Shoulder

[davefv92c]

Sammy the U2 runs straight up to my shoulder when he steps up. i have been able to break this most of the time with the word no, how ever sometimes it still happens and making me uncomfy with him. when he starts up my arm he goes to full flaps just a going like hell. then when he makes the shoulder the flaps are still full and the bounce starts all this is going on while im walking him to his cage, when close to the cage he will stop and curve his neck downward and his beak is close to the eye and face. the other day when he got off i got a couple of pinches on the back of my arm to get me to step off i was slow that day. well lastnite as he stepped off onto the cage he kind of beak butted me in the area of my eye right next to the bridge of my nose. i got to figure out how to get this stopped anyone have any ideas?

 

[Kentuckienne]

Gus does this, although he is very well behaved on the shoulder, and not nippy otherwise. But he loves to be on the shoulder and I think he's trying to hide behind the head. The only way to get him off is to take him to a perch he prefers, or swoop him up fearlessly with both hands which I can't do, or immediately lie down on the floor with arm raised, in which event he runs back up to the highest spot. If I keep my arm high in the first place, he will stay there rather than run for the shoulder.

 

[Puck]

Yowch! That head butt to the eye sounds like no fun! I would say you may need to resort to using a perch to pick him up most of the time then do some training where you pick him up with the hand, blocking him from going to the shoulder with the other hand, then immediately give him a treat. If he makes it over the other hand block with his flapping then I would immediately remove him, place him back in his cage, and ignore him for awhile so he associates going for the shoulder with "hangout time is over, dude." Kentuckienne pointed out a good way to do this training--if you pick him up and lift him immediately above shoulder height he is less likely to go for the shoulder and you can give him his treat, then work on trying it lower and lower. Definitely the shoulder needs to stop for awhile if your eyes have gotten involved! Ouchy!

 

[davefv92c]

have not been wanting them on my shoulder at all to be honest but that may be hard when I want to start taking them out during the day for walks and such. the guy that owns the Aviary I deal with has been working with birds since a child told me he did not allow the big birds on his shoulder. said something about the bird feeling dominate over the person when taller. I think I see this in Maxx I was trying to get him to step up from his cage top this morning which I can just barely reach and he knows it, he snapped a couple of times and grunted at me , oh well nothing half a dozen froze pee's in the dish wont take care of.lol he should be a very easy guy to train cause if it is something to eat he is right on it. will also start working with treats with Sammy to keep him off and he just loves cheese.

thanks

 

[GaleriaGila]

I wish I KNEW how to keep the Rb off my shoulder. When he pleases, he flies there directly and then flies away when he pleases. I wear my hair long to cover my ears, and fortunately it is very thick. I've practiced my moves so that if he goes for ears or face I twist my neck and duck to safety, and all he gets is hair. And if it weren't for green chiles, I would never get him back in the cage. Thank GOODNESS he has no impulse control and just flaps in after them. If he ever wises up, I'm DOOMED.

 

[ToMang07]

I find it hilarious how I always have the opposite problem. I can't keep Willow on my shoulder. She always wants to be on my arm, and if I don't let her, she'll fly back to her cage/stand, lol

 

[texsize]

My Bella (African grey) has some of this problem.
When I take her out of cage she wants to run up my arm flapping away like 60.
I use my index finger and thumb circled around her neck like a collar (loosely) and hold her back. this works 90% of the time.
When I am ready for her on my shoulder I tap it and tell her to come on up.
I have not found a sure fire way of getting her off.
Food works well but I don't like having to do it, she should step onto my hand without a bribe.

 

[Timmah]

I didn't feel comfortable with Griffin on my Shoulder/back of my neck - I can't see him and don't want a peck or bite (not that he does that, but still). I accidently found out how to stop him going there. He nibbled once and I got the shivers, and shook my shoulders. he squarked and flew off, and went back to my arm. The next time he crawled up there, I gave a shake and he flew off. Didn't hurt him, and he doesn't venture up there anymore.