Do you let your birds groom your eyelashes?

[Macaw_nutty]

Hi there fellow bird lovers! I thought in lieu of an intro thread, I'd start a discussion! I searched the forum, and didn't see this one specifically (though I could have missed it, lol), I wondered what everyone's opinion on letting your birds preen you. Big bills, little beaks, and everything between-

My Marqius loves to preen me, and while a bit unnerving, it's so sweet I can't bring myself to stop him. Giant, sharp, muscular thing picking very close (aka, sometimes touches, eek!) to my very soft and squishy eyeball. I know it's his way of showing affection, but is it clean?

I guess I'm asking- do you let your birds preen your eye area? Why or why not? Is there a health issue other than the obvious possible problem I'm overlooking?

Added concern via my hubby- has anyone here been attacked while being groomed?

 

[MarciaLove]

I let all my birds preen my eyelashes and hair and nails lol that is when I am ABSOLUTELY CERTAIN they havent had pepper there is no pain greater than letting your bird preen our eyelashes and give you kisses after its had hot pepper I learned that the hard way a couple years ago....

 

[Macaw_nutty]

there is no pain greater than letting your bird preen our eyelashes and give you kisses after its had hot pepper ....

Ahahahahahahahahaha! Oh, i'm sorry, that's awful. Hysterical, but awful. Your warning has been duly noted, and very much taken to heart. It's bad enough when you do it to yourself, but even worse when it's attached to the sweet birdy loves!

 

[MikeyTN]

I do not let them as its too close to the eye! All it take is one peck!

 

[FreddyCheeks]

Eyelashes no. But Fred does my beard and fingernails all the time. Like MikeyTN said. Takes just one peck and goodbye vision.

 

[Macaw_nutty]

Too bad I don't have a beard! Lol
Yeah, that whole vision thing is pretty awesome, which was my main concern. My "safer" method for letting him at my face is I make sure I'm in a calm, quiet area, locked away from the chaotic kiddo. Perhaps I can redirect him to my fingernails more often.
I have had the pleasure of the Marquis' companionship for about a month now, and we're still getting to know each other. It was mutual love at first sight. His previous person, whom he was with for 6 years, was very allergic to him, and finally decided to find Cassie a home.
She thought he was a she. Dude postures more than the cast of the Jersy Shore!
I digress, lol
Marquis is handi-capable. He was mangled as a chick, 19 years ago. Both feet were broken at the ankle, he lost two toes, and has a total of two working toes on his right foot. He's awesome though! He can fling himself around with that beak like none other.
Looking forward to getting to know you all, and I'll blather more later.

 

[MikeyTN]

What do you mean by his posture to sex him???

 

[TessieB]

I keep most birds away from my eyes. I will allow them to preen the top of my head.

 

[Kalidasa]

Whether you're "supposed" to or not, I let my birds do it, and my conure does it pretty much every day....brows and lashes.

 

[Macaw_nutty]

What do you mean by his posture to sex him???

The bird has not been DNA sexed yet, we're going on the first of December to have it done, just to make sure. What I was referring to was the heart-shaped wings display, the difference in attitude to male and female humans, and well, the way he pleasures himself occasionally. A variety of personality cues and body language suggest male, but I know there's still the possibility she's just butch.

 

[Macaw_nutty]

What do you mean by his posture to sex him???

The bird has not been DNA sexed yet, we're going on the first of December to have it done, just to make sure. What I was referring to was the heart-shaped wings display, the difference in attitude to male and female humans, and well, the way he pleasures himself occasionally. A variety of personality cues and body language suggest male, but I know there's still the possibility she's just butch.

 

[SpotsandSally]

there is no pain greater than letting your bird preen our eyelashes and give you kisses after its had hot pepper ....

Ahahahahahahahahaha! Oh, i'm sorry, that's awful. Hysterical, but awful. Your warning has been duly noted, and very much taken to heart. It's bad enough when you do it to yourself, but even worse when it's attached to the sweet birdy loves!

I learned this too. Kiwi was trying to give kisses, so I shut my lips and just turned up my head, next time I licked my lips... HOOOTTTT. And this was habanero peppers, too!!

Kiwi likes to preen my hair, but that's about it. I'm not sure I'd trust her around my lashes that and I wear glasses.

 

[MikeyTN]

What do you mean by his posture to sex him???

The bird has not been DNA sexed yet, we're going on the first of December to have it done, just to make sure. What I was referring to was the heart-shaped wings display, the difference in attitude to male and female humans, and well, the way he pleasures himself occasionally. A variety of personality cues and body language suggest male, but I know there's still the possibility she's just butch.

Lola does the heart shaped wing all the time. Willie, not so much....From the looks of your picture, not super clear, but I'm gonna guess to be a female!

 

[henpecked]

My long time hen nape preens my eyelashes and of course she lets me do hers. But i,ve had her for 43 yrs and she's the only bird in our flock that i will allow to do my face.

 

[JerseyWendy]

I'm with Capt here. Only my Hunter is allowed to do my eyebrows, and she does it VERY gently.

I trust my big macs, but not enough to lose an eye over. :52: Besides, Niko uses his tongue too much, and I'm not so fond of Mac-tongue in my nostrils either (yes, he's done that before....EEEEEWWW!!!)

 

[MarciaLove]

I trust my big macs, but not enough to lose an eye over. :52: Besides, Niko uses his tongue too much, and I'm not so fond of Mac-tongue in my nostrils either (yes, he's done that before....EEEEEWWW!!!)

LOL thats hilarious XD

 

[Birdman666]

My birds do this all the time.

In fact, my red lored gets upset sometimes if I don't let her groom me...

It's a bonding thing.

 

[getwozzy]

Chili tries to lick my eyeball, so no thanks to that. Lol and she eats hot peppers all the time, so definitely a no thanks lol

She looooovvves rubbing her face on hubby's scruffy beard and preening it. Sometimes she gets a little enthusiastic. Haha

 

[Birdman666]

Both my macaws are eyball lickers...

And yeah, that greenwing tongue will go all over the place, if you let them.

The only bird I don't allow to do this one is my CAG. Because usually he preens, but sometimes he will grab.

All my other birds are 100% trustworthy around my face...

I beak wrestle with my big macs nose to beak... Done this for years. I KNOW they are trustworthy or I'd be missing a nose!

 

[ruffledfeathers]

Georgie and Gilbert have both been eyelash preeners. I generally discourage it because I wear mascara most every day. (Miraculously, I have Gilbert basically trained not to chew my earrings!! Yay. He does like chewing sunglasses though!!)