Parrots on Shoulders "Rules": Keeping a Bird Off Your Shoulder

The best way to keep a bird from biting, nipping or otherwise acting out while on your shoulder is by avoiding letting your bird up there in the first place. 

Now, this can be challenging in and of itself! 

Here are some avoidance techniques: 

  • Hold your bird's feet while on your hand so it can't walk up your arm
  • Hold your arm position in one that puts your elbow-to-wrist below your shoulder-height. 
  • Touch train your bird so that you don't have to "force" your bird off your shoulder.
  • Set boundaries and stick to them! If you start off not allowing your bird up on your shoulder, but then do it "every so often", it doesn't paint a clear picture to your bird. 
  • Offer something better; this could be a favorite toy, favorite person's attention, meal time, a treat (aka luring) 

Aside from continuing to avoid letting Morgan onto my shoulder, and keeping that a hard limit, I've also been expanding on her flight training. 

I was really stuck where I was at with how far of a flight I could ask for; I was already maxed out. So being able to get her to fly in a new direction made all the difference for me in regards to being able to expand on her flight distances (which will build more muscle, skills, stamina, and more confidence!) 

2 comments

Ditte

Hey i would like some more knowledge i have this lovely african grey wich i have had for around 2-3 months now and im trying to get him to stop going on my shoulder i tried the Holding the feet but he doesnt like it and also the position on the hand but then he just kinda fly jump into my shoulder how do i stop that?

Ditte
Ben

Thanks for all the great info! I’m currently trying to figure out how to keep my African Grey off my shoulders bus she’s tenacious! I’ll try holding the feet

Ben

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