Mixed feelings about his flightsuit?

DaggerDart

New member
Aug 28, 2013
3
0
Sydney, Australia
Parrots
Carmine - Whiteface Platinum Lutino Cockatiel
Hello readers.

My handraised cockatiel, Carmine, is about 10 weeks old and has been home for a couple weeks now. I got him a flightsuit and he loved looking and playing with it, sometimes picking it up by the elastics and running around before dropping it and coming back to me for more cuddles. Carmine doesnt mind it at all even though he hasnt been home for too long, and DOES put up a fight when I put it on but isn't aggressive at all? He has a short moment of a littlr tantrum but once its actually on he just tries to pick the velcro an tidies his feathers under the suit. He never bites me or growls/screeches. He also always comes to my chest/shoulders even if I accidentally annoyed him or something. I also watch his crest and its almost always at the normal relaxed position, never pulled back with me. He also seems to forgive really quick, but I'm worried im misreading his behaviour.

He's my first bird so experienced advice is welcomed :)

:white1:
 

Featheredsamurai

New member
Aug 24, 2011
4,172
19
California
Parrots
African Greg
2 cockatiels
When training birds to put on a flight suit or a harness you need to go very slow, work on just doing the head hole until he's really comfortable then move on to lifting a wing, or putting one wing through until he's ok with that.

You should stop forcing him into it and start taking it nice and slow at a pace he's comfortable with :) I forced my galah into a harness(she never put up much of a fight except for nipping), all that left me with was a bird who is terrible at putting on her harness. Once it's on it's fine, but it can sometimes take me 10-20 minutes until she decides it's ok to put it on. I never force her anymore, I didn't know better at the time and I regret taking bad advice(I was told to let her wear it for five minutes to get used to it)
 

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