[gpgilbert]

Willow, the Quaker, has been with us for three days. He seems to be doing very well and is very interactive with us.

I did a lot of research before we brought him home because I wanted to do everything right and avoid all of the known problems. I was cautioned against letting him sit on our shoulders, so I've been very careful about that.

My question is whether he needs to be excluded from our shoulders all the time, or if we just need to limit the amount of time he spends there. I let him on my shoulder some the first day so he would feel comforted and secure, but we haven't allowed him to perch on anyone's shoulder since. We are playing the "towel game" and he seems to enjoy snuggling in a towel as a way of being close.

If you have any advice about allowing him on our shoulders, I'd appreciate hearing it.

Thanks!

 

[twink]

Every bird is different, it's just trial and error really, you will just have to wait and see how he goes. My birds are fine on my shoulder, I haven't had any real dominance issues with them. My halfmoon is a sweetie, my green cheek on the other hand does try his luck sometimes. :lol: When my green cheek pushes his luck ( very rarely ) I remove him immediately and return him to his cage for 5 mins, that way he associates the punishment with the unacceptable behaviour. Willow will probably be fine while he's still young, it's when those evil hormones kick in that the problems usually start. Take it day by day, and adjust accordingly. Good luck. :thumbsup:

 

[gpgilbert]

Thanks for sharing your experience, Sue.

 

[Sensfan]

Millie and Niblet are on our shoulders often and the only problem I've had is permanent removal of my earings. :lol:

 

[Solace.]

From my experience with Keiko (Quaker), I can't let him on my shoulder anymore.

He was biting and attacking my face at any chance he could. He continued to go onto my shoulder no matter what, so it got to the stage where I had to make him stay on my arm with treats. It took a few months, but we got there and it's fine now. It's so fine that he's resorted to biting my mums face now, he does exactly the same thing, so now she has to get him to step up onto her arm every time he bites and puts him back in his cage.

I guess it depends on the bird, but they say the shoulder = dominance and control because of eye level.

 

[brekke668]

I think it really depends on the bird. My quaker Bobby got to the point that she was dangerous on my shoulder she would go for my face.

I never allow one of my big parrots on my shoulder it just scares me to think what they could do to my face.

 

[kneel]

def depends on the bird. I can leave our quaker on my shoulder for weeks and she'll be fine...

play it by ear..feel it out. If it looks like all she wants to do is climb to your shoulder..then limit it right away...

 

[gpgilbert]

Thanks for the input, everyone. You've been very helpful.

 

[Marit]

It depends on how dominant the bird is. If it is a (very) dominant bird, it's better not to let him sit on your shoulder, but to keep him always lower then your chest.

 

[Jenny]

Yep, like everyone has said, just trial and error :lol: My severe rides on my shoulder most of the time she's on me and she does great. Every once in a while we have an argument because she wants on top of my head or something she knows she cannot have and then it's either a step-up or a fall to the floor :lol: Her problem is when she knows she's done something wrong she'll try and bite my hands when I ask for a step up so I just roll my shoulders and she flutters gently to the ground only to look at me like "Mom?! What happened?! Why did you DO that?!" and all is well again :rofl:

 

[Sensfan]

"Mom?! What happened?! Why did you DO that?!" :rofl:

Yes they always look and act so innocent :lol: