JillyBeanz Posted August 15, 2009 Share Posted August 15, 2009 Those of you who will have read of my mishaps and triumphs will know my infinity with the Aviator. We went on holiday on 10 July, with Harvey being accustomed and happy with the aviator (I could put this on myself and happily take it off myself) and when we returned he will not tolerate the introduction of it again. I've left it a couple of weeks until I posted about this, thinking things may get better, but they haven't. After two weeks of not using it he is not back to square one. He bites (and I mean proper, I want to maim you bites) and struggles whilst I'm trying to install it again. I've persevered as I am not so scared of his struggling and squealing any more, and when he's installed (after the struggle - don't worry, I don't have him pinned to the floor or anything!!!) he is calm, and enjoys the outdoors as before. What has happened? My parents didn't try to put the harness on, so can they forget in the space of two weeks? Any advice or experiences appreciated :S<br><br>Post edited by: JillyBeanz, at: 2009/08/15 09:59 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
she Posted August 15, 2009 Share Posted August 15, 2009 I know Charlie would just never allow me to put a harness on him.Some just wont tolerate it. Its a shame he hates having it put on if he likes the outdoors.Only you know if the stress of putting it on is worth it,Myself I would not continue if he is stressed.I cant say why he has taken a turn against the harness,its strange,perhaps the last time you removed it or put it on him before your holiday he had a bad experiance or could he be moulting and be more sensative?<br><br>Post edited by: she, at: 2009/08/15 17:24 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JillyBeanz Posted August 16, 2009 Author Share Posted August 16, 2009 Honestly Sheila, there was nothing adverse when I put it on him last before we went away. I only had to say "harness" and he was sitting, ready for me to put it on. He's a nightmare now - I can get it over his head, but when we go to tighten it Harvey will tip himself backwards to the tension of the harness and then lean towards Michael or me and REALLY dig his beak in. During all of this he is making a fuss and once it's on he's back to himself - happily sitting on my arm, ready to go into the garden to fly from his perch to the fences around the decking, or up onto the back fence. He'll sit for hours! It's the same taking the blinking thing off too!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
she Posted August 16, 2009 Share Posted August 16, 2009 It could be new feathers coming in and he is a bit sensative.I cant think of anything else at the moment. Its not a new harness is it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Char Posted August 16, 2009 Share Posted August 16, 2009 I applaud your persistence. I have never tried it with Whisper because I already know it would be a nightmare. I am with the others. If it is stressing the bird then put it away for a while and try at another time. The more you stress the bird with it the more he will hate it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JillyBeanz Posted August 16, 2009 Author Share Posted August 16, 2009 No, it's not a new harness - it's exactly the one that he was used to. We're going out in the garden this morning to do some work - and instead of being out with us we are going to have to cage him. I think it's stressing me more than him!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jaguar Posted August 16, 2009 Share Posted August 16, 2009 just go back to training him from day one and get him to trust it again. If hes trusted it once hopefully he will trust it again. enforce it with some things he likes maybe a toy he likes (a little distraction). Good Luck Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JillyBeanz Posted August 16, 2009 Author Share Posted August 16, 2009 Hi Jaguar - Initially there was no training to put the harness on with Harvey - just like huge toys and everything else, he just accepted it (after my first disastrous attempt I felt I would never try again - but the second time he just sat there!). I think I'm going to have to start at the very beginning (a place we've never been). It's such a shame that he can't come outdoors with us without such a fuss and a bother. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave007 Posted August 17, 2009 Share Posted August 17, 2009 Like everyone said, you'll just have to start at the beginning all over again but one thing you shouldn't do is leave it on for 2 weeks at a time. You need to take it off and on every day until he's totally used to having you do that. Then you can slowly progress to leaving it on for 2 days at a time etc etc. That does take a while. Sometimes, taking a harness off after 2 weeks can be just as irritating as when you started putting it on in the beginning. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JillyBeanz Posted August 18, 2009 Author Share Posted August 18, 2009 Hi Dave - I didn't leave it on for a couple of weeks I didn't post about this for a couple of weeks LOL. I'm not that mean (well, I am, but just with the kids!!). Before we went on our hols he was on his harness each evening and went into the garden - then obviously I didn't expect my parents to try him on this, as it's only me who he'll let put it on him (and my husband to tighten it). When we came back from holiday three weeks ago he just wouldn't let me put it back on. I've tried intermittently over the last couple of weeks and up until yesterday he certainly didn't want it on. I've had it hanging on his cage and he just wanted to chew it! Then a miracle happened. I asked him if he wanted to go outside - his head shot up, as it used to and he stood there, totally complacent whilst I slipped it over his head! There was no fuss taking it off either - the robber that stole the real Harvey and replaced him a few weeks ago had fetched back my nice birdie!! Harvey is clearly picking up that the dominant folks in this house are female :laugh: and he's feeling left out - so he's becoming hormonal so as he's not left out!! Thanks all for your encouragement - and if he "fails" again, I think I will have to start totally from the beginning. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
she Posted August 18, 2009 Share Posted August 18, 2009 Jill im so glad you have had a break through,lets hope all stays well.It could have just been the break from having it put on. I would now put it on and take it off daily,even if the weather does not allow a trip outside,so it becomes second nature to him,good luck. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JillyBeanz Posted August 18, 2009 Author Share Posted August 18, 2009 He's sitting on the windowsill as I type - bashing the hell out of the window and whistling at the top of his voice! He clearly wants to be out - think he fancies the female pigeon on the top of the lamp post outside!! :woohoo: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ranaz Posted August 18, 2009 Share Posted August 18, 2009 I like this and its unbelievable how he became obedient... Kookie would rather have the sky fall rather than put the harness on... i am still trying with the training in the video, hoping he will allow me to touch his wings and accept to let the harness touch him... I am still optimistic {Nature-00020095}{Nature-00020095} Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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