The TRUTH About Parrots on Shoulders & Height Dominance

Some owners believe that their birds feel dominant when they're riding on their shoulders or when they're above eye level. We'll discuss whether or not this is fact or fiction.

[a-bird-lover]

"Step up"
"No, head rubs"
"Please step up"
"NO, HEAD RUBS"

[bunnyrose]

lost it when you flipped the bird Omg 😂😂

[RebornThroughHate]

I agree on the dominance issue. I have an 11 year old Yellow Naped Amazon (only 1 year so far) and what allowed him to feel comfortable with me and my family is trust, respect, and a feeling of safety. The concept of flock is important because, in a human family, the bird still wants to be an equal just like in a flock. If you can allow that, it will build a great relationship. It means that one should read their parrot's body language and respect it when the bird feels agitated or wants to be left alone - just like a person. And if he or she bites on occasion, well, it's better not to flip out and start yelling --- that I had to learn myself and he doesn't really bite much any longer. The idea of dominating over a parrot doesn't fly very well, based on my experience. It truly is a relationship. I now have a buddy that flies around my house (we keep his cage open at all times - previous owner kept him in and under a blanket most of the day, so he has an aversion to being locked in) and lands on my back/shoulder 5+ times a day to say hi. This is my first bird and what I quickly realized is that there is an "individual" inside that little body of his and that he needs to be respected and given rights of his own.

[aliciagarciafernandez]

What am I doing here. I don't even have a parrot...

[bethanykolander]

You are so gentle. I love that you reason with her instead of just being firm and insisting on your command. This is the 3rd video I've watched of yours and consider me subscribed!

[aundreacabarlo]

Smokey is so beautiful! Her coloring is really pretty... I don't usually see African Greys with such a bright red tail in contrast to such dark wing tips.

Great video, definitely debunked what I had been told by various people.

[mrs_moose]

smokey seemed very cuddly this video haha

[ddsterk]

Okay this is going to be a long korny comment.

Hi. I don't even own a bird, but I like watching your videos.
I am so fortunate to have had ferrets, rabbits, parrots, garter snakes, etc. in the classroom during my preschool and kindergarten years thanks to my teachers back then. I was destined to love animals and all life anyway (just the way I was created) but that was the first time I knew that parrots can be affectionate just like dogs and cats. I never really thought of getting one being afraid that it might fly away.
I never knew that they could live so long until recently. After saying goodbye to my beloved dog and cat during the past several years, I was starting to feel that I could not bear any longer another goodbye with anything with a 10 to 15 year lifespan or shorter..

I really like your philosophy on how you train and treat your bird. It looks so much more based on pure trust compared to the majority of other examples. I am not ready to take care of a parrot at the moment because work is so stressful and time-consuming, but your videos give me lots of hope and optimism of how I may be able to treat my bird if I were to ever adopt one later on in life.

[ybuenosss]

Thank you so much for educating people!And Smokey is so cute!😊

[NjlampGaming]

People always underestimate the intelligence of birds. A bird will sense patterns,  if you lock a bird up after doing something they will piece together what's going on and not want to participate.

[robynm]

Good advice. My Yellow Nape Crystal Lynn is fine with me, but she gets so excited to see "Daddy" when he comes home that she wants to give him a kiss & when she finally gets to give him a kiss she's a bit aggressive and he's afraid of her, he doesn't greet her right away when he comes home & she paces or goes to the part of her cage (inside or out) to be the closest to him to get his attention. I let him know she's been waiting to have some time with him & by the time he goes to her she's all worked up - tail flared and fluffed feathers I tell him he has to play with her more and she'll be more calm with him. I tell him to talk to her too b4 uncovering her so he doesn't scare her awake.
Thank you for your videos. They're very helpful.

[jenniferosburn]

I am so enjoying these videos. We had a Senegal parrot for years, but finally had to re-home her. While we have always wanted to have an African Grey, we realize our lifestyle doesn't allow for one, so I'll just live vicariously through your videos! Lol

[alexr]

OMG you helped me again. ive been having trouble getting sapphire to step up but after seeing this video and another one i decided to try another taming sessions where i held the millet under my thumb and kept my pointer finger extended straight and firm. before i was kinda hesitant/weak finger perch like you showed at 7:06 and she wouldn't feel comfortable stepping up LOL

but 2 great points you shared that nobody else mentions, 1. dont push on their chest, hold it in front of them above their feet so they step up on their own. 2. keep your finger straight and firm because they WILL peck at it but they are only doing so to check the perch stability before trusting their entire body and life to it - the peck may seem scary but it wont hurt - my budgie pecked at my finger a few times then BOOM gave me a nice 1, 2 step up :D now i just need to keep her on and bring her out of the cage :( but im hoping that as i keep doing this she will trust me more and then want to stay on and come out :D ya screw pushing on them and forcing them to step up, BAD BAD BAD IDEA!!

[jenniferlynn]

I was given an african grey parrot from my grandmother and he used to be out of the cage alot but unfortunately my grandfather had gotten sick and he was in the cage for a long time, can you give me some advice on helping him learn my trust to come out of the cage? I can get him to step up while in the cage but once I move my hand out of the door he freaks out and grabs ahold of the bars....I really want to love on my peanut and I have made a huge accomplishment with him by getting him to step up! do you have and advice that could help me out?

[vanguardangel]

You just earned a new subscriber! I've been thinking about getting a bird once I move out on my own as a lifelong companion and there's so much contradicting information. Will definitely be doing more research for the next year or so! Thank you so much!

[annnissen]

Hi
My Macaw likes to sit on my shoulders.. but sometimes he won’t stay there an gets on top of my head or climbs on my back... I guess he pretends to be a backpack. 🤪 I can’t get my hands back there and tell him to step up since I’m not very limber, I stoped yoga classes years ago😜 and I’m pretty sure he knows that. If he could speak I think he would sit back there and say “Na na na na na you can’t catch me. “🤣 Is there away to teach me to make make him stay in one spot. Any advise ? Please don’t tell me I have to start yoga again. 🤪

[annalisa]

I haven’t seen anyone wiser than you advising on parrots. Thank you very much for being serious and helpful to us bird owners as we keep these wonderful parrots from their flocks in the Wild !

[saturninc]

Your videos remidn me so much of how to train dogpuppies. Also it makes me so aware of what an incredible responsibillity, and what a timeconsuming work it is to do this right. Much respect for your work! Thank you very much!

[sockfiddler]

Thank you so much for your videos. I have to say, though, my favourite ones are where Smokey's after your attention - she's absolutely adorable and completely smitten with you. It's very cool :)

[LydiaForJesus]

You are a God send. Intuitively everything your saying rings true. I rescued a Conure and your videos are invaluable in offering clues to training her in the most humane/bird way.