Avoiding Problems With Parrots On Shoulders
By Sally Blanchard

Reprinted and updated from Issue #25 of the Pet Bird Report. Illustration by Jeff Riebe. This article is copyrighted and may not be reprinted without the written permission of Sally Blanchard or the PBIC, Inc. Contact us for permission.

The Favorite Perch

 One of the most significant mistakes people make with their companion parrots is to allow them to run up on their shoulder. Almost all parrots, even hand-fed babies, like to be as high as they can. This tendency often results in an argument between bird and owner. If the owner does not believe in setting rules or providing guidance, the parrot will win easily and his favorite perch will become the shoulder. This may not seem to be a problem in the beginning but once the parrot becomes patterned, it may become difficult to reeducate him not to run up to the shoulder. There are several reasons why this can become a problem. One of the best ways to establish control or discipline a misbehaving parrot is with eye contact. If a bird is on your shoulder, it is impossible to make eye contact without making your face vulnerable to beak injury. Also, a parrot on the shoulder is in a more dominant position because his eye is usually level with or above the persons.

Letting the bird climb up on the shoulder seems to be a convenient way to spend time with him while the owner can do other things at the same time. People seem to think they can place their parrot on their shoulder and it will automatically behave itself. One of the reasons we enjoy parrots so much is because of their intelligence and curiosity. These same traits create one of the major problems with shoulder birds. A curious parrot will busy himself looking for things to do. That 'bird toy' hanging from your ear, or that little mole on your neck with the hair hanging out of it is just too inviting. So he starts poking at it with his beak. You turn and say, "stop it, do you hear me?!" He becomes distracted but soon finds the little silver thing on the frame of your glasses or the loose thread on your shirt sleeve. You admonish him again with increased drama. After a second or so, he remembers that mole again. More drama before you finally pick him up telling him what a bad bird he is and put him back in his cage telling him to think about what a bad bird he is. He has no idea that he did anything wrong. He only knows every time he poked at you with his beak, he was rewarded with a wonderful outburst of drama. Parrots love drama and will learn quickly to turn these behaviors into a game so they can get their owners all excited As the bird becomes more and more excited, 'overload' biting can quickly become a part of this game with the bird continually being rewarded with drama. Unless the owner establishes calm, methodical guidance, this bird will become a problem particularly on the owner's shoulder.

Territorial Protection

Parrots who have been raised with rules and guidance present far fewer problems for their owners when they reach sexual maturity. However, a parrot who has been consistently allowed on his or her owner's shoulder may create serious problems as it becomes more territorial. Parrots bond strongly to their primary person's face. If they are strongly bonded to us and we allow them to sit on our shoulder, I believe their perception is one of sitting together with us on a moving tree branch. Our body becomes their territory. If the territory is threatened by any intruder (your husband, wife, child, dog, etc.?), it is instinctive for the bird to defend that territory. In the wild, a pair of parrots would most likely become very big by spreading their tails, spreading their wings and/or raising their crests to show off all their color. They would pin their eyes and become as threatening as possible. The pet bird may show the same behavior expecting his or her mate (you) to exhibit the same defensive postures to help scare the intruder off, but you either greet them or sit there like a lump on a log. You become part of the problem not part of the solution. The parrot can't defend his mate and the territory at the same time so you have to go! So he takes a swipe at you to get you to fly away so he can defend the territory and you can fly back when it is safe. If a parrot takes a jab at another parrot, he most likely gets a beak full of feathers. If he takes a jab at you, he gets a face full of skin. Facial bites can be quite serious resulting is scarring and even eye injury.

Retraining A Shoulder Parrot

What about the lady with the sweet parrot who has been sitting on her shoulder for the last 12 years and has never shown any sign of aggression? Does she now have to retrain her parrot not to sit on her shoulder? Probably not — she is the exception. Many people think they are the exception until they experience aggressive behavior when their parrot is on their shoulder.

Start out by placing your parrot on your knee instead of on your shoulder when you are reading or watching TV. He can play happily and you can establish both friendly and disciplinary eye control with him. If he already has the bad habit of running up your arm, simply bring your other hand down your arm and use the "UP" command to have him step on your finger. Don't turn it into a game with drama. Do this over and over until your arm is no longer his runway to your shoulder. Do not get into the habit of just leaning over to his cage and having him step on your shoulder. Maintaining hand control is essential to having a well-behaved parrot.

The Four Rules Of Letting Your Parrot On Your Shoulder

1. The parrot is not allowed on your shoulder unless you put him there. He should not be in control of being there. Instead of letting him run up to your shoulder, place him there with the "OK" and "DOWN" commands.
2. The parrot is not allowed on your shoulder unless he will readily step on to your hand from there with the "UP" command.
3. The parrot is not allowed on your shoulder if he has ever shown aggression while he is there. Watch his body language very carefully when other people or pets are in the room. Some birds are OK on shoulders if their primary bondee is the only one present.
4. Parrots do not have an on/off button. Don't expect him to behave on your shoulder. Make sure he has something to do (a toy to play with, etc.) while he is there. Don't turn his shoulder misbehavior into a game by rewarding him with drama.  
    
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