BaxtersMom Posted March 25, 2009 Share Posted March 25, 2009 I order the aviator harness last week and it came a few days ago.The video was good but and the only thing I didn't like about the video was how he showed how to put the harness on. My grey will not let me grab his head like the guy in DVD's did. I looked on youtube and found a few videos that showed how they put them on their parrots and found the very very helpful. I let Baxter play with it for a couple of days on top of his cage to get used to it and then I decided to "try it out" I only planned on putting it partially on his without tightening it up but it went better than I had expected so he ended up with it all the way on. Not to say he liked it because he didn't. After I put it over his head he clucked like a chicken:ohmy: which I had never heard before and I could tell he was nervous but he did not bite me once. I was talking to him and petting him the whole time though. Anyway, we got it on and I took him outside in it. He was nervous and "big eyed" for about 10 minutes but settled down eventually. We were out for about half hour. I walked him around the yard and let him look at everything. He did try to fly off my arm but the cord that is attached to the harness worked very well. There was no jerking motion either so he landed in the grass softly & easily (thank gooness) He picked up some leaves and tossed them around, he picked some grass and threw it down too and then he started walking in the harness. It was so funny. By this time Baxter was more relaxed. I tried it one more time that day in the evening and although he still isn't used to it going on I think he enjoys going outside without being in a cage. I am not sure how often I will use it though and I was wondering what other people do with their birds on harnesses? I was thinking about taking him for a walk through the neighborhood but other than that I am not sure what else there is too do. I was also wondering that if I do take him for walks will that help him learn where he lives if god forbid he should ever get lost? Will he remember his area and his house? I know he knew where the door was and walked from the grass to the door as if to say "That's enough now, I want to go in" :laugh: Here's a picture of him wearing it. He is still a bit nervous looking in the photo. <br><br>Post edited by: BaxtersMom, at: 2009/03/24 19:02 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
judygram Posted March 25, 2009 Share Posted March 25, 2009 Baxter looks so cute in his aviator harness even if he is a little nervous about it, you did real good in getting it on him so fast and I imagine he will get better in time as he finds out he gets to go outside for some fresh air and to explore. Thats interesting how you had to go elsewhere for help in getting it on him but glad you got it on him, he is liking it there in Texas. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eckobird Posted March 25, 2009 Share Posted March 25, 2009 Oh congrats! I am so happy for you. Baxter has definately come a looong way! He looks great in the picture. I'm sure you guys will be having a lot of fun now that u can take him outside. Thanks for sharing with us! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BaxtersMom Posted March 25, 2009 Author Share Posted March 25, 2009 I am getting ready to take him back outside. I thought I should wait a few days but Dave said to keep doing it and get him used to it. Dave promised Baxter would not hate me because of it. I did want to put in my first post to look on youtube because the way he showed on the DVD was basically pulling the birds head through the hole which will not work at my house:laugh: . The youtube video I seen had a cockatoo and she just slip the harness over the head. Much easier & less stressful for both of us. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
judygram Posted March 25, 2009 Share Posted March 25, 2009 Then I would do what Dave says for he is the man who knows better than probably anyone else here and it makes sense to keep doing it, just let us know how it goes, maybe some more pics too wouldn't hurt, hint, hint.:laugh: B) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BaxtersMom Posted March 25, 2009 Author Share Posted March 25, 2009 Ok, we're back from this outing. And since Judy requested pictures:laugh: we'll here ya go. Baxter likes to chew on the harness:angry: <br><br>Post edited by: BaxtersMom, at: 2009/03/24 21:28 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BaxtersMom Posted March 25, 2009 Author Share Posted March 25, 2009 He likes to chew on the front of it, too:angry: <br><br>Post edited by: BaxtersMom, at: 2009/03/24 21:30 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eckobird Posted March 25, 2009 Share Posted March 25, 2009 Aww soo cute! Thanks for more pictures, we sure do love them! I'm so happy that he is doing good with the harness! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BaxtersMom Posted March 25, 2009 Author Share Posted March 25, 2009 He is doing good. I'm proud of him. I kept him out atleast an hour, maybe almost 2hours today. He is learning to be good and relaxed too:) <br><br>Post edited by: BaxtersMom, at: 2009/03/24 21:31 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BaxtersMom Posted March 25, 2009 Author Share Posted March 25, 2009 He likes to walk, too, mainly back to the house:laugh: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BaxtersMom Posted March 25, 2009 Author Share Posted March 25, 2009 I need to get an extension for it so he can fly a little further. <br><br>Post edited by: BaxtersMom, at: 2009/03/24 21:34 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
judygram Posted March 25, 2009 Share Posted March 25, 2009 Baxter is enjoying it more, he looks more relaxed in these pictures, thats normal for them to want to chew the harness, thanks Erika for sharing a few pics of Baxter's adventure outside. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BaxtersMom Posted March 25, 2009 Author Share Posted March 25, 2009 I think he will start to enjoy it more and more. He was pretty nervous the first time and it showed in his eyes he was a bit spooked or bewildered. Yesterday he started relaxing when I just sat in the lawn chair with him. But, he does like to chew on the harness and I have to keep telling him to stop chewing it. I know he has no clue why this thing is on him and I can't blame him for wanting it off in the beginning. As the time went on he was chewing it less and less so I think with a few reminders and figuring it out it won't hurt him he may chew it less. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sweeetnlowww Posted March 25, 2009 Share Posted March 25, 2009 how old is baxter?...i have purchased the aviator harness as well, not much luck yet lifting cjs' wings...we keep practicing though! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BaxtersMom Posted March 25, 2009 Author Share Posted March 25, 2009 Baxter is about 13 years old now. I got him last year and he was never handled so he has come a long long way. I watched the video and thought me and Baxter would have to practise for a long long time. We actually put the harness on my eclectus first since he is the most mellow and followed the guys instructions and my ecclectus got very stressed out over it. We checked on youtube and watched a few videos of how other people put it on their parrots and I liked their style better. The first time I attempted with Baxter I got it on and that surprized me. I just opened the circle thing all the way up and slipped the head part over his head. Since I had it opened all the way the back part pretty much landed at the end of the wings and just a little tuck of the end of the wings was all it took. Then I pulled all the slack out and tightened it up. If you haven't watched any of the youtube videos try that. The one I liked had a girl and a cockatoo in it. I don't know how to copy and paste it in here but the link is called Putting on the Aviator harness. That way worked better for me than how the video showed. Of course, the cockatoo in the video was more well behaved than Baxter was but her bird is trained. Let me know how it goes.<br><br>Post edited by: BaxtersMom, at: 2009/03/24 22:05 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CarolandFamily Posted March 25, 2009 Share Posted March 25, 2009 Baxtersmom You have just given me the ummph I needed to buy our baby a Aviator harness :silly: where did you get it from? Do you have the link for the Youtube Video. He looks sooo relaxed and happy in it, what a cutiepie too :0 Carol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tycos_mom Posted March 25, 2009 Share Posted March 25, 2009 That is so great that would be the day that Tyco let me put a harne on her but I was thinking I should get one for Shady I have one for Fergie and she does well but she will allow me to do anything with her I guess she is more like Baxter is with you. There are so many plces to take them when you can get them harrness trained I used to take Fergie every where she loved the park and the beach. or just to run around town getting stuff done was fun Fergie loved to go shopping at the mall with me. I can't wait to harness train Shady hopefull if I start sone it will be so easy I can already lay him on his back in my hand so harness training should be a breeze. I love the photo's of Baxter he's quite the handsom guy isn't he. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BaxtersMom Posted March 25, 2009 Author Share Posted March 25, 2009 Ms Voluptous, I don't know how to put the link in here but you can go to You Tube and I just put in "Aviator Harness" and several videos came up. The specific one I liked was called "putting on the Aviator bird harness" And Pat, I can't believe you took Fergie all those places:laugh: . I am excited now. I was thinking when he gets real comfortable in it I might take him yard saling with me:woohoo: There is a real nice park nearby too and I plan on taking him there later on too. First we must practise practise practise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sweeetnlowww Posted March 25, 2009 Share Posted March 25, 2009 yes, he is adorable i agree!...i checked out the youtube video earlier when you mentioned it...cjs is nowhere near that yet, but improving daily with letting me touch him under his wing and stuff... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eckobird Posted March 25, 2009 Share Posted March 25, 2009 Is this the video your talking about? She was very gentle with her Too. Thanks for all the updates on Baxter, he sure looks like he is having fun! Question, when he flies with the harness on does it yank him back when the rope is too far? I would be worried that my bird would try to fly and it will pull him back too hard. Also, can you run while he flies? lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BaxtersMom Posted March 25, 2009 Author Share Posted March 25, 2009 Thanks Caitb for posting that link. I was hoping someone would. Yep that is the one I was talking about. As for the question when he flies, it does not yank him back at all. When he gets to the of the leash it stretches out some more so there is no jerking. It obviously slows him down and he lands softly and easily in the grass. That was one of my biggest worries too but it isn't a big issue at all. He is still flapping as he is going down and has always landed good on his feet. I am going to have to buy an extension for the harness though because there just isn't enough line for him to really go anyway. I think he can get about 8 to 10 feet away from me with just the harness and the line that is attached. And I tried running with Baxter thinking that would help him go farther. :laugh: That was a joke. Greys can fly pretty fast, faster than what I can run. I think someone told me awhile back that greys in the wild can fly about 40mph and I can probably only do about 2pmh:whistle:<br><br>Post edited by: BaxtersMom, at: 2009/03/25 04:14 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
she Posted March 25, 2009 Share Posted March 25, 2009 Erica, Baxter as always looks fantastic. I wish Charlie would accept a harness,I know I have no chance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LindaMary Posted March 26, 2009 Share Posted March 26, 2009 I feel like you, Sheila - Maxi is proving a tough nut to crack where the harness is concerned. So far she won't even let it within a foot of her: if I drape it somewhere to let her get used to it, she just avoids the area where I put it. I think I may get one on Tanner earlier - he's much more of a touchy-feely kind of a guy when he's having one of his good-hair days, and he's not afraid to play with her harness (or his own) when I drape them over a playstand or cage bars. But with Max's flight feathers growing in and the New Englnd snows finally beginning to recede, I'd really been hoping I would have made more progress with her by now. I'm going to watch that youtube video and see if it helps. Meanwhile, thank you Erika for your tips and for those GREAT pictures of Baxter the Awesome!{Feel-good-000200BB} Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BaxtersMom Posted March 26, 2009 Author Share Posted March 26, 2009 He hasn't really accepted it yet. I didn't think I had a chance either. Poor thing just clucks like a chicken:ohmy: :dry: when I try and put it on him but he doesn't bite. I am hoping that he will realize it will not hurt him and quit making those noises. Makes me sad when he does it. Once it's on he's fine for the most part and not freaked out by it. I plan on putting it on him atleast once a day. Now that I've started it has to be a committment or I don't think he will get used to it or accept it. You should try it Sheila, it may go better than you think. And LindaMary, keep up the good work and perhaps Tanner will better suited for the harness. If they avoid the area that the harness is in it would be kind of tough to put it on them. Maybe your other bird can learn from Tanner:)<br><br>Post edited by: BaxtersMom, at: 2009/03/25 19:06 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
she Posted March 26, 2009 Share Posted March 26, 2009 You are right I should try,Better get the bandages ready for my hands first though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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