# What is the best way to show a Parakeet affection? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 2, 2007, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-way-to-show-a-parakeet-affection/425009 "2007-11-02T14:02:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![jimmmy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/73ab20/32.png) [@jimmmy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jimmmy)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2007, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-way-to-show-a-parakeet-affection/425009/1 "2007-11-02T14:02:02Z")
He lands on our head &shoulders, preens our facial hair & generally likes to sing back to us. He chatters and scolds us when he sees us outside thru a window. He kind of digs us head bobbing and singing and whistling - what else would **he l** like \*\*us \*\*to do? ---
**Author:** ![Wile\_E](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c37758/32.png) [@Wile\_E](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wile_E)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2007, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-way-to-show-a-parakeet-affection/425009/2 "2007-11-02T14:14:45Z")
He’d probably really like it if you ate some seed and then regurgitated it for him. If you’re not willing to do that then I’d stick with what you’re already doing. If he’ll let you you could try petting his head with your finger. If he likes it he’ll put his head down and ruffle his feathers so you can reach the good spots. ---
**Author:** ![Wallenstein](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b5a626/32.png) [@Wallenstein](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wallenstein)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2007, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-way-to-show-a-parakeet-affection/425009/3 "2007-11-02T14:26:46Z")
Chocolates, dinner and a movie always work for me… ---
**Author:** ![vetbridge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b5e925/32.png) [@vetbridge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vetbridge)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2007, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-way-to-show-a-parakeet-affection/425009/4 "2007-11-02T14:32:13Z")
If you preen his/her head feathers that would be appreciated. Gently picking the material that encases the emerging feathers is one of the bonding behaviors birds perform. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2007, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-way-to-show-a-parakeet-affection/425009/5 "2007-11-02T15:26:03Z")
Hug it and squeeze it and call it George. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![nd\_n8](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/439d5e/32.png) [@nd\_n8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nd_n8)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2007, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-way-to-show-a-parakeet-affection/425009/6 "2007-11-02T15:35:45Z")
Get some duct tape, a set of jumper cables, a can of whipped cream and some film for the Polaroid… …Or is that just me? ---
**Author:** ![Santo\_Rugger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e95f7d/32.png) [@Santo\_Rugger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Santo_Rugger)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2007, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-way-to-show-a-parakeet-affection/425009/7 "2007-11-02T16:27:33Z")
[QUOTE=nd\_n8] Get some duct tape, a set of jumper cables, a can of whipped cream and some film for the Polaroid… …Or is that just me? [/QUOTE] Glad somebody else said it first… sung to the tune of “Candyman” Wrap it up in tape… Make sure it’s really tight so the guts don’t escape. ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2007, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-way-to-show-a-parakeet-affection/425009/8 "2007-11-02T16:44:56Z")
In the summer you could try showers. Either in the actual shower, on your finger, but only in the spray - not under the water!!! - or, if he despises that, a spray bottle with a wide spray. Then get the blow dryer out, set it on its gentlest setting (use a diffuser if you have to) and blowdry him. My parrot used to LOVE being blow-dried - she’d stick her butt out and fan her feathers. And she told us VERY clearly when she was done showering with a couple loud squawks. ---
**Author:** ![cormac262](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f14d63/32.png) [@cormac262](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cormac262)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2007, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-way-to-show-a-parakeet-affection/425009/9 "2007-11-02T17:55:21Z")
[QUOTE=Wile E] He’d probably really like it if you ate some seed and then regurgitated it for him. If you’re not willing to do that then I’d stick with what you’re already doing. If he’ll let you you could try petting his head with your finger. If he likes it he’ll put his head down and ruffle his feathers so you can reach the good spots. [/QUOTE] Actually regurgitating food is normally indicative of “special” affection. As in “I like you so much, I want you to be my mate” affection. So you do not want to show THAT kind of affection. With parrots, pretty much “attention = affection”. So all the singing, talking to, and head bobbing is well received. Parrots are very social, so the interaction alone is what is important. Head scratches (and preening) are also a good way to let your bird know you’re there for them. With my bird, just being “with me” (even if it isn’t actually on me - just so he can see what I’m doing) is important. Sharing food is a flock behavior, so doing likewise is also something your bird will appreciate. In fact eating in front of your bird (and not sharing) could even be thought of as “rude”. ---
**Author:** ![Turek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/turek/32/18782_2.png) [@Turek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Turek)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2007, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-way-to-show-a-parakeet-affection/425009/10 "2007-11-02T18:03:39Z")
As it seems I always do in pet bird threads, I’ll say: Don’t feed him avacado. Do not allow teflon to overheat when it’s on the stove. If you want to be very careful, don’t cook with teflon at all. DO scritch his head and neck and preen his pin feathers. ---
**Author:** ![Lionne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Lionne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lionne)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2007, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-way-to-show-a-parakeet-affection/425009/11 "2007-11-02T18:21:16Z")
Most definitely the head scratches. Many birds especially love having their jawline scratched. I also share my food with my birds. Food that’s good for them, of course, and a little bit goes a long way. ---
**Author:** ![Hazle\_Weatherfield](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Hazle\_Weatherfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hazle_Weatherfield)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2007, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-way-to-show-a-parakeet-affection/425009/12 "2007-11-02T19:54:47Z")
Scout LOVES lettuce and millet. He doesn’t really like to be petted, though. He loves to: Sit on heads and shoulders, peck at eyeglasses, eyebrows and lips, roll plastic eggs around, spin a bent metal tablespoon, throw said eggs and spoon off of the kitchen counter, perch atop his rubber duckies floating in his pool (glass pie pan filled with water, perch on my sock feet, alight on a glass mobile hanging in the window. He loves to fly over to my shoulder or outstretched arms while I’m hula hooping. He has many different whistles and can do an impression of the microwave beep. Basically, he loves to be shown attention, whether we’re just talking to him or watching what he’s doing.