I'm Afraid to Kiss Him!

[drlisaort]

Okay, so Oliver has been in my clutches for one month this Monday. He is the sweetest most loving bird I could have ever imagined. He's not noisy, never bites (though infatuated with my fingers), loves to go on outings in his carrier, well behaved socially, stays on his play stand without flying off 95% of the time, loves to shower with me and already says I love you, Mommy, hello, and a few other mumbles (Of course nobody hears what I'm hearing but I can tell it's the words I'm teaching him--Mommy's (and Daddy's) know these things.


So, what kind of problem could I possibly have with this almost perfect bird? I want to kiss him BUT I'M AFRAID OF HIS BEAK! He's given me no reason to fear his little candy corn mouth but I just don't know how to approach it. I need kissing advice?????? He loves to be held, pet, cuddled, and hang out on my arm...but when it comes to me kissing his head or the back of his neck I freeze. Help!

Lisa

 

[sodakat]

Lean down to kiss the top of his beak instead of straight on.

 

[Peeker]

My parrots like me to stroke the side of the beak so I do that and then as I am gently holding the point downward I kiss the upper part very softly. Does that make sense?

 

[birdbrainzz4me]

i used to give my ekkies kisses on the beak, by holding the the tip of their beak between my thumb and index finger and givin them a smooch on the top of their beaks, right around were their nostrils are. i didn't have to have a death grip or anything because they were just as gentle as you say your's is. they would lean in with a kissy sound to go with it. :10: lol thought the face was for good measure

 

[CathnPoe]

Poe LOVES kisses. I say kiss every time I kiss him and he's started making a smooch noise back at me... sometimes.
I agree with everyone above; hold the tip of the beak at first, just to get your confidence up. That way even if he just goes to nibble your lip, you'll know and be able to lean away.

 

[brianlinkles]

I would caution you not to kiss him on the beak. I would kiss the top of head or back of neck. Our saliva is not safe for our birds. If you give him a kiss on the beak you could unknowingly get him sick.

 

[CathnPoe]

I would caution you not to kiss him on the beak. I would kiss the top of head or back of neck. Our saliva is not safe for our birds. If you give him a kiss on the beak you could unknowingly get him sick.

I understand the the issues concerning saliva cross-contamination. However, I think we're talking a dry 'peck' on the top of the beak... not a wet pash
I don't know of any people who leave globs of saliva behind after they peck-kiss... perhaps THESE people shouldn't kiss their birds on the beak.

Edit: In fact, if saliva remnants from lips are the concern, then the top of the beak is the safest place as they cannot access their own beak, while they can access their feathers and thus potentially preen our saliva INTO their beaks.
Sorry, my point is simply that I see this as holding a touch of a hypochondriacal paranoia.

 

[drlisaort]

Thank you for the great advice! Actually, I've never ever touched his beak with intention so I never thought to kiss on his beak (I'm a major chicken!) but rather his head or the back of his neck. So, I guess I should practice touching around his beak to get over my fear of the beak. And thank you Brian for the warning about kissing his beak directly. I was so self-centered in my question that I didn't think about what harm it could mean for Oliver.

Lisa

 

[Boogie]

Kissing your bird is such a great pleasure. I hope you find the courage! Go girl!

 

[drlisaort]

Cathpoe, you made me laugh out loud spraying my decaf coffee on my screen! Just the visual of a mad passionate kiss with Oliver struck me as too funny. Hey, if I can kiss him on his head or the back of his neck I'd be thrilled. Or, if I had the courage to touch his beak. Whenever I muster up the courage it's like he's fixated on my fingers! I guess I'm with beak paranoia!

As for Bryan's tip, I do appreciate it as I did not know people saliva was a problem and often I share my food (same spoon!) with Oliver so I guess I should stop that asap.

Lisa

 

[Chikoo]

Yes, if I share food, I am careful they don't touch my spoon and other things. They often want to eat out of my mouth, but I don't let them. Have to keep clear hygienic boundaries with birds because of our saliva. Kisses are perfectly okay though.

 

[brianlinkles]

I would caution you not to kiss him on the beak. I would kiss the top of head or back of neck. Our saliva is not safe for our birds. If you give him a kiss on the beak you could unknowingly get him sick.

I understand the the issues concerning saliva cross-contamination. However, I think we're talking a dry 'peck' on the top of the beak... not a wet pash
I don't know of any people who leave globs of saliva behind after they peck-kiss... perhaps THESE people shouldn't kiss their birds on the beak.

Edit: In fact, if saliva remnants from lips are the concern, then the top of the beak is the safest place as they cannot access their own beak, while they can access their feathers and thus potentially preen our saliva INTO their beaks.

Sorry, my point is simply that I see this as holding a touch of a hypochondriacal paranoia.

I'm sorry but I must disagree. This is not hypochondria at all. Even our lips have bacteria on them which is dangerous to birds. I am not saying that you should not kiss yoiur bird and I certainly don't think that anyone is kissing a big wet sloppy kiss on their bird however I am saying to be cautious. Sharing food that we have eaten off of or using our utensils that we have eaten off of is risky. I usually kiss the top of my birds head or right behind the head. In fact I try to aim for areas that they cannot preen. I have kissed my macaw on the top of the beak but I think that this is not the best practice, he often wipes his beak on the perch. You can call it what you want but if there is a way to prevent something I say better to be cautious!

 

[CathnPoe]

I would caution you not to kiss him on the beak. I would kiss the top of head or back of neck. Our saliva is not safe for our birds. If you give him a kiss on the beak you could unknowingly get him sick.

I understand the the issues concerning saliva cross-contamination. However, I think we're talking a dry 'peck' on the top of the beak... not a wet pash
I don't know of any people who leave globs of saliva behind after they peck-kiss... perhaps THESE people shouldn't kiss their birds on the beak.

Edit: In fact, if saliva remnants from lips are the concern, then the top of the beak is the safest place as they cannot access their own beak, while they can access their feathers and thus potentially preen our saliva INTO their beaks.

Sorry, my point is simply that I see this as holding a touch of a hypochondriacal paranoia.

I'm sorry but I must disagree. This is not hypochondria at all. Even our lips have bacteria on them which is dangerous to birds. I am not saying that you should not kiss your bird and I certainly don't think that anyone is kissing a big wet sloppy kiss on their bird however I am saying to be cautious. Sharing food that we have eaten off of or using our utensils that we have eaten off of is risky. I usually kiss the top of my birds head or right behind the head. In fact I try to aim for areas that they cannot preen. I have kissed my macaw on the top of the beak but I think that this is not the best practice, he often wipes his beak on the perch. You can call it what you want but if there is a way to prevent something I say better to be cautious!

Fair enough, I completely understand your point. I can't imagine anything worse than giving Poe the literal "kiss of death." I'm just skeptical about the contagion potency in the transmission of gram negative bacteria from a dry kiss. (The food/utensil sharing is a whole different ball park.)