and an amazon I would highly recommend that you discourage this behavior. This is something that should be allowed ONLY after a lot of time has been spent really knowing this bird. This takes a long time, especially in a rehomed bird. You just never know what might trigger this bird to act out and bite you. Trust me, you don't want your face at the other end of an amazon bite!

I'm nervous with parrots being on my shoulders, once a amazon hoped from my hand to my shoulder and I immediately requested her to be moved. Parrots can do a lot of damage, so only allow smaller birds who can't deliver a destructive bite to sit on your shoulder. Amazons are also famous for indirect aggression, they'll take out their anger on whoever is closest

Sometimes I let Rosie sit on my shoulder for a few minutes when I need both my hands. I always throw my hair over that ear, and I also wear glasses to protect my eyes. She is really good on my shoulder, but it's too hard to watch their body language to take risks.

I would not encourage a bird to sit on a shoulder either. I have been bitten by my bird of 12 years twice without provocation on the face. If you have a bird that does not like being on your shoulder, consider yourself lucky.

I'm afraid my bird always sits on my shoulder.... Yes she's bitten me, mostly on the neck, but I've gotten to know her body language so know if she's tense or annoyed, I just turn away now but she's not bitten me while sat on my shoulder for a few years now. It's either there or she sits on my leg(when I'm seated) she won't stay on my arm.

Guess you can count yourself luck then.

I don't like it when Em gets on my shoulder for that very reason, I don't want bit. She will fly to my shoulder now. We have a Wii, and when I go to use a dance program for exercise, Emmy always wants to be on my shoulder -- while I'm moving around. She will fly and land on me. If she gets jostled, she grabs my ear. I have been having to put her in her cage to get her to leave me alone. I'd actually prefer her to be atop my head rather than on my shoulder.

Heck, I'd bust a gut just getting Skittles off his cage. Twice he went to the floor and I was able to pick him up. He immediately went to the back of my neck. I had to back up to his cage to get him off me.

Merlee said:

I would not encourage a bird to sit on a shoulder either. I have been bitten by my bird of 12 years twice without provocation on the face. If you have a bird that does not like being on your shoulder, consider yourself lucky.

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Thank you everyone,
Oh no....I think I have a problem with the other bird I am planning to adopt from the sanctuary then.
She is going for my shoulder right after I pick her up. She is very sweet to me, but one other volunteer told me that she bit her so bad, it was healing for almost 3 weeks.
So, I guess my question has to be asked differently....How do you teach your Amazon NOT to sit on your shoulder?...

Well, my rehomed amazon prefers sitting on the shoulder. I keep moving him onto my arm or place him on a playstand close by. Sooner or later he will learn my preferences.

forbey said:

Heck, I'd bust a gut just getting Skittles off his cage. Twice he went to the floor and I was able to pick him up. He immediately went to the back of my neck. I had to back up to his cage to get him off me.

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Yeah I've had to do this a few times. Once blue is on my shoulder I can't take her off with out being bitten. She just comes down when she needs to. It doesn't bother me to much, I'm sure she just like snuggling up to me lol.

I don't like Jackie on my shoulder- I don't trust him enough to be in striking range of my face, ears, and neck lol just thinking about it makes me cringe! Even with a sweatshirt hood up he's bitten that, so he gets immediately redirected to his jungle gym or cage.

I think it's a personal preference as well as depending on the temperament of the individual bird. My yellow nape will sit on my shoulder sometimes and I know her well enough to know if it's a good idea at the time or not. She's usually calm and does not usually bite unprovoked, ie when trying to pick her up and put her in the cage when leaving the house or something simular. Surely doesn't mean that it couldn't or wouldn't happen though!

On the following link shows a photo of my a-vet with her two parrots! Once went to one of her seminars about parrot care and during the "class", she had one bird on her shoulder and the other on her head! I thought it was the most goofiest thing ever!


Pet Network Incline Vets | Pet Network Humane Society - North Lake Tahoe SPCA

Sounds to me like most folks who have amazons don't think the shoulder is a good place. I agree. My long time pet hen nape prefers being on my arm/hand. She'll retreat to my shoulder if she thinks i'm going to put her away.She knows i have much less control over her and it's harder to reach her. I do put her on my shoulder at times when i need my hands free (and don't have my neck perch on),but it's not her favorite place to be. She bit me not too long ago while on my shoulder. I was at the teller (at the bank) and put up there because i needed my hands free. Someone behind me thought they'd try and pet her, bad move for me. I've had her for 43 yrs and she's the sweetest bird, but when on your shoulder ,you never know what's going on with them.

I've learned working with rescue zons, what the ones who have a distrust of hands are quick to climb to your shoulder. This is to get away from the hands and to have more control over their situation. It will take loads of time and patience for you to gain her trust, especial of your hands. Teach her that hands are her friend, easier said then done, but so worth the trouble.

The best way to prevent her going to your shoulder??? I'd NEVER allow it. If she goes there , remove her at once. Be consistent, be firm and don't cave in. When she's showing interest in being on your shoulder, get her on your hand, reward her with a favorite activity (pets/scratches, etc). I usually spend a few moments petting/cuddling (lots of attention) when i first pick her up on my hand. It's very similar to keeping your bird away from places you don't want her. Don't allow it and reward her when she does right. Give her a better place to be ( in her mind). Good luck and remember , your both still learning about each other and zons respect a good leader. Be a good leader and show her the rules to your flock.

PS i would not have answered this thread if someone hadn't shown a picture of a Vet with birds on their shoulder. I feel the forum members did a great job in responding and didn't need me to reinforce their comments. I feel certain that if you asked that Vet, she would tell someone in your situation that it's not a good idea. Don't be mislead.

Never! I have worked with too many amazons to ever even think this would be okay. LOL. They are biters and it can be random and seem to come out of nowhere. Their body language is hard enough to read already, and having that beak near your face is not OK.

Capt you said it all VERY VERY well!!!

My Hunter will do the same as Jakie-Poo and try and run up my shoulder when she isn't ready to be put back in her cage. Even though she surely knows by now that I will still get her from up there (heck, she's even tried hiding all the way in my neck, hanging on my hair for dear life), she still tries. :30:

Shouldering ANY parrot is not a good idea as you can't read their expression. But Amazons (even the mellowest ones) CAN change their mood like a hormonal woman in a tenth of a second, and their bites aren't pretty.

I believe this is a personal decision for the advanced bird owner who has had their bird for a long while and can read their birds.

I have my birds on my shoulders all the time. You don't have to see them to read them. How they perch on your shoulder and shift weight and everything about their stance,, tells you what mood they're in.

But I would never suggest to someone who has a new parrot to allow it the privilege of shoulder perching.

U2gal said:

I believe this is a personal decision for the advanced bird owner who has had their bird for a long while and can read their birds.

I have my birds on my shoulders all the time. You don't have to see them to read them. How they perch on your shoulder and shift weight and everything about their stance,, tells you what mood they're in.

But I would never suggest to someone who has a new parrot to allow it the privilege of shoulder perching.

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Oh it absolutely is a personal decision. Some folks may not care if they become disfigured.

And you are right about knowing what your fids are up to when shouldered, IF you aren't doing anything while they are perched up there.

I guess some people are so intuned with their pet parrots they can read their most intimate thoughts.

Given the choice I wouldn't train any large bird to shoulder. Bosley came to me as a bird that likes shoulders. I do allow it, but rarely and in controlled circumstances. It is a treat for him, I give a few cuddles and encourage him down. Amazon's being the food hound that they are will gladly walk down your arm for a treat. He tends to go to my shoulder when scared or unsure. My shoulder makes a great landing spot when he flies toe, but walks down my arm now quickly.

I've had my RM for only 2 weeks, and until a few days ago hadn't really considered the dangers of letting a big macaw sit on my shoulder. Someone (I forget who) had posted in a thread and mentioned to never let a macaw sit there. I didn't respond to the comment because I wasn't sure what I thought about it, but yesterday Rudy started playing with my ear and it made me really nervous.

So now my question is, how does one discourage a bird from sitting on your shoulder? When I try to take him off he just runs up my arm. If I sit on the couch with him he crawls up behind my head. He's only 4 months old.