Parrot Behavior Do's and Don'ts - as part of the expert series by GeoBeats. Hi, my name is Katie and I work at The Golden Cockatoo in Deerfield Beach, Florida and I am here to discuss with you some do's and don't's of parrot behavior, and I am going to start by using my two birds here, Dewey and Eddie. First off, what I am going to talk to you a little bit about is shouldering a bird. Now, a baby bird should never be shouldered. An older bird that is well-trained on step-up is okay to shoulder. Eddie is a 12 year old bird and Eddie shoulders with me, with no problem. When I am comfortable to go "step-up", Eddie gives me his foot, and I take him off. Then I know that is a well-behaved bird than can always shoulder with me. Now Dewey on the other hand, is a 15 year-old. Step-up, Dewey. Dewey is a 15 year-old Severe Macaw and Dewey is my bird also. However, Dewey sometimes gets a little attitude with me, and if I go step-up, sometimes she will come up, but sometimes she will give me a little beak, like she just did. So Dewey is not a bird that I will always put on my shoulder, especially if there is a lot of commotion around. Now, there are certain ways that you can touch a bird, that is appropriate, and is healthy for the bird, other ways that can be too stimulating for the bird. My birds personally do not like a lot of head-touching, they like a little bit more right under this part of the wing on the body. You never want to rub underneath the feathers on the back of the body, that is far too stimulating for the bird. Now, Eddie happens to be a bird that also likes the side of his beak rubbed, as does Dewey. There are certain things that you can and cannot do with a bird. One of the things that is most important not to do is kind of scream at your bird and poke at them, because your finger then becomes prey to them. What you want to do is slow movement towards your bird, okay? Let them know that you are safe, with a baby bird it is a matter of gaining trust. Once you have gained the trust, then you have a good bird, and a bird that will be your friend for life. These are my two birds and they are definitely my friends for life.