Shoulder time - how much is too much?

[Digital_Fid]

Hi all,

My Elclectus and Corella are about 7 months old now. My wife and I are just going through the steps to (try to) train them into good habbits for when they mature, or more to the point, when they go through the adolescent stage to reach maturity. Aparently this is when they're gonna give you a bit of a nip and try to challenge you.

Our fids have never bitten us and it's hard to beleive at this stage that they might, but this is what will happen according to all the texts

So, my Corella has now become quite comfortable on my shoulder (the cuddle machine that she is) and although she returns to her perch on command, she is back on my shoulder quite soon.

Can anyone comment on some long term training type issues and guide me as to whether or not Gorgie should have *any* shoulder time at all?

Comments anyone?

DF

[jimpierce7]

I'm a little confused here......... :) your post was about Corella, but you want to know about shouldering Gorgie? My Ekkie Sophie was good on my shoulder until she was about 10 months old or so. As I shave my head my ears are just way to much of an attraction for her. At least when we are indoors. If I take her outside or in the car my shoulder is her place of security. She has never bitten my ear while we are outside.
It seems she has learned the exact pressure to exert before it draws blood too. When she has bitten my ear s it was in play though.

[Digital_Fid]

Apologies all.

"Gorgie" is our Eastern Long Billed Corella (Australian Native). Cockatoos as you probably know are quite affectionate.

I was sort of referring to the issue of "your pet" becoming use to being on your shoulder - and the problems that arise when adolescence kicks in and they try to dominate or become head flock member.

Has this been an issue for anyone?

DF

[BobbieSD]

I have never had issues with birds on my shoulder, and was suprised to hear of it. I guess I just don't let them "camp out". It also depends on what I am doing.

I have found with Bobbie (who is now 4 months old) if I am "doing" something, he is busy watching and doing with me. If I am sitting, he tends to get more bored, and my ears-earrings-etc become more interesting-or he tries to nurse/pump. I have discovered, he is often just as satisfied to be "with" me verses "on" me. When I get ready for work, he is on the floor with a toothbrush, a velcro roller, and a q-tip. When I am in the kitchen (no shoulder time) he gets his measuring cups and spoons. When he gets antsy sitting on me in the living room, I give him legos, an empty pringles can, or his activity blanket.

[ROYJOY]

i agree with bobbiesd, a busy bird is not a bitey bird.

lol lol a kitten nurse/pumped my ear lobe once.

[Bonesy]

I think as long as you let them know that you need a break from them once and a while they can spend as much time as possible on your shoulder.

I've always done both cage return and shoulder training in the same manner as return-to-leash training with dogs. Get them to come back, let them off again, and alternate the time between release and returns.

Same with cage returns, put them in for ten minutes, and when they are happy & quiet, release them again and repeat for varying levels of time. It makes the bird realise it WILL come back out at some point but never knows for sure when.

Same with shoulder riding. Put the bird down, give it something to do for five minutes, pick it up, pop it on your shoulder again and let them stay put for a half hour, pop them down, then repeat at varying intervals. So you never give a definite pattern of time for them being on your shoulder.

This also means it ingrains to them WHEN they can shoulder ride. YOU define when they are picked up and when they are put down, so they shouldn't hassle you TOO much if they want to come to you.

Mikko has free flight of the room/house so will come to my shoulder whenever he wants to. And i can put him down and he wont harass me for it again.

He knows i don't mind him being there as long as im not doing something important, so he never hassles me for shoulder rides if I don't wish to give them to him for any given reason. He just goes back home and plays with some toys until im done then I'll come back and pick him up myself, and put him on my shoulder while I do something like feed the fish or use the computer.

A few clients birds I've had have been ear nibblers but I just tilt my head away and shrug my shoulders when I feel them going to do it. Distracting them and the unbalance usually does the trick. Failing that if they do anything badly enough they get silently returned to the cage and given silent treatment for ten minutes. All the nibblers I've had stop within 1 or 2 weeks.

[Digital_Fid]

Excellent info thanks Bonesy.

That sounds like a good common sense approach. I think we'll be implementing some of that.

DF