Why do you think ours birds are content to sit on us?

Tami2 · Mar 7, 2019

Hi,

I'm curious as to why you think our birds are content to sit on us?

I'm asking because it comes up a lot that they are still wild and not quite domesticated yet, hence biting and other undesirable behaviors do occur.

So, why are they happy and eager to just hang on a body part, whether or not their human is stationary or mobile?

What your thoughts on this?

Thanks!

SilverSage · Mar 7, 2019

As an aviculturist I reject “they are not domesticated” as a reason for biting, screaming, etc. and lay those behaviors at the feet of neglect and abuse (intentional sometimes but usually unintentional) starting from a few days after birth and being highly concentrated during the hand feeding, weaning, and fledging processes by horrible unethical and damaging practices such as spacing the feedings too far apart, force weaning, sensory flooding, and early clipping. Birds in the wild aren’t chomping on each other so being wild doesn’t make sense as a reason for them to chomp on us.

As for why they sit on us? Depending on the bird it’s either because they have learned they have no choice (thanks to the early clipping and flooding) or because they love us. Or because we are eating Doritos and they want some

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Tami2 · Mar 7, 2019

Okay, I totally accept that. :smile049: especially the doritoes part ... ha

I should have posed my question, 'if you believe this premise is true, that they are not quite domesticated yet'

Thanks Dani.

Laurasea · Mar 7, 2019

I think they are bored, abd we are the only action around. Plus birds would never be alone they would be with flock or mate , they just plain don't want to be alone and vulnerable.

itzjbean · Mar 7, 2019

I agree with Silversage in that they love us and sometimes don't have a choice. Also I think Laurasea is right too maybe they are bored and we are the most entertaining things to them available.

I would also like to add.... we are like enormous soft squishy trees that offers the most delicious and tasty treats, quality scratches behind the head and warmth.

We only have one bid that likes sitting on us, Ember, and he favors my husband at the moment so whenever he is in the room Ember flies to him. I have no idea why except that maybe his hair is softer on top and he whistles to him. Lots of entertainment between the two of us not to mention all the attention he gets.

Squeekmouse · Mar 7, 2019

I think it's because a lot of birds think of us as being just our heads, and our bodies are strange mobile trees that we are always perched on. So they are just trying to sit near us, as we are their flock, right?

My boys actually don't think I am just my head though, because they are always landing on my head as their favorite part, and sometimes they try to land on each other's shoulders/heads as well. That's not nearly as welcome as when they land on me of course.

T00tsyd · Mar 7, 2019

Syd has just one aim - to monopolise my attention while getting warm and cosy enough to get some shut eye. He particularly loves me singing softly with my lips against his feathers while he cuddles into my hand perching gently on my thumb so my fingers cup him. I get almost jealous.

GaleriaGila · Mar 7, 2019

I think the Rb thinks that my head is "me" and we are both sitting on a strange moving perch which serves as his mobile throne, from which he rules the house, flying to attack/eat/destroy that which needs attacking/eating/destroying.

LaManuka · Mar 7, 2019

My cockatiel Fang is quite content to s*it on me, or my hubby, or pretty much anywhere really, he’s an equal opportunity s*itter (oooh did I just get myself banned?)

GaleriaGila · Mar 7, 2019

Hey... sit happens!

LaManuka · Mar 7, 2019

GaleriaGila said:
Hey... sit happens!

It sure does, about every 20 minutes or so! Nice and green and healthy it is too

Scott · Mar 8, 2019

GaleriaGila said:
I think the Rb thinks that my head is "me" and we are both sitting on a strange moving perch which serves as his mobile throne, from which he rules the house, flying to attack/eat/destroy that which needs attacking/eating/destroying.

I've heard similar, Gail. Birds view the "person" as the head while the torso and appendages are useful tools or foils!

Scott · Mar 8, 2019

I don't believe the "not domesticated" school is quite accurate. While birds don't have the generations of domesticity as dogs, they are capable of forging strong bonds and acclimate to captivity quite well - under ideal circumstances.

Two of my Goffins are wild-caught; one is extremely tame (female) and trusting, the other (male) a bit standoffish but not fearful.

I believe birds enjoy closeness with "their people" hence the desire to sit on shoulders, arms, legs, etc.

charmedbyekkie · Mar 8, 2019

I also wonder this at times, especially since humans aren't as stable as perches. But Cairo seems to feel safer on my head - he likes preening and sleeping there (and he'll preen me occasionally too). And like many others, my head is considered separate from my body. My head/face can touch his body without any reluctance from him. But my hands are tolerated occasionally - most of the time, he pushes my hands away unless he wants to step up, in which case he pulls them closer. With my partner, he adores my partner's head and resents my partner's hands, to the point of defending his head against his hands....

I suppose being on your human's shoulders or head makes sense because if you're doing things as a flock together. Being on the same moving 'tree' helps in that the head-bird-human always 'sits' on the 'moving tree', so as a flock member a bird would sit on the same tree.

ChristaNL · Mar 8, 2019

I always thought they just like the warmth ... yummmm warm feet.

And of course easy acces to anything usefull (food etc.) and no guessing what the human is up to...since they are right there to see it first ehm "hand"!

dhraiden · Mar 8, 2019

Seconding Charmed's notion of the "moving tree". For our fids perhaps it's like being on an their own, personal ent (one that is softer and warmer, too).

Tami2 · Mar 10, 2019

Thanks everyone for your thoughts, I appreciate it.

I haven't thought about it as a moving tree perch. That's interesting.
I thought more along the, 'we are warm' like Christa mentioned and get their feet nice and toasty. Also, wanting to be with us, 'being with their flock', as Scott points out and attention seeking as T00tsyd mentions.

I also never considered our head being perceived as separate.... hmmmm
That would explain a lot, but why would they think that, I wonder?

I seriously need a parrot psych 101 class ... Ha

I'm so intrigue with their unusual behaviors.

Thanks again!! :smile049:

Why do you think ours birds are content to sit on us?

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