Head Rubs!!!

Taw5106 · Jul 29, 2014

Buddy loves a good headrub, that's a head scratch. I was wondering and I'm asking who (feathered friends) loves a headrub? Also, do any of your feathered friends ask for one up front, vocally? I believe Buddy would enjoy one 24/7, but I stop due to other life events, however if I say "headrub" he bows his head waiting for his next scratching event, lol. Please share yours.

cnyguy · Jul 29, 2014

Ralph loves his head-scratches. He'll usually just put his head down and make a little squeak when he wants them. If I ask him if he wants head-scratches, and he does, he'll bob his head before he puts it down and fluffs up his feathers.

George the YCA was much the same; he'd have me scratching his head for so long, my arm would go numb.

Sometimes he'd put his head down and say "Awww..." to invite me to scratch his head-- something he must have learned in one of his earlier homes.

RavensGryf · Jul 29, 2014

Raven, male Pionus who is quite Amazon-like

will only very occasionally do that. Usually he will only accept a neck skritch when he's started to rub his own head and neck first... Maybe it's a hint? lol. Otherwise he'd rather sit on our arm or shoulder and preen us, instead of the other way around.

Robin will put his head and beak down (like he's crouching down with his beak resting on a table for instance) when he wants a head rub. Griffin hasn't done it yet, but I wonder if that's the Poi style? Whereas Amazons and Pionus, and others will stay standing straight up and arch their necks down.

Jayyj · Jul 29, 2014

Galahs do that gorgeous thing where you gently stroke their cheek and all the head feathers will puff up like a little lion mane. Alice has a habit of pushing her whole head into the palm of my hand when she wants head rubs.

thekarens · Jul 29, 2014

I don't think the message would be any clearer with Zoe...scritches now! The head is a dead give away

PS Julie, with the sennies it's Russian roulette. You scritch their head and if they don't pinch then they want it. If they give you a good pinch then you know you're not welcome. Occasionally with Sydney he will rub his head against my hand so I know he wants scritches. Otherwise it's just a guess.

getwozzy · Jul 29, 2014

Oh Chili loves head scritches lol

And as jayyj suggested here's the infamous lion poofy face

Kiwibird · Jul 29, 2014

IF I desired a finger amputation, I might give Kiwi a head rub....

He will occasionally accept a kiss on the top of the head though (if in a really good mood). But touching with hands on the body? That's at your own risk!

Glad Buddy gives you the opportunity to touch his (surely) very soft plumage and have that lovely bonding experience!

Sterling1113 · Jul 29, 2014

Pascal LOVES head scratches. He rarely will put his head in the palm of my hand, but if I move my hand close to him and he wants scratches, he'll bow is head and puff is feathers to let me know he needs some attention.

kiwibird2014 · Jul 29, 2014

Kiwi loves head scratches and sometimes demands it! Kiwi will take her little head and force it under my fingers and sit there waiting to be scratched on the head. Kiwi loves to be scratched anywhere really...belly, under the wings, chest, even her little feet! She just loves to snuggle.

Frumpydumple · Jul 30, 2014

Cookie is a pretty hands off bird, but sometimes she enjoys head scratches. She nudges my finger with her beak if I put my finger in front of her.

Damien and Merle love head scratches too.
Merle lies on his back in my hand chewing his foot while I scratch his head.

JessieRosie · Jul 30, 2014

Rosie absolutely loves head scratches!
She will hang upside down from my hair and dangle in front of my face until I cup her in my hand and cuddle her to my chest and scratch her little head. Or sometimes if I ask her to step up she'll bow her head so I can scratch it for a few seconds before we go and do something together.
I love it when she goes all fluffy and half closes her eyes!

Selestine · Jul 30, 2014

My eclectus does NOT like head scratches. If you try he whips his head around and looks at you like you're stupid.

Sun conure dodges your hand if you try to pet him, but loves to cuddle.

Green cheek puffs up like a mad cat and closes her teeny little eyes and would let you scratch her forever. If she wants head scratches she'll rest her beak down on whatever surface she is standing on and puff up her feathers.

Taw5106 · Jul 30, 2014

Kiwibird said:
IF I desired a finger amputation, I might give Kiwi a head rub.... He will occasionally accept a kiss on the top of the head though (if in a really good mood). But touching with hands on the body? That's at your own risk!

Glad Buddy gives you the opportunity to touch his (surely) very soft plumage and have that lovely bonding experience!

Come tho think of it, the very first time I touched Buddy was to rub his head.we had just picked him up and he was in his cage in the back seat of the truck. I heard him moving and turned to look, I wasn't driving, Husband was. I wish I had a picture of Buddy at time because when I looked at him I cracked up. He was holding onto the side of the cage and had his face squished against the bars. Without thinking I just reached out and asked if he wanted a headrub , touched his head and he bent his head, closed his eyes. I think that was the first human contact he had in months. Now, I can touch him on his terms only.

I love all the pics, Chili is beautiful and the lion face is great.

labell · Jul 30, 2014

Brady (YN) LOVES head rubs and in fact let me know in a very strange way. After she first came home with me I was holding her and she likes to try and get to my shoulder so I was walking her from hand to hand. The next thing I know she grabbed my index finger on both hands in an absolute death grip and lowered her head, so she had both of my hands held captive. At this point I am thinking great I am about to get bit...nope she started rubbing her head all over my hands and needed the hard grip so she could really get into it without falling off! She will also rub her head on my face if I do let her up to my shoulder. Crazy bird!

RavensGryf · Jul 30, 2014

Selestine said:
My eclectus does NOT like head scratches. If you try he whips his head around and looks at you like you're stupid.

Sun conure dodges your hand if you try to pet him, but loves to cuddle.

Green cheek puffs up like a mad cat and closes her teeny little eyes and would let you scratch her forever. If she wants head scratches she'll rest her beak down on whatever surface she is standing on and puff up her feathers.

I'm surprised about your Sun conure! Not surprised with an Ekkie though. I had one who would preen another bird, but the Eclectus NEVER wanted preening in return :52:. No idea what they do with each other in the wild (natural behavior regarding allopreening).

Birdman666 · Jul 30, 2014

I have a signal for head scratch. It's a wiggled finger. My red lored amazon raises her head feathers in response to it.

My CAG if he is in the mood, will lower his head for a scratch. If he's not, that means no. Try and scratch anyway, he will intercept your finger, and push it away with his beak. Persist, and he will grab it. Continue to persist and he will begin to apply bite pressure. (He may tell you Owww! That hurts! first.)

My Lilac Crown is a look but don't touch bird. She doesn't bite, but she has never allowed touching, and she's now in her 40's so I seriously doubt that will ever change. She's completely tame, and likes interaction, just not touching.

My two macaws? MUSHBALLS WITH FEATHERS! My red lored will let you scratch her head, and will lean into your hand until she falls over... My Greenwing will grab a finger, and hold onto it with her beak when you find the right spot...

RavensGryf · Jul 30, 2014

Birdman666 said:
I have a signal for head scratch. It's a wiggled finger.

I do the same thing!!

It seems Raven (Pionus) only wants it when I catch him rubbing his own head, so I do the finger motion to tell him what I'm about to do, and move in slowly. If I just moved in fast and did it, I think he'd object.

The Poi's? No problem! I can just reach out and touch and handle them in any way.

MrsKay · Jul 30, 2014

Larry will often roll over in my hand and let me scratch around his neck, belly, and under the wings, pushing his head into my hand and pushing with his feet. If I am reclining in a chair he will walk on my stomach and roll over for the same treatment. Sometimes when he is on my shoulder he will push his head into my neck or behind my ear which I also take as a signal to scratch him. Sometimes he is too hyper to be scratched at all

Sterling1113 · Jul 30, 2014

RavensGryf said:
Birdman666 said:

I have a signal for head scratch. It's a wiggled finger.

Click to expand...

I do the same thing!!

It seems Raven (Pionus) only wants it when I catch him rubbing his own head, so I do the finger motion to tell him what I'm about to do, and move in slowly. If I just moved in fast and did it, I think he'd object.

The Poi's? No problem! I can just reach out and touch and handle them in any way.

I do that with Pascal!

I just hold my hand up to him and do the wiggley finger thing and he'll put his head down and puff up his feathers

JessieRosie · Jul 31, 2014

Sterling1113 said:
RavensGryf said:

Birdman666 said:

I have a signal for head scratch. It's a wiggled finger.

Click to expand...

I do the same thing!!

It seems Raven (Pionus) only wants it when I catch him rubbing his own head, so I do the finger motion to tell him what I'm about to do, and move in slowly. If I just moved in fast and did it, I think he'd object.

The Poi's? No problem! I can just reach out and touch and handle them in any way.

Click to expand...

I do that with Pascal!

I just hold my hand up to him and do the wiggley finger thing and he'll put his head down and puff up his feathers

I do the same with Rosie!

Head Rubs!!!

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