Right to the shoulder

[pacoparrot]

Does anyone else's conure do this? I have 2 green cheeks and they are obsessed with my shoulder. They both behave when they are up there but getting them off can be an ordeal. The sometimes cuddle with my neck which is adorable. They also poop a million times on my back!! The only problem is if I put them on a playstand or a perch they immediately try to jump off if I am close enough. I am letting their wings grow out now that they are tame and I have a feeling that they are going to just fly right to my shoulder and never explore their play area. This isn't necessarily bad though. I mean they are much easier to keep track of if they are on my shoulder after all.

Here is Bella on my shoulder.

 

[witchbaby]

Yep, that's a green cheek thing. They're such velcro birds. Bandit was fully flighted and followed me everywhere. She rarely used her playstand. I'm pretty sure she thought *I* was her playstand. I really didn't mind having her on my shoulder all the time. It was a convenient way for her to be with me while I went about my day.

 

[pacoparrot]

I'm very sorry for the loss of your bird. I can empathize all too well as I have lost my closest companion bird recently also. My green cheeks were not tame when she was around but when she passed away I decided to work with them in memory of her. If you need someone to talk to then just message me on here.

Yeah it is a pretty easy way to make them happy. What's even cuter is when Bella climbs my ear and gets on top of my head. She only does that if Jack isn't around.

 

[witchbaby]

Thank you. It's been a rotten few days. I miss her so much. I'm sorry you lost your baby. No one should ever have to feel this way. *hugs*

 

[veimar]

Yup, my gcc Parry does the same thing, and he also likes to nest on my head. I'm training him not to poo on me, and he is making a pretty nice progress. But I usually have to pick him up from the shoulder every 15-20 min (oh, he hates that!), put him on the table and tell "Poo!". He usually does it right away and goes right back to my shoulder. But now he started flying off himself too when he needs to poo, or goes down my sleeve and poops on the floor. So I hope he is learning. You can teach that to your guys too.

 

[Skittys_Daddy]

I think it's generally a bird thing. My cockatiel likes to sit on my shoulder while my sun conure likes to cuddle up on my shoulder, he lifts his wing and presses himself against my neck. I think they just like being near their owners. If you look at pairs of birds in stores, you'll notice often times they are snuggled together. They will do the same with an owner they are bonded too.

 

[witchbaby]

Birds do love shoulders as a general rule, but in my experience, a lot of the smaller species get downright fanatical about it. Maybe it's because they get away with it easier? A lot of the larger parrots I've met will try it once to see if you'll allow it, but won't push it if they're removed.

 

[TessieB]

Birds love our shoulders! We have those ears which apparently are just dying to be nibbled on by a beak. Some shoulders have long hair which is great to hide in. The short hair is great to rub feathered heads on. And food is usually nearby. And check out how close close the eyebrows and eyelashes are! They always need preening!

Truly, if one is a bird, the human shoulder is the perfect throne (or toilet) to sit on!

 

[Kisota]

My new GCC is completely crazy about being on shoulders and I'm trying hard to train him not to automatically go there. We're trying not to allow him up there much at least for now. But he'll fly to them all the time! He's better behaved on the shoulders than he is sitting on a hand, though. That makes it tricky because I like when he's being all cuddly on my shoulder, but I want him to be good elsewhere too!

 

[Birdman666]

My sun conure was an inside the shirt bird. At times all three of them were in there... The other two generally preferred shoulders.

Gently, but firmly swipe your hand across the shoulder. If they misbehave, send a message, and push them off. (Then pick them up and put them back. That's YOU WILL GO DOWN.) Otherwise, they'll run around on your shoulder nipping at your fingers. One good (gentle) swipe with the hand, and they will either get on your hand, or end up on the floor.

 

[Esmarelda]

Hello, I have an amazon parrot that also really loves my shoulder, she used to step up on my hand but now she always wants on my shoulder, I stand by her cage and here she comes straight to the shoulder and yes it is an ordeal sometimes to get her down, but what can I do, live with it is all I can think of... hope all works out.....

 

[pacoparrot]

Here they are cuddling right when I took a picture. Happy National Pet Day everyone!

 

[Chenetaqwa]

Yup, my gcc Parry does the same thing, and he also likes to nest on my head. I'm training him not to poo on me, and he is making a pretty nice progress. But I usually have to pick him up from the shoulder every 15-20 min (oh, he hates that!), put him on the table and tell "Poo!". He usually does it right away and goes right back to my shoulder. But now he started flying off himself too when he needs to poo, or goes down my sleeve and poops on the floor. So I hope he is learning. You can teach that to your guys too.

I do about the same thing with my bird.. I take it out of the cage and put it on a table top perch and tell it "bombs away" and when he poops I make a big deal about praising him and give a treat.. like you said ..eventually he leaves me and Flys to his perch and poops no more dirty shirts ...lol