How to get your bird on ur shoulder ??

Recently got a African grey had him almost 3 weeks now and he’s got the whole step up thing down pat but how do u move on to get him to be comfortable on your shoulder I like to have him wit me all the time when’s I’m cleaning or doin laundry but it makes it hard when he’s got me one handed

Personally, I would want to know my bird for more than 3 weeks before I would let him on my shoulder and near my ear. There is also a big difference in my experience between trusting him on the shoulder while your stationary like sitting on the couch as opposed to walking around, going by mirrors, picking up a cell phone or a mop or vacuum.

When I first got Nike I noticed that she liked being on the back of the couch. I would sit on the couch and she would run back and forth. Eventually she started climbing onto my head and after that down to my shoulder...it was all her idea as she became more comfortable with me. I learned very quickly that my ear was in peril if I brought a cell phone close to my head. Strangers would also cause her to get excited and possibly grab my ear.

Once comfortable with being on my shoulder the next step...which was more difficult, was getting off my shoulder. Putting my hand there and saying step up seldom worked and I would have to lean into the back of the couch or a perch and allow her to step off.

Eventually as we continued to bond I was able to get her to step up and remove her.

Walking around was easy but and doing things like house cleaning required a conscious effort on my part not to startle her.

Nike now never bites me hard enough on my hand to really hurt but it doesn't take much pressure to have a sharp beak cause a lot of pain and blood on an ear lobe.

Just take it slow and be careful. Now I cant walk out of the room without her flying after me and settling on my shoulder.

Bill-e is spot on. Even the sweetest well behaved bird gets scared and until you have a good idea how they react shoulder is hard. And if she falls your face becomes the perfect thing to grab to halt their fall. Doing chores all over the house before you fully know the bird, and before you practice having the bird on your shoulder may be a risk. Practice moving around with your bird on your shoulder while you are focused 100% on them so you both get the practice when you are ready.

Edit: I trust Moosh on my shoulder but I don't move fast or do chores while she is there, afraid she woulf loose her balance and get hurt or me getting an involuntary lip ring.

May I suggest as an alternative a couple play stands around the house? You can buy make big ones or little table toppers depending on would work. If you go this route it will probably take a bit of time before your bird will be comfortable with them. Sometimes Finnegan takes to something right away and is fine to approach and hop on, other times it takes a few hours to days.

Ok thanks guys!! I will hold off for now and just bond more with him for a while I’m am still very proud of him only three weeks and he’s very comfortable he steps up sits on my chest when I’m watching tv, dances so he’s doin pretty good so I won’t rush the shoulder thing thanks again!!’

It took YEARS before I trusted my amazon on my shoulder and after all the time waiting to trust him enough, it turns out he hates being up there, so even though he's allowed, he hardly ever ends up there. He actually bit my lip and nose when new and for a long time I didn't trust that beak to be anywhere outside my direct line of site while interacting. Not saying your bird will, but as a similar sized bird, a CAG has the potential to inflict a nasty bite and should be kept away from your face for now. Shoulder time and being near the human face is a privilege that is earned through time and trust with a bird. Fortunately, with such long lifespans, a few years to get to know your bird is nothing in comparison to how long you'll have him

Hi Jenn,

Congratulations on your new baby :heart:

I agree with all of the above. I may be on the extreme side of this topic, but I don’t allow Levi on my shoulder and I never will. It’s not that I don’t trust him. I do very much and we have a wonderful loving bond. However, it’s the unpredictability of him getting spooked. You never know what strange thing can set them off, and a serious bite will occur. I recently had an experience with him where he freaked out over a red & white striped object. His behavior was so erratic that had he been on my shoulder I’m sure I would have gotten bit. There was no way I could have foreseen his reaction to the red & white pattern.
So, for both of our safety my shoulder is off limits as a perch.
He’s either in my hand or on my forarm.

That’s my 2 cents.

Tami2 said:

Hi Jenn,

Congratulations on your new baby :heart:

I agree with all of the above. I may be on the extreme side of this topic, but I don’t allow Levi on my shoulder and I never will.

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You are missing out, maybe ill regret this some day but Enzo will preen herself on my shoulder and often ill turn my head towards her and ill get a nose full of fluffy chest feathers. Even as a bloke its a nice feeling.

Enzo is very rarely off my shoulder and I try and avoid quick movements, if im walking up the stairs she will fly to the top stair post and wait for me, then refly to my shoulder when ive reached the top step.