When should I allow Mickey to sit on my shoulder?

Jroyal14

New member
Sep 13, 2014
25
3
Michigan
Parrots
12 y/o male African Grey (Mickey)
I've been working with Mickey for almost a little over a month now and he's been progressing really well. He likes to do things on his own terms and I respect that. Sometimes he wants to step up, other times he will just sit there.
There are times when he just really wants to be with me, it's rare but it happens. He'll step up and then I put him back he'll try to get my attention again.
I was just wondering when I should allow him to just hang out on my shoulder. Should I maybe work with him a little more?
 

ParrotsAhoy

New member
Aug 29, 2014
79
0
Wellington, New Zealand
Parrots
1x Male Alexandrine Parrot
We've been letting/putting Tachyon up on our shoulders when WE say and when WE feel like it, its like a little reward for doing well in his step-up and flying training every now and again. He knows now that he cant just land on shoulders when having free time, but if he "Fly to me"s and lands on my hand, theres a chance he might get a little shoulder time.
 

RavensGryf

Supporting Member
Jan 19, 2014
14,233
190
College Station, Texas
Parrots
Red Bellied Parrot /
Ruppell's Parrot /
Bronze Winged Pionus /
English Budgie
It really depends on the bird. Not all birds get to sit on human shoulders. You don't say what kind of bird Mickey is.

My 2 Poicephalus parrots are not allowed on shoulders because I don't think they're good candidates for it. Especially Robin the mature one. What if something freaks him out up there close to my face and ears and he does a hard displacement bite? Or gets bitey all of a sudden during hormonal times? I could see it potentially happening with him.

Raven my Pionus gets to sit on our shoulders every now and then as a reward. He typically doesn't like being on me anyway, he prefers daddy (even though he's my bird lol). When Raven becomes sexually mature, we'll see how stable his temperament is. If I don't trust him up there, he'll lose the privilege.
 

Scott

Supporting Member
Aug 21, 2010
32,673
9,789
San Diego, California USA, Earth, Milky Way Galaxy
Parrots
Goffins: Gabby, Abby, Squeaky, Peanut, Popcorn / Citron: Alice / Eclectus: Angel /Timneh Grey: ET / Blue Fronted Amazon: Gonzo /

RIP Gandalf and Big Bird, you are missed.
Shoulder privileges depend on your relationship with the bird and its level of emotional stability. All of my hand fed parrots are liberally permitted on the shoulder with the exception of a male Citron - he's very tame but terribly unpredictable. You must have great mutual trust - and I believe the bird can sense this - to avoid a potentially visible scar!

I frequently have one Goffin on each shoulder and another, or a female Eclectus cradled on my chest. On the very rare occasion they squabble, there has never been the tendency to displacement-bite me. They seem to have an innate understanding the face is off-limits for play-biting or "disciplining" nibbles.
 
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