overly needy?

Iago

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Nov 8, 2010
126
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Minneapolis, MN
Parrots
Petrie ~ Green Cheek Conure
Iago! ~ Sun Conure - RIP 11/20/2021
Iago has started to get really clingy lately. It seems whenever he is out of his cage now he has to be on my shoulder or arm. He is also listening less. I used to be able to tell him to get off my shoulder and go on my arm or step down onto something and now it seems like he has no idea what I'm saying, he basically has to be forced off my shoulder so I'm not letting him up there anymore. Why is this happening? Ive been extremely busy with work lately but I do make sure he gets enough attention (I think) any other ideas on why he might be acting like this?
 

mtdoramike

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Jan 18, 2011
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Mt. Dora Fl./central Fl.
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11 month old Senegal Parrot - 3 year old SI Eclectus
I have heard that letting a bird perch on your shoulder isn't a good thing. It puts the bird in charge or makes them think they are. This might be true if he listened to you and did what you asked of him before you started letting him perch on your shoulder.

I allowed my bird to perch on my shoulder once. But when my wife, who also handles the parrot as do I, couldn't get him off my shoulder. He would scramble from shoulder to shoulder to get away from her. But yet, I reached my hand up and he gently got onto my hand without issue. He has never refused to step up or down for my wife during the short time we had him until that incident.

So, no more shoulder or piggy back rides for him.
 
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Iago

Iago

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Nov 8, 2010
126
29
Minneapolis, MN
Parrots
Petrie ~ Green Cheek Conure
Iago! ~ Sun Conure - RIP 11/20/2021
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He used to come down from my shoulder whenever I asked him too....this has just started happening the past week :/
 

Von1983

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Parrots on shoulders thinking they are in charge is a myth. They like shoulders because the higher up they are on you(or anything), the more secure they feel. Additionally, your bird see's your face as, well, you! Being close to your face is like being close to the flock.

It sounds like Iago has missed you and maybe if you have been busy, some parts of his routine may have been altered? Don't forget, even an hour difference here and there is noticible to our birds and we know they love routine! I'm not blaming you, we ALL have times where duty calls! It just may explain his behaviour. Is he perhaps due a molt? Is his out of cage time when he'd normally be asleep? If he is tired he WILL ignore your commands and he will probably be crotchety too.
 

mtdoramike

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Jan 18, 2011
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Mt. Dora Fl./central Fl.
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11 month old Senegal Parrot - 3 year old SI Eclectus
You do realize no matter how unrealistic a myth is, there is usually some foundation in the beginning which starts the myth.
 
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Iago

Iago

Active member
Nov 8, 2010
126
29
Minneapolis, MN
Parrots
Petrie ~ Green Cheek Conure
Iago! ~ Sun Conure - RIP 11/20/2021
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Yea I think he just misses me. I missed him too. After I finally finished my project I took a couple days off and had a bunch of iago time. One embarrassing question though. How do I tell when he is molting? I thought he just finished a molt a few months ago. How often do they molt?
 
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Iago

Iago

Active member
Nov 8, 2010
126
29
Minneapolis, MN
Parrots
Petrie ~ Green Cheek Conure
Iago! ~ Sun Conure - RIP 11/20/2021
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He does have sheathed feathers that I try to help him with from time to time but he always seems to have a few
 

birdiemomma

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Dec 2, 2010
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California
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My Hahn's Macaw Bella <3
You do realize no matter how unrealistic a myth is, there is usually some foundation in the beginning which starts the myth.


Birds want to feel secure. Therefore they feel secure on their human's shoulder/back because they are higher up. What you were saying before is a complete myth.
 

Von1983

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It think most birds have a few new feathers coming in most of the time. Cal appears to have done most of her body and last night I found a beautiful tail feather - her first!

A spray with water everyday will help sooth any itching and soften the sheaths to either you or Iago can remove the sheath.
 

Adz

New member
Jan 9, 2011
169
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Melbourne, Australia
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Green Cheek Conure
It's nice to see people talk about the shoulder. Loco simply loves being up on my shoulder. She loves to nuzzle my neck and groom me, especially when I haven't shaved in a while. Occasionally I get a gnaw on the ear but it's pretty harmless. Most of Loco's nips are quite soft. I was a bit dubious about it at first, when Loco was really young she wouldn't do anything by herself and just wanted to be on my shoulder but now she's been home with us for a month or so she loves to jump off and play on the couch or run around :)
 

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