To harness or not to harness?

[chimaysmommy]

I've been toying with the idea of getting a flight harness for Chimay, but I haven't completely decided. I think he would absolutely love the outdoors, he already loves being on his unfinished wicker basket by our window during some of his out-of-cage time. My question is, what are the pros/cons? Dangers? I would be horrified if either the harness failed or I somehow didn't do it right and he flew off. Any thoughts?

[Supernova]

I have tried many times with Ben to get a harness on her from about 5 months old and no success, it will take lotts of patients and reward to get her to accept it and to be honnest I gave up first.

Do it bit by bit and often, and I am sure you will get success.

As for outside, get a good one I tried the avaitor and still have it, the video is ok but it is a bit over the top.

SN.

[ranaz]

Well Im thinking about a harness for Kookie, I would love to take him out but the only thing is that Kookie lived all his life in a bird room with 2 other parrots when he was at his previous owners. Hes not really used to going places and moving around. I feel he is stressed and scared when hes in a new room or in a new place. Simply puting him on my lap or on the ground stresses him. After a while he starts to take on to it but I dont want to stress him so I will get the Harness and see if he likes it. Ill let him toy with it for a while and see, but Im not very sure he would like going out

What do you think??

{Nature-00020095}{Nature-00020095}

[skeeterhawk1960]

Chimaysmommy, I`ve been putting the harness on Harley since the second day I brought him home. He`s not completely comfotable with it yet, but he likes being outside.

[lovethatgrey]

I have decided that there will be no harness for Emma, instead we will explore the outdoors together using her adventure Pack.

[Eckobird]

I am choosing to use the harness for Ecko. I am also worried about something happening but I am going to make sure nothing can happen when I take him out. Like if you see Chimay chewing on the harness make sure he doesn't make a hole so he could escape, if he does chew it good enough don't use it. Also make sure to always hold on to the harness at all times. Maybe get a longer leash and tie it around your wrist or something on you so you don't accidently let go. Make sure the harness is on correctly and securely too. I think the harness gives them more freedom than the adventure pack (only my opinion), that is why I choose to do the harness. I ordered a feather tether online and still waiting for it in the mail and I am really excited to use it with Ecko. Good luck, I hope it works out for you if you decide to use it.

[dhorje]

My Grey loves going outdoor with the harness on. When I showed her the harness and said "walk, walk", she'd fly to the stand for me to put the harness on.

 

There's no way the harness would fail unless it's damaged by your birdie. I don't see any dangers wearing the harness. In fact, the harness provides safety the our parrots outdoor. The parrots definitely enjoy the out of cage freedom when they are outdoor.B)

[CarolandFamily]

I have opted to harness Ahjari, his breeder is letting them see and feel what the harness is, that way when he does get here he won;t be too terribly afraid. Ahjari also has a travel cage too when it does get hot so he can get some fresh air.

 

I have both a travel cage and his Aviator Harness. I figured I wanted him to have the best of both worlds. So he can fly with supervision as well as to be put into his cage so he can have some prviacy if need be.

[chimaysmommy]

Thank you for all of the great advice everyone! I'll probably get a harness in the next week or two and see how it goes. Whenever we take his first walk outside I'll have to survey the area pretty well...our apartment complex has a lot of dog owners that are outside a lot, and one guy at the end of our street who seems to always be out playing with remote control cars at every weather-permissible opportunity :blink: I'd hate for him to get freaked out by a dog or a remote control car on his first day outside

[ranaz]

I guess I will try the harness too...I hope Kookie accepts it...

{Nature-00020095}{Nature-00020095}

[Animalspirit]

Several months ago I bought two aviator harnesses for my birds: one for the eastern rosella Asterix, and one for one of my amazons. I stopped clipping their wings last winter, because I wanted to train with them unclipped. I was also asked to come to the EAAV conference in Antwerp, to assist in avian vet Brian Speer's workshop.

 

I started training Asterix wearing the harness, by hanging it where he could see it, and later playing with it in his presence. Asterix is fond of showering, and he is very relaxed in the bathroom. So I lifted his wings and stroke his head as a practice. I did this for some time, and then I did the same with the harness over my hand. Later I could put the harness on. The first time I put it on while he was dry, I took him outside immediately. He loves going outside, so he was rewarded for wearing the harness.

 

I also wanted Rico, the OWA, to wear a harness, because he is handbred and attached to people. I thought he would accept the harness better. But in Antwerp Rumi, the YCA, proved to be the better flyer, and so I trained him to wear the harness. I use to train with Rumi almost daily, so he can make a turn around, give a foot etc. I can also easily take his wings and strike his head. So I worked with him on the training stand to get him used to the harness.

 

I went out this week with all the birds, Stud the lovebird in a carrier, Asterix in a pet pocket carrier on my chest, Rumi, Rico and Fernando the TAG on a stroller and Cootje, my BFA, on my shoulder. Rumi was wearing the harness, because Rico didn't want to fly on his own, and wanted to stay with Rumi. Cootje and Fernando can't fly at all. But... Rico started playing with Rumi's harness, and was biting it. I decided to take it off, and take the risk. I live in a very quiet street. While I was handling Rumi's harness, Cootje and Fernando started a fight. Rico suddenly was in the middle of the fight and just wanted to get away from it. So he flew! While he was heavily flapping his wings to get up in the air he was looking around with a little panic in his eyes. About four meter in the air he turned around while I was calling him, and clumsily landed a little lower on the branch of a young tree. There he sat, looking at us. I called him, and I saw him reaching out, his wings spread a little, but nog daring to come down. The others sat together on the stroller, and Rumi called "Come on, yeahhhh, good bird!"

 

Fortunately people were busy working on their home nearby, and I could borrow a long aluminium ladder. Another neighbour held it upright for me, while I climbed ( Asterix still in the carrier on my chest) up the tree, and asked Rico to step on the rope perch. Gladly he did, and with a sigh of relief he later stepped on my shoulder. He was happy to step on the stroller again.

 

Back home I have been thinking a while about this. It wasn't possible to go out with more birds while they were wearing harnesses. Stud and Asterix were confined to carriers instead of having the liberty of climbing trees and walking on the grass. It took a lot more time taking the birds out in carriers and wearing harnesses. I have no aviary in my garden, my neighbours wouldn't accept that. To make sure that they get enough direct sunshine, I need to take them out daily. So... I finally took my scissors and clipped them quickly. Then I put them all on the stroller and my shoulders, and took them out shopping.

 

I will continue practising with the harnesses, maybe in some far away future it will be possible for me to have fully flighted birds again. I love training with flighted birds, because they can fly away if they don't like it. But for now... I made the choice to keep them clipped.<br><br>Post edited by: Animalspirit, at: 2009/04/12 12:30

[chimaysmommy]

Well it's done! I finally quit him-hawing around the subject and ordered the Aviator Harness (in red of course). Hopefully Chimay takes to it easily...he's been SO ACCEPTING of all other new things I figured it best to jump on the opportunity while he's still young and open minded. Ha ha! Wish him luck!

[JillyBeanz]

When we bought Harvey he was already harness trained - but lo and behold he'd only let the breeder put the harness on him! I too am scared that the harness would fail if we did eventually achieve putting the harness on ourselves (he bites it, struggles and then flies off!!!). I think for this summer we'll practice indoors with the harness, but will probably not venture outdoors with it on. For now, I think I'd be happier if I took him into the garden in his cage! Best of luck - I'll be trying it along with you!

[chimaysmommy]

Yay! Good luck to you too JillyBeanz!

 

Surprisingly enough, yesterday's online order of the Aviator harness has already been delivered! :woohoo: I started working with Chimay yesterday on letting me handle his wings, so we probably won't introduce the harness until we work on that a little bit more.