Sits on shoulder near face

[CaptainGentleGiant]

For 35 years, Captain has been use to sitting on his old owners shoulder, since he was wheel chair bound.

Now, that Captain is living with me, he continues to enjoy sitting on my shoulder.

I've been told, that I need to stop that habit. Yeah, easier said than done. He is an extra large green wing macaw and heavy too. I am a small, slender built person. I've tried using my clinched fist and arm to slide him on my forearm, but he walks right back up my shoulder. Not only that, he is too heavy to carry on my forearm.

Any advise from our experienced peanut gallery? Will I be okay if he continues visiting my shoulder? I try to keep my face forward or turned to the other side.
My husband says, I worry too much and should relax. It's hard for me to trust any animal. I tend to be on guard, for the unexpected.

How do you all do it?

[Troubles dad]

I feel it depends on the bird. My greenwing Trouble rides on my shoulder all the time. Where my mom B&G likes to be on her hand not her shoulder. It's a trust thing with your bird. There are a lot of people here that don't agree with me. But again I feel it depends on the bird and of course you.

[ROYJOY]

If he has been on shoulder for 35 years and hasnt ripped off an ear, or gouged out an eye yet, i dont think he will start now. my 2 year old GW is on my shoulder a lot and hasnt gone after me yet. some folks say ''why do you think pirates wear an eye patch"? its a stereotype myth.

Lets ask.....

OK, MACAW KEEPERS. WHO OUT THERE IS MISSING AN EAR, OR AN EYE FROM A SHOULDERED MACAW? or even a nice scar?

We should get a few, since we have a good 30 active posters with macaws.

[Valo's Moirana]

my guys are little, so there's a beak-size-difference correlated with a potential-damage-difference. however, valo's pretty feisty and he bites hard so there's some similarity i guess.

valo's allowed on my shoulder - in fact that's his favorite spot, and i like him sitting there since it allows me to do other things with him around as i have my hands available.
it depends on if you trust the bird - the reason why many people discourage it, is because the potential for damage is rather significant should the bird decide to bite. if you trust captain, i don't see anything wrong with it... (oh, and i don't believe in the height dominance theory that's often brought up in this context - so, there...)
if you don't trust him, i'd work on getting him to prefer the arm (peanuts as reinforcing treats?! ).

[MissV]

I'm with Troubles Dad. ...and I also love his name choice.

Trust depends on the bird. There are methods to holding a macaw to keep them off your shoulder, but remember that birds show affection with their faces, so they just want to be near yours too!

It's bunk about dominance or what not. It's just a matter of the macaw getting upset and lashing out. If you have a trustworthy chill macaw, you don't have to worry about that. Just be aware of their movement and anything that might agitate them. Honestly, the worst part? Getting whacked in the face (often the temple) with that ridiculously hard beak as they turn their head suddenly! Yeowch!


The other worry is that it may be hurting your shoulder. My Etienne is a blue and gold, and he's still young...he hasn't quite worked out that the flesh is not the best part to grip when you want to stay on your human. He constantly grabs the base of my neck instead of my shoulder. -.- He's learning though....and in the meantime I'm working on a shoulder guard to help both of us. ^^

[MissV]

Originally Posted by ROYJOY

If he has been on shoulder for 35 years and hasnt ripped off an ear, or gouged out an eye yet, i dont think he will start now. my 2 year old GW is on my shoulder a lot and hasnt gone after me yet. some folks say ''why do you think pirates wear an eye patch"? its a stereotype myth.

Lets ask.....

OK, MACAW KEEPERS. WHO OUT THERE IS MISSING AN EAR, OR AN EYE FROM A SHOULDERED MACAW? or even a nice scar?

We should get a few, since we have a good 30 active posters with macaws.

I wear an eyepatch, but it is strictly for fashion only.

[CaptainGentleGiant]

You guys have been great! ROYJOY, you are funny! You made me laugh. You have a great sense of humor.

TROUBLES DAD, your g/w is on your shoulder too. My g/w is huge, glad to hear another is building up their shoulder muscles. Ugggh!

VALO'S MOIRANA, I wondered about the height dominance thing. Glad to put that one to rest.

I learned a lot from your answers.

I thought I was the only one with a sore shoulder. I put on a long sleeved flannel shirt and a small hand towel folded under on top of my shoulder (under the flannel shirt). Captains toe nails are like pins. It helps my skin from getting pierced or scratched.

MISSV, if you figure out a shoulder guard, please let me know. You might have a good project there, to make extra money from.

I truly appreciate all your help and advise. You are my new Macaw buddies.

[dmiller91]

I'd like to ask the eye question in the cockatoo forum LOL. there is a guy at the local bird fair with a huge scar above his eye, and he owns a cockatoo. I didn't have the nerve to ask, so like, um, what happened to your FACE???

[ROYJOY]

Originally Posted by CaptainGentleGiant

I thought I was the only one with a sore shoulder. I put on a long sleeved flannel shirt and a small hand towel folded under on top of my shoulder (under the flannel shirt). Captains toe nails are like pins. It helps my skin from getting pierced or scratched.

you could get his nails trimmed. it makes a big difference.

[CaptainGentleGiant]

At the bird sanctuary, I visited last saturday, they charge $30 to trim the nails and clip the wings. Is that a good price?

Not sure about trimming the wings. I've been using an umbrella, to take him from one door to the other outside. At first he was unsure but now it's okay. I figure, the umbrella will prevent his wings from getting a good take-off.