Don't you dare climb to my shoulder!

[xo Missi]

Okay, so my Baby is not perfect afterall

Something we can not do while sitting on the couch with her is relax. If we put her on our lap, tummy, or arm she will go for the shoulder. No matter how many times we bring her back down and say, "NO!". Off she goes again for the shoulder.
Last night we have her on her play-gym on the coffee table in front of us while we were watching tv on the couch. She kept coming to the edge of the table and flapping aff the table in hopes she'd land on one of our legs. Finally I had her step up and she went for the shoulder. I kept bringing her down and eventually I put her back on her play-gym. She would come back to the edge of the table and so on and so fourth. It was like a cycle.

Well, short story long.....I'm wondering how to break her of this bad habit of wanting to go to the shoulder EVERY time she is held. We do not and will not alow her on our shoulder as it is a bad habit.

[Dani03]

It's not so much a bad habit...more of a trust issue. I'm sure you don't know your bird enough to let her perch there...took Prin and I a whole year before I knew that there was no way she was going to try anything stupid. Even then I keep a watchful eye on her. All I can recommend is constant repetition...that what bird ownership is about. It is going to take many times of you saying no and placing her somewhere else before she gets it.

Don't give up!

Dani

[xo Missi]

Oh so it's not necessarily a bad thing, the bird being on the shoulder? Just have to make sure they won't bite?

Thank you for your words! I will keep up with the "NO!"s and bringing her down.

[Dani03]

It's not a bad thing...just trust! Build it with your bird before you let them have the special treats

Dani

[xo Missi]

Well, I mean, I really have no reason not to trust her. Once when I let her sit on my shoulder when I first got her...she nibbled on my ear and then went for the earrings Other than that, she hasn't tried to attack or anything. I am intrigued now to hear that she MAY be alowed ion the shoulder since she really wants to be there!

So, basically it's trial and error?

[Dani03]

Trust me on this...you don't know your bird yet. It takes time to fully realize who your bird is. Also, Baby is well...a baby...her personality will change...like I said it took me a whole year to trust Prin...the stories I have heard of birds attacking their owners faces...I so did not want that to happen

Dani

[xo Missi]

Okay so how do you know if you trust them? Like I guess I don't understand what behavious to look out for. Why would a bird attack it's owner's face??

[Dani03]

Fear...anger...remember that a bird uses it's beak as a third hand and a way of telling another bird to stop or that it is angry. A bite to us is only a form of bird communication that is painful. They do not bite unless the feel it is the last resort and some birds learn that biting will get things done.

Give youself some time with Baby...when she stops trying to get onto your shoulder and is listening to you...

Dani

[kimtoo]

Missie:

Didn't I see a post from you yesterday that described a baby tantrum while she hung by her beak from your lower lip??? do you really want her near your eyes yet? I am not saying she would act maliciously but fear is a great motivator and all she has to protect herself is a beak...the fear does not have to be of you, a jerk honking their horn, a siren, a dog, many things will frighten her until she has experienced them. Protect yourself like you protect her. Shoulders for my birds are a highly cherished treat....

[xo Missi]

Fear...anger...remember that a bird uses it's beak as a third hand and a way of telling another bird to stop or that it is angry. A bite to us is only a form of bird communication that is painful. They do not bite unless the feel it is the last resort and some birds learn that biting will get things done.

Give youself some time with Baby...when she stops trying to get onto your shoulder and is listening to you...

Dani

Great advice, again...thanks!

[xo Missi]

Missie:

Didn't I see a post from you yesterday that described a baby tantrum while she hung by her beak from your lower lip??? do you really want her near your eyes yet? I am not saying she would act maliciously but fear is a great motivator and all she has to protect herself is a beak...the fear does not have to be of you, a jerk honking their horn, a siren, a dog, many things will frighten her until she has experienced them. Protect yourself like you protect her. Shoulders for my birds are a highly cherished treat....

Yes, she grabbed onto my upper lip! I actually forgot about that. I think she was trying to climb onto my head and was using my lip as a ladder rung

So may I ask you guys whome do not allow their bids on shoulder a question? Do your birds do the same thing as Baby does and stubbornly keep trying to get onto the shoulder? I will keep bringing her down and saying no as I said. Birds to eventually respond to "NO!" like dogs do, right?

[kimtoo]

some do..big bird no longer even tries to go to my shoulder. He is contant in my lap or on my lower arm. I am working wit pipsqueak now (the IRN) and trying to get her to stay on my hand longer and longer periods each night. That means she is on my shoulder less and less! I have to give her treats and I have her step from one hand to the other several times if she starts getting too antsy. She can't figure out why she keeps stepping forward but not getting any closer poor baby...

[jen5239]

Missi,
I'm in a different boat as my Byndi WON'T sit on hands AT ALL! She will only sit on your shoulder. And has been that way since day one. She does not like hands at all. The only time I can get her to perch on my finger is in the shower when she goes into that shower trance. And then she's got such a tight grip on your finger you feel like she's cutting circulation off. But we got Byndi as an older bird and have had major trust issues. She's coming around VERY SLOWLY and is occasionally hanging on my lap and chest. Still won't sit on my hand to save her life. But when she gets spooked while on my lap or chest it's straight to the shoulder. And I'm ok with that. Cuz I want interaction with her. But you have a baby and you can teach her that hands are ok. Remmi sits on my hands all the time. He rarely goes for my shoulder. He actually likes to hang on my foot when my legs are crossed. But it sounds like you're doing the right thing with taking her down and telling her no. She seems like such a sweet bird! Best of luck!

Hugs,
Jen

[Al121]

I too have exactly the same problem but after taking good advice from here we are working on it, Its been a week or so and Bobby is already starting to stay on my hands were as before he wouldn't go near them, I give him treats for staying there he does still go on my shoulder but i just put him back on the cage and get him to step up on my hand again. Also if he goes on my shoulder i can entice him down with a treat in the palm of my hand he will walk down and get it, the more you repeat taking your bird off it will soon learn its not allowed on there i hope anyway its working for me slowly.

[xo Missi]

Thanks so much, guys! Your stories and experience help me understand I'm not alone!

[schotzie48]

I just love my shoulder time with Pickle. He sits there and prines himself and then nestles close to my neck and give me kisses. He doesn't like to be petted, but he likes to play tug of war with paper or nuts, and he will not bite, he just pushes your hand away when he doesn't want to do anything. He has the SWEETEST nature, I'm really lucky.

[Bird crazy]

Missi:

Nila goes for the shoulder every time. Same thing, when on the sofa he goes for the shoulder for sure. I think it's because I'm sitting and he's so low on my lap or hand that he feels too threatened. But I just keep putting him down and saying no. And I have a small mole on the back of of my neck that he immediately tries to remove every time he gets up there. and OUCH that hurts like heck.

And Al121-How the heck did you do that with your signature and the bird's foot?

Sue and Nila

[Donna]

Tango thinks he was hatched on my shoulder. He goes all over the house with me and helps getting the other birds out. He'll say come on step up momma loves ya. He also goes to work with me every day but he is in his cage cause I have to many dogs in and out. My customers love it when he tells them bye bye. Donna

[Bird crazy]

Donna
That's great. How old is your Tango? And what kind of work that you can take the bird? We all want your job you know, now that we hear you take the bird with you.

Sue and Nila

[Donna]

Hi Sue I own a dog grooming shop. Tango is 19 months old. I take fred the Grey and Tango the IRN with me every day they love going bye bye. They keep me and my other girls that work with me laughing all day long. And they both bark like a dog. LOL Donna

[Bird crazy]

Great job and what fun. But you get the barking dogs at night at home too.

We've been babysitting a dog that barks all the time for the last two days. I keep expecting Nila to bark. But he tries to bite the dog every chance he gets.

Sue and Nila

[LAAnnie]

I am another one who doesn't like the bird on my shoulder all the time. I keep a wooden perch nearby, and any time PeeGee sits someplace she is not welcome, I hold the perch in front of her and she steps up. Then I place her wher she is supposed to be. The perch prevents her from biting me when she gets crabby.

Another amusing habit is when she sits on my desk watching me work on the computer, and she will preen herself -- cleaning each toe, each claw, and every single feather. So cute.

I also don't like her "sharing" all my food! She has to take pieces out of everything I eat, which is not too appetizing. My dog doesn't like her raiding the dog food bowl either.

Just another day in the life, right guys?

[xo Missi]

I am another one who doesn't like the bird on my shoulder all the time. I keep a wooden perch nearby, and any time PeeGee sits someplace she is not welcome, I hold the perch in front of her and she steps up. Then I place her wher she is supposed to be. The perch prevents her from biting me when she gets crabby.

Another amusing habit is when she sits on my desk watching me work on the computer, and she will preen herself -- cleaning each toe, each claw, and every single feather. So cute.

I also don't like her "sharing" all my food! She has to take pieces out of everything I eat, which is not too appetizing. My dog doesn't like her raiding the dog food bowl either.

Just another day in the life, right guys?

LOL Yes. Baby always raided my food (I can't say I stopped him all the time though <3) and now my lovebird flies over and lands on whatever I'm eating Lord help me if my ekkie girl begs too!
Dani...do ekkie's beg?? lol

[Dani03]

LMAO do ekkies beg?!?! Missi, hun, you are in for a BIG surprise...these guys are even more pigs than an IRN is. They will eat ANYTHING and will beg with no abandon to score food...just wait. Bodi will do the most adorable wing flapping/baby begging behaviour to get food...he does it even when I go into the kitchen...

Dani

[xo Missi]

LMAO do ekkies beg?!?! Missi, hun, you are in for a BIG surprise...these guys are even more pigs than an IRN is. They will eat ANYTHING and will beg with no abandon to score food...just wait. Bodi will do the most adorable wing flapping/baby begging behaviour to get food...he does it even when I go into the kitchen...

Dani

AWWW!!! YAY! Cuteness!! I really love what I have read about ekkies so far! Well, besides the toe tapping and abnormal wing flipping Has Bodi ever had that? Do you feed Bodi pellets? Part of the reason I quit my second job (last day is Saturday) is so I can spend lots more time with the lovie and ekkie. I read that pellets are not good for ekkies because there is too many vitamins in them but I work Mon. through Fri 8 to 5 at my main job and am stressing about what to feed her while I'm at work! I mean obviously she will get lots of fruits and veggies while we're together in mornings and evenings. Do you have any trouble with pellets? I might try a mixture of Zupreem and Roudybush if it wouldn't be harmful to her.

Oh Dani, I know I am going to have lots of questions for you...If I had money I'd pay you for your answers (it's the thought that counts, right?! lol)! Sue, please chime in with your advice as well!

[Bird crazy]

Missi:

My Rowdy would say "Hungry, hungry" every time someone would eat something or go toward the refrigerator. He was a terror to keep away from my plate, even though I gave him his own plate at every meal with something on it, he would check out his, check out mine and if anything was missing on his he'd go directly for that on mine. I had to be very careful to cook with very little fat and salt for his sake.

He was/is a great talker and would use his speech appropriately to ask for things and to come to me, to go outside. My favorite was one day I said "Hi Rowdy what cha doin" and he said "talking to you".

He followed me around the house like a little dog, I'd be in the bathroom and feel something at my leg and junp and yell and it would be him, he'd take his beak and rub it on me like you see parrots do on a perch to clean their beaks.

I had looked at eclectus for 7 years before getting Rowdy, Their calm demeanor and thoughtful ways won me over from the start. They are great pets. I know you're going to love your new little girl.

Sue and Nila

[Dani03]

Missi...I feed him daily roudybush pellets (his old owner had him on those) and a daily supply of vitamin A rich veggies...go to landofvos.com...they have some great feeding info there. I love sharing my knowledge of these birds...ask away!

Dani

[angie]

re the keeping your bird off your shoulder.

Jordan has a set of beads he absolutely hates, long ones, I put him on my knee and lay the beads over my lap. He quite happily stays on my knee.

The other trick is to lay back and have my knee's up, they will head straight for the highest point (on top of the knee) they love it.

Also if I have something in my hand, a lolly wrapper or some toy they love they come straight for it to play with it. Once they have it they have to perch there so that they can lift one foot and bite at it.

Soon enough they get really comfy with the knee.

Just gotta outlast them and not give in, if thats what you want.