Budgies on shoulder, good or bad?

[Alai]

somewhere i had read that having budgies on your shoulder is bad, is this true? i dont know why it said it was bad, but it said so. Anyone have any idea?

[BirdieBabi]

It is only bad if you have new clothes on and don't want to get covered with bird poo. :) Having budgies on your shoulders is not bad at all, it's just like having them perched on your finger.

[A-n-M]

Well I also read that if you have a bird perched on your shoulder they will see themselves as the dominant one.

[BirdieBabi]

I don't think that's true, in my eyes. Probably to some budgies but not all.

[JuliesGonnaDance]

I let my birds on my shoulder, but I've also read this:

Q. Why shouldn't I let my bird up on my shoulder?

A. A bird up high wants to stay up high. Ever ask your bird to get off your shoulder and it scoots to your other shoulder or the middle of your back? Then you try to scrape the bird onto its' cage or sofa? This bird is training you. When others try and take the bird off your shoulder does the bird hiss and or snap at them, then they back away? This bird is training them as well. This is how you end up with a one person bird. You have much more control of a bird when it's on your hand. I know it's easier when you have two hands free and it looks really cool to have a bird on your shoulder and all the green goo that runs down your back and you don't know it's there until your spouse tells you when you're at the mall ( or sometimes I see this green goo and ask people if they let their birds on their shoulder and they say no, ha). Some birds will also snap at people they trust when they feel a threat approaching, and if the bird is on your shoulder you could have a painful bite on or near your face. Ever wonder why pirates had a patch on one eye? Many people tell me that African Greys are one person birds, absolutely not. Greys are just about the smartest birds I deal with and they train the owners long before the owners ever get to training their bird. People who tell me that their bird is a one person bird might just as well say they did a poor job of training. If a bird never gets on your shoulder you'll have a much better pet in the long run. When a baby bird goes home, and I've already given my speech on "no shoulders", I'd bet 90% of the birds are up there the first week, UGH! This is when they're supposed to be learning some manners. When birds are young many will be fine on the shoulder and will step off readily when asked, but why give them the opportunity of getting comfortable up high? In my opinion I don't believe it's a dominance issue, I think it's a position the bird feels more comfortable in and would prefer to be on a higher perch, in this case a shoulder. I don't care if it's a Parrotlet or a Macaw, no shoulders. Now you're saying to yourself, that guy at the bird store with the unkempt beard and long hair who looks like he ought to be at a Rolling Stones concert doesn't know what the heck he's talking about, c'mon, everybody puts their bird on their shoulder. Then when the bird gets to be a bit older, insists to be on the shoulder, and more difficult to handle you start to say... man that guy at the bird store with the unkempt beard, long hair, holely pants, (who actually loves to be at Rolling Stones concerts)......might actually know what he's talking about. Now it's harder to untrain them, good luck. When I sell a bird I hope it stays in the home for as long as possible, hopefully its entire life. A well behaved bird has a better chance of being loved and cared for over a longer period of time than one with poor manners and bad habits.

[BirdieBabi]

Again, my budgies do not do anything that was listed there (except for Bobby...) so i think it has to do with personality, and If they are trained or not

[A-n-M]

It depends on whether the bird see's it's self as the dominant one or not. I also let my budgies go on my shoulder without any problems, except for the usual nip or two.

[JuliesGonnaDance]

It depends on whether the bird see's it's self as the dominant one or not. I also let my budgies go on my shoulder without any problems, except for the usual nip or two.

I agree with you there, also its more dangerous with a larger bird, because they could do serious damage to your face if they decided to bite.

[Alai]

thanks, i think itll still let my budgies on my shoulder though. The dominance problem doesnt show in them, and although they do back a way a little they never bite.

[alicia]

it's not bad mine are on my shoulders right now chating away sweet sweet melodys and off key melodys lol

[my budgie billy]

it is not bad to have birds on your shoulder.it is a sign of trust!however it is bad to have then on your head for 2 reasons 1) they are higher than you so they think they are the dominent one! and 2) they will probably poop on your head!

hope this helps you guys/gals.

[thegownchick]

I love having a bird on my shoulder. Especially when it goes to sleep. Makes me feel so happy to have a little one trust me so much. And I love the feeling of those two little warm feet on me.

[Alta]

Pshh that holy unkempt rolling stones guy really DOESN'T know what he's talking about. It depends on the bird...some will take advantage of the ability to go on your shoulder, but if you have a good relationship with your bird and you trust him/her not to disrespect you, I don't see the problem. And who cares about the poop? It wipes off easily, and usually leaves no mark. I'm all for keeping your bird on your shoulder, if thats where he wants to be!

[Budgiekin]

I'm of the opinion that having a small bird like a budgie on your shoulder is not a bad thing. It is usually with the larger birds who can develop a "superiority complex" from sitting so high on a shoulder. I like to have Kiwi on my shoulder, and he actually jumps right on when I raise my hand with him sitting on my finger....;)

[Star]

I'm of the opinion that having a small bird like a budgie on your shoulder is not a bad thing. It is usually with the larger birds who can develop a "superiority complex" from sitting so high on a shoulder. I like to have Kiwi on my shoulder, and he actually jumps right on when I raise my hand with him sitting on my finger....;)

This is what I read somewhere too. If that were to be true, I think personality would have to do with it.

[pal0m1n0]

Another reason for me to not get a large bird. I wouldn't be able to support the weight on my arm. I held one of my budgies to look at something on its head and the poor thing must have thought she was on a jack hammer, my hand was shaking so much. :)

[Bojinx]

My last budgie used to perch on my shoulder from time to time. He used to hop from the top of my computer monitor, to my shoulder, to the back of the chair, and then repeat. I never had an issue removing him from my shoulder. He would walk around for a few seconds, but he would always take my finger before long.


The one issue I did have with him on my shoulder was that he thought my earrings were playtoys. He was always nipping at my ears and tugging at my piercings.

[Meghanxx4]

i agree with what budgiekin said, i think its mostly iwth the larger more willed parrots who should not be obove you. But witha budgie, tiel, or lovebird it mshoudl be fine, even a parrotlet i can see to have no problems.

[Neely]

Willie loves to be on my shoulder. And it's easier for her to hang out with me tha way. She nibbles on my neck and preens my hair. She sometimes won't get down, but she normally will.

[thegownchick]

Well i LOVE having a budgie on my shoulder. It is the most beautiful feeling, having those two little warm feet resting on me. I know nothing about dominance issues. I would have thought it was a trust thing. They love you, so they want to be with you.