GCC likes my shoulder too much, how to get him off?

[JesusWasRussian]

I got my almost 4 month old green cheek conure about 4 days ago, and he has been making really good progress with me, he climbs on me, he steps up and down most of the time I want him to and he's even learning to poop on command very fast without treats. He lived with a really nice amateur breeder couple before.

The thing is though, when he sits on my shoulder, a lot of the time, he does not want to get off. Most of the time he'll just back up to where I can't properly position my hand, so I'll have to lean back, forcing him to climb back up, sometimes to the point of like laying down before he will step up. Occasionally he will bite me, kind of hard but not enough to break the skin (though he has done that twice so far). As well as needing him to listen to me and know I'm the boss, I do need to get him off while I have him out so he can poop, so getting him off my shoulder doesn't automatically mean cage time, and I do get him off sometimes just to switch sides or talk to him or something. Getting off shouldn't be associated with cage time for him.

What can I do to get him to come off my shoulder easier (and preferably without biting)?

 

[mrgoogls]

if he doesnt reliably get off of your shoulder dont let him up there. once you get him to step up like 99% of the time its fine.

 

[SandyBee]

What I did with our Amazon at first because he hated hands and would not step on my hand is drop my shoulder to a perch or counter.

 

[SandyBee]

I agree, he needs to come off when asked or he doesn't get shoulder privileges.

 

[Julianna]

Just do LOTS of training practice with step up and step down. These are probably the most important commands a parrot knows, because this is how we can move and have control over where our birds are. Practice having him step up and step down from various perches with treats as rewards for doing both. Practice this everywhere, including your shoulder. When he successfully steps up off your shoulder give tons of praise and his favorite treat. It just takes some times, but you'll get to the point where he can step up and from your shoulder in an instant. Like mrgoogls said, there's always the other option of simply not allowing your conure on your shoulder, too. Good luck!