Would you train your Amazon to sit on your shoulder?

[SandyBee]

try luring him down with treats, block him as often as possible.
In the beginning with Bosley, i would walk up to his cage so he would climb off or drop my shoulder to a counter or playstand.

 

[Mommajack]

He won't accept treats from my hand, I dunno why. I do try to just block him but he only jumps from one hand to another until he outpaces me and crawls up my arm. Once he gets behind my head it's a pain in the hiney to get him off. He can be quite stubborn >.<

He's also discovered my earrings. He's attracted mostly to the dangly ones but likes the blingy ones, too. I've considered just not wearing jewelry but then I can't teach him not to play with them. Perhaps I should teach him not the get on my shoulder first, then start wearing jewelry again?

 

[SandyBee]

Will he go for treats if you put them on a counter or dish, forcing him to get down if he wants it.
Your just going to have to find a way to outsmart him. There is a rule of thumb of birds that do go on shoulders, they must come down when asked.

 

[Mommajack]

He steps down if he sees me put treats in his food dish in his cage, but doesn't seem to want to eat anything anywhere else. He does sometimes step down if I offer him a straw to play with, but not always.

He did better today, of staying on my arm. Maybe he's learning!

 

[torrap]

............. I've had her for 43 yrs...........

She must be the one in your avatar??.....
You can't be older then that.......

 

[henpecked]

No the one in my avatar is my mother's amazon, Juanita. That pic was 1959 and i was about 3 yrs old. My girl is Jake (Jakiepoo) and i' got her out of a nest when i was 14yrs old. Can you guess my age ?

 

[BeakersBro]

Beaker likes to sit on shoulders. Usually the right one... unless I'm driving the car, then he sits on the left one so he can look out the window better.

 

[U2gal]

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.

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.

I am not understanding your post. Why was it rude?

For *MY* birds I have learned what their moods are before they are on my shoulder and when they're up on my shoulders. I can walk, use the bathroom, do the dishes, clean, relax, etc, with a bird on my shoulder and I am always aware of my surroundings and my parrots mood.

If I ever get "disfigured" it would be scary but I would carry on with my life. But *Knock on Wood* lifes been good. I have had some pretty bad bites but maybe thats why now, I'm pretty great at reading my birds.

Its a peronal decision. You shouldn't attack people for personal beliefs, opinions and decisions.

 

[henpecked]

I think it was more to do with the OP's original post. A concern with a new older rehome and how they should interact with a bird who they don't know well. She might have been afraid of others posting comments about how well their longtime pets are, and conveying the wrong message.

 

[U2gal]

Right, I understand that but that's why I said;

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

I just don't understand the "tone" of her post to me. But maybe I'm just reading more into it then I should. Or its the rolling eyes...

 

[henpecked]

I find we all need a "thick skin" on a public forum such as this. I wouldn't let it worry me.

 

[MikeyTN]

U2gal,

At the same time Wendy was giving her opinion on the issue like you are. So you get to say your peace, vice versa. With that being said I do however agree with Wendy's post.

I have a lady customer who had her grey since he was a baby and she had him for over 30 years. He bit her bottom lip off and she had to hold her lip up and rush herself to ER to get it sewn back on. Now she's not a new owner and she didn't just get him. He just bit her out of the blue so you just never know what their reaction is to say your absolutely sure what they're thinking.

 

[U2gal]

I fully respect and appreciate diverse opinions. Just wasn't expecting a supermod to he openly rude to me. I've never been openly rude on this forum so I just didn't expect it coming. Im all for thick skin. Comes with the territory of being on a public forum. But i'm not here to argue or fight so I've stated my opinion politely, and won't state another voice on this thread again. I'm not here to get attacked or subjected to open rudeness.

 

[MikeyTN]

I fully respect and appreciate diverse opinions. Just wasn't expecting a supermod to he openly rude to me. I've never been openly rude on this forum so I just didn't expect it coming. Im all for thick skin. Comes with the territory of being on a public forum. But i'm not here to argue or fight so I've stated my opinion politely, and won't state another voice on this thread again. I'm not here to get attacked or subjected to open rudeness.

I hope you do stay! I don't think Wendy mean anything harsh by it. Let her respond to you so you can give her a chance to explain. I'll apologize in advance if you feel wronged on the post!

Michael

 

[torrap]

Ooooops, I feel sorry I started this thread now.
Sounds like we all are true Amazon owners, lots of character and lots of opinion. I think it's healthy.
I just want you all to know I appreciate everyone's opinion.
I can see what U2gal is saying. It's up to the owner of any particular bird.
I witnessed today how a disabled 30 years old YNA was so happy on someone's shoulder. I can't see how anybody would take it away from her.
At least we are owned by Amazons, they can do damage but not totally disfigure us like Macaws or other bigger beaked birds can.
I gathered from all of you so far that I am VERY lucky Marley is not interested with my shoulder.
I agree with all of you, I'll need to know her much better to get my eyes closer to her beak if ever.........
Thank you everyone!

 

[antoinette]

I agree with Wendy 100%

I would never allow any bird to sit on my shoulder, no matter how long I have had the bird for.

Birds are so unpredictable you never know when they are going to bite.
Their body language changes within seconds........

I like my face and ears just the way they are !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Interesting link below

PLEASE READ :

Height dominance is a myth - ParrotChronicles Why Does My Bird Do That? Q&A

 

[getwozzy]

I just don't understand the "tone" of her post to me. But maybe I'm just reading more into it then I should. Or its the rolling eyes...

I honestly don't think Wendy was meaning her post to come across as rude; at least I didn't see it as rude when I read it. Maybe a little sarcasm in there, but not blatantly rude...

 

[JerseyWendy]

I am not understanding your post. Why was it rude?

For *MY* birds I have learned what their moods are before they are on my shoulder and when they're up on my shoulders. I can walk, use the bathroom, do the dishes, clean, relax, etc, with a bird on my shoulder and I am always aware of my surroundings and my parrots mood.

If I ever get "disfigured" it would be scary but I would carry on with my life. But *Knock on Wood* lifes been good. I have had some pretty bad bites but maybe thats why now, I'm pretty great at reading my birds.

Its a peronal decision. You shouldn't attack people for personal beliefs, opinions and decisions.

What? Where was my post rude?

Perhaps I shouldn't have quoted you directly, but I don't want new bird guardians/owners to think it's ok to have a parrot on the shoulder who could inflict a major injury to ones face. An ounce of prevention goes a LONG way.

It IS a personal decision, however, in my opinion everybody should be aware that it is also a CALCULATED risk.

My Hunter is literally in my face when we have cuddle time. She preens my eyebrows and hair (even though our taste in hairstyles varies greatly )

Then there is Ripley, who likes to be on top of my head, and I'm NOT ok with that (just yet) as he has an enormous beak, and is known to become quite ornery. He's torn out tufts of hair in his attempt to preen me, and I can only imagine what he could do to my face.

So I had no ill intentions at all here and certainly didn't mean to come across as rude. I apologize if you felt offended in any way.

 

[mtdoramike]

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.

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.

I for one can tell you about shoulder perching. I have two holes in my left ear to prove it. My Eclectus was fine at the time, but my wife walked by with another bird on her shoulder and Mac got jealous and nailed my ear. The other time, I took him off of my wife because he was trying to mate with her hand. He ran up my arm before I could stop him and lunged at my ear. He is a second hand bird and was taught to shoulder perch by his previous owners. So, I don't care how intuned you are with your birds emotions, you will get bit whether shoulder perching or not. They are wild animals and therefore unpredictable.

But I love how bird owners post that they have never been bitten by their birds because they are soooo intuned with their moods. Any body who has ever owned a bird knows better than that. I uess like the old saying says, "Time Heals all Wounds" and makes us forget. But this is why I tell anyone and everyone that my birds bite, especially our Senegal, who can be sweet as sugar one minute and wanting to rip your hand off and beat you with it the next.

 

[forbey]

Unfortunately, Skittles goes straight to the shoulder and it's like catching hot butter getting him off there. He hasn't bit me while on my shoulder and I don't want him to. Which is why, when Skittes leaves the cage and I have to pick him up I try to hold his feet and calm him down. He ALWAYS 'goes to shoulder' and I ALWAYS go to the cage. I'm working hard on getting him to step onto my hand. The last place I want him is in my face. (So far, from the cage, he has managed to steal my glasses.)

there is way too much power in that beak to risk loosing an ear or two.

There once was a Bazooka Bubblegum cartoon (wrapped around the gum). The barber asked a little boy what would happen if he accidentally cut off one of his ears. The boy said "I couldn't hear". He was then asked what would happen if he cut off both ears. The boy said "I couldn't see". The barber asked him why he wouldn't be able to see. The boy said "Because my hat would fall over my eyes!"

I would just as soon be able to hear & see, so I'd just as soon not leave that decision up to a bird!

Forbey