My bird will not climb on my shoulder, why is this?

Question

I have owned my bird for going on ten years, I am a caring owner, and I have made sure that he is comfortable, yet he still won't warm up to me. He lets me stroke him, takes food from my hand, and has landed on me once, yet he still won't get on my hand or shoulder. I have recently left for college, so he cannot be around me much anymore, but when I'm home he goes nuts when he sees me, giving his happy calls. I'm pretty confused at this point, who has an answer for me?

Answer 1

I have an amazon who is reluctant to step up and WILL NOT go on my shoulder. I think he's insecure about the "moving perch" and he isn't comfortable. Also, my shoulder is even less secure than my hand ... so my guess is that your bird just prefers the safety of something solid. It doesn't mean he doesn't love you. I just have decided to go with it and love him on his terms, give him scritchies from his perch, etc. Also sometimes I can get him to step up, and if he does, I give him HUGE praise and his VERY favorite food, that he doesn't get often. Then I don't push it -- I put him back on his cage where he's safe. That seems to have helped.
By the way, I dont think it makes birds dominant, aggressive, etc. to get on your shoulder, as long as there are rules: no biting jewellery, no biting ears, no refusing to come down, no helping yourself to shoulder (only by invitation), no guarding the human from other people, etc. If my birds break the rules they simply lose the privilege of my shoulder. They must come off immediately and sit elsewhere.

Answer 2

You never let a bird on you re shoulder. Birds think that they are Superior to . they get nasty if you do that

Answer 3

His feet may hurt or maybe he is just a bird that doesnt like being held.

Answer 4

Your bird is probably just pissed at you. (I don't know why)

Answer 5

Don't worry it'll just crap when it gets there.