What level of touch/preening is safe for cockatiels

[ILoveTiels]

Without it being seen as flirty? Lol

My girl loves scratches on her head and upper neck, as well as cheeks and me touching her beak. She lets our a cute soft little chirp as I do this. When she's on my shoulder she cuddles into my neck. Reference pics

She never solicits sex from me but she does get a bit broody and will do it alone in her cage and I don't want to be accidentally setting off hormones.

 

[ILoveTiels]

Reasons I'm a bit worried also:
-She preens my baby hairs on the back of my neck, my fringe, my eyelashes one time and my eyebrows. -She has never regurgitated on me but yawns a lot while she's on me like this

Maybe she's just clearing her crop??

-She does get 14 hours of sleep and plenty of exercise and good food and enrichment so I'm not concerned about egg laying but I don't want her to think I'm her mate and possibly become inappropriately attached to me. Currently she has no behavioural issues whatsoever apart from her mating dances in her cage a few times a day (I am blessed) and I don't want her to develop any if I'm not handling her properly. I know physical touch is interpreted differently amongst the avians than mammals

 

[wrench13]

I think as long as the scratches are on the head and upper neck, there is no harm in prolonged scritching sessions. Beakies, me, I stay off Salty's beak; I think that beak battles might have some sexual involvement. Plenty enough birdie head and neck to go around!

 

[ILoveTiels]

I think as long as the scratches are on the head and upper neck, there is no harm in prolonged scritching sessions. Beakies, me, I stay off Salty's beak; I think that beak battles might have some sexual involvement. Plenty enough birdie head and neck to go around!

With her beak usually I play a game with her where I lean forward, touch her beak to the tip of my nose and say "boop." She will move her head around in circles and I know she's trying to scurry up my shoulder, and I just keep having her step up from hand to hand and booping her until she's had enough. The moment I stop she runs up my arm like some kind of rat (it's the funniest thing as she always has a really pleased expression on her face... I may be anthromorphising too much!) and she settles on my shoulder.

She used to be a bit nippy about coming off my shoulder but I took step up training very seriously and started positively reinforcing her being on my finger (I mostly give scratches when she's perched on my hand for example as well as treats) and now she's happy to be on both but still prefers riding shotgun on the shoulder when given the choice.