Please help Before its too late. NEW owner shoulder problem!

[Jeffsowner29]

I love my new boy jeffery. I just got him from the breeder and he has been great eating very well and after only three days is speeking saying i love you and hello he steps up and everything love his dad. Just one thing loves his dad so darn much. Instantly runs to my should up my arm or up my chest it does not matter. I know its bad to have this.. and not to mention annoying. He is only four months i need to get him diciplined early. But he is yet to take treats for praise. loves his head rubbed. But i cant do that when he is constantly on my shoulder. I tried dropping my hand when he runs up then he grabs my shirt and goes up my chest. I tried being by a couch and just droping him down onto it when he trys to go up there but still he does it. I tryed ignoring him but he just runs back and forth and then flys to my shoulder. (Didnt know he could with clipped wings) Need TO GET THEM DONE again. PLEASE ANYONE HELP i love him and just want to have a good life with him.

 

[suebee]

lol 1st of all patience there are alot of macaw owners here that can give better advice,

most i can say is to be firm (and i know your thinking, I AM!!) but when he steps up onto your arm, just put other one in his path an so on, he will get the idea thats where his ment to stand but he'll still want to be on your shoulder anyway, so just keep this up for now
you might have to hold your arms away from your chest, to stop him from doin a sneaky grab to your chest an then shoulders lol

as his moving arm to arm just remind him what a good boy his being! an if he wonders off your arm, use a scolding tone to tell him off an start again (you must reserve this tone only for telling of)

i have read raising your arm above shoulder lever makes them step along the arm, off shoulder?? but all that got me was lookin silly with my arms doin an aeroplane impression, while nut walked to other shoulder!

 

[Spiritbird]

Companion parrots are not disciplined in any way. You give them positive rewards and redirect them. I personally have no problem with my birds on my shoulder. If you want to stop this behavior as S said you just block his path.

https://companionparrotonline.com/punish.html

 

[azdesertrhino]

Companion parrots are not disciplined in any way. You give them positive rewards and redirect them. I personally have no problem with my birds on my shoulder. If you want to stop this behavior as S said you just block his path.

https://companionparrotonline.com/punish.html

Thanks for the link to that article. Very good information!!

 

[Spiritbird]

You are welcome. This author does write very good advice.

 

[mtdoramike]

I have no problem with my bird on my shoulder either, but then again, my bird is a Senegal, which would barely make a pimple on a Greenwing .

 

[Bird Brain]

Hello,

I posted a similar question about my Blue and Gold several weeks back. When I got him he was 11mos old and he went right up to my shoulder and even on my head. I allowed because he didn't seem very aggresive when he was up there. But I was worried I was "creating a monster" and that he would never just be with me w/o being up there. Well 7 weeks later I can now say that at it was just a phase for him. As I'm sure you know, they feel much safer up higher and I think he just needed that extra "comfort" while getting to know me and getting used to his new home. Now he rarely goes up there. He prefers to be down with me where he can more easily cuddled or just laying on his back in my arms like a baby

Good luck hopefully it's just a phase.

 

[patterson]

i had the same trouble with vincent last year when i got him its takes time use time out etc if he gets too much he will soonb learn i was tortured lol he hasnt got his wings clipped but he knows the routine now so hes good boy when he wants to be

 

[LakotaBeauty]

Santiago has been easy, Macaws want to be "dominant" the higher up the mroe dominant so they go to the shoulder to be more at "your level" or "Higher" until you trust a bird this is dangerous, Squeakers despite how long I have had him I don't trust on my shoulder..Santiago I kept redirecting, raising my arm higher then my shoulder to make him climb he would settle on my arm and I reward...he has now gotten that he only goes to the shoulder when -I- want to. I don't ever punish any of my animals horses dogs or birds.... I use positive reinforcement..Santiago is my Greenwing and my first Macaw, but my GrandMother had a Blue and Gold so I learned by watching her I started off small with my first Bird then finally after my U2 passed a few years ago from old age I took a step with Santi. Good Luck

 

[HRH Di]

Actually, height dominance is a myth with parrots - studies have shown that in the wild there is no behavior like that. However, being higher up give them a better vantage point to spot predators; which explains why a parrot in a new situation likes to be higher up.

Our birdies are allowed on shoulders, but we have an established, trusting relationship and we still get nipped now and then. You'be been given good advice and with patience, you'll see the results you want.

 

[oled]

I am not allowing Polly (a Amazon) comming up to the shoulder. I have Polly on my hand and the other hand on my arm preventing hear to go up: of cause she is sometime bitting my fingers and when she is bitting I gently push her down. Bitting me dosent help, I am use to it. In fact for the moment she is not even trying. One whey is to have a T-shirt with no arms and hold the arm in down direction so the bird is slippering trying to climb up.

 

[Amber]

i have read raising your arm above shoulder lever makes them step along the arm, off shoulder?? but all that got me was lookin silly with my arms doin an aeroplane impression, while nut walked to other shoulder!

It does work with some birds. Birds like to be up high, and if your hand is up higher then your shoulder they might prefer to perch there. I suppose nut just prefers being close to you then being up high!

I can understand the concern with a large bird so close to your face. Theirs plenty on incidents where a macaw, cockatoo or similar has bit their owners face and done some pretty serious damage. Usually the bird is just scared and trying to cling to something, but still.

I do let my jenday Alex on my shoulder, by he's much smaller and less capable or doing anything major. Though he has tried to rip my ear rings out once. Now I wear hoop ones with latches that open when he yanks, or none at all.

 

[kerry]

You can also have him step up onto your hand & then put your thumb onto his toes so he is unable to run up to your shoulder.

 

[TonyCagg]

My new Cockatoo refuses to stay on my hand. He wants to be on my forearm or my shoulder as well.

The woman I adopted him from, who runs the rescue, told be to get him to climb onto my hand and keep my elbow low and tucked in.

This makes climbing down the "steep" forearm difficult.

Slowly, he is beginning the get the picture.

 

[LakotaBeauty]

Tony, To a point she is right but I recall my Grandmother doing similar with her u2.... he realized he could dig bis little beak in and do damage making the way "up" easier for him...I have a lot of respect for my Grandmother training Him not to go on her shoulder (he was a rescue) took a lot of patience and hard bites..I never saw her flinch. well until she got older and sicker *sigh* then.... I took over. But she is the whole reason for my love of Birds...

 

[TonyCagg]

My new bird is a recuse as well. There are always anxious moments when you are unsure just how hard he plans to sink his beak into your hand but I try my best not to flinch and startle him. He has not bitten me (yet) and we seem to be building trust.

My wife is a bit more tentative when she offers her hand for him to climb onto and it is obvious in his body language...but I am hopeful they too will become more comfortable with one another in time.

 

[LakotaBeauty]

Tony that is all you can hope for, My Congo is a rescue I love him...When I started with him he bit me hard (Scar to prove it) didn't flinch I simply pushed my finger further back... and told him "No bite" every so often though he will take my finger and press on it like he is wanting to bite to test...but then gives up...After the initial bite My Husband was pretty worried.. then Santiago came into our home (Our Green wing) He tested me but NEVER offered to draw blood....My husband though will not handle him at all hes very leery... the only bird he ever experianced was a parakeet when he was younger so this has been a big step...seems like your wife is progressing better then my Husband! though I do NOT NOT NOT allow my Gray on my shoulder period ifs ands or butts...Santiago occasionally will lift his head to give kisses with massive beak and I do allow him on the shoulder but Im very careful and I spend time before I do so that I can get "a feel" for his mood....after the bite I sustained from a scarlet unprovoked... I have experianced the level of damage a macaw can do personally, and don't want to repeat it.

 

[mele]

I use the method Kerry mentioned. Hold onto their toes and when he escapes the hold, block him with your other arm and repeat. It will take some time but it will be worth it. I don't believe birds of that size should be anywhere near your face. Even the most tame and gentle bird can be naughty from time to time or bite out of fear.
Be persistant, it might be fine as a baby but they can be very aggressive when they reach sexual maturity.

Good luck!!