Blue&Gold 2.1/2Year Female/Dory

Question
I forgot to ask When I bought Dory she couldnt stand on my shoulder shed
fall right off, We practice but she still doesnt have her balance she yells
WWWOO then slides off, She doesnt know how to grasp my shirt with her feet
how do I teach her that.Shes gotten better but I cant walk around with her on
my shoulder at all

Answer
Dory may have had that problem as the result of her overgrown nails; however, it could also be that she was taught not to be on shoulders.

She sounds like a delightful soul, even after coming from less than ideal circumstances.

It's really not advised to have a macaw (or any bird larger than a cockatiel) on a shoulder, but I admit I do this myself.  As much as we believe we know our friends, it would only take one mistake to cause some very severe damage. One of our network caregivers has a 3" scar from the corner of her mouth up toward her eye as the result of a mini-macaw 10 years ago.  
 Birds have the habit of biting anything within reach when they spot something that upsets them. This could be a shadow on the wall or something they spot that you'll never know.

Just my mandatory advice. As I said, I violate it myself. Keep the shoulder visits limited and never let your guard down. Be paying full attention and the very moment she seems to be getting excited or thinking she's the lead bird - you must remove her.

By the way - a bird determines its status by height. When you allow her eye level to be above yours, you are making her more powerful than you. Keep it in mind and make sure you have the higher eye level MOST of the time (shoulder rides are short - ok?)