Aviator Harness

Chikoo

New member
Jul 17, 2012
240
0
Parrots
Chikoo (female Eclectus, 4yrs)
Rumi (male Eclectus, 12yrs)
Hello parrot lovers, I have recently a purchased the much-loved Aviator harness. I watched the DVD that came with it too.

My 5-yr old female Eclectus doesn't really like to be touched. I would dream of being able to do with her what the man was doing with the baby Scarlet Macaw in the DVD (lifting up her wings, etc.).

However, my bird does love to be handled, and is very social and friendly. She steps up, rides on my shoulder, takes showers with me, and will fly onto my arm from a distance.

But, I've noticed that in the shower, my bird becomes a different bird! She lefts me stroke her, scratch her head, massage her, cuddle her close to my body, and today she even allowed me to lift her wings without any resistance! She feels very happy and relaxed in the shower. I wonder if I should introduce the harness to her in the shower, and then eventually even put it on her in the shower. Is it okay for it to be wet, or be placed on a wet bird? I was thinking that she could come outside in the sun (I live in Hawaii, always sunny) and fly around a bit to dry off.

How do others feel about this potential approach?
 

friedsoup

New member
May 5, 2012
503
1
North Carolina
Parrots
Senegal Male Bogart
I see no reason that wouldn't work it is really about getting the bird calm while being handled, I would work with her more while she is wet about you touching her lifting her wings and laying a piece of (I used a small dog leash without the snaps) the nylon on her neck and across her back all before trying with the real thing so if she chews it the harness remains whole. P.S. I also carried a pocket full of popcicle stick to distract them from the harness chewing. I know they say it on the video but make sure your bird has a good time every time while learning the harness. Good luck and keep us posted.
 

luvmytooo

New member
Dec 22, 2011
1,914
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New York
Parrots
*Yoshi* Goffins Cockatoo
* Rosie*Rose Breasted Galah
*Stella*Hyacinth Macaw
*Baby*Catalina Macaw

*Multiple Parakeets*
Sure , I would try it if I were you . But ready to go outside rather quickly , lolol.
How are you going to manage that coming out of the shower ?
Does your bird allow you to do the same thing while being sprayed with a sprayer
or mister ? That may be easier for you. Then you can just walk outside and not worry about drying off and getting dressed. Unless you were a bathing suit :)
If you can have someone spraying while you attempt to put the harness on or get yourself a mister that will work on its own so you have hands free.

Good luck , let us know what happens :)
 

lene1949

New member
Sep 26, 2011
1,701
1
Brisbane, Australia
Parrots
Cory: Short billed Corella -
Echo: Galah -
Max: Alexandrine -
Skye: Yellow Sided conure -
Luka: Green Cheek Conure -
RIP Shrek: Quaker
I would certainly give it a try... Maybe it will eventually work just in the bathroom, but with the shower running?
 
OP
C

Chikoo

New member
Jul 17, 2012
240
0
Parrots
Chikoo (female Eclectus, 4yrs)
Rumi (male Eclectus, 12yrs)
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Thanks for the responses. She allowed us to put the harness on her in the shower with no resistance at all, it was a piece of cake. Then we took her outside, and she really enjoyed that. She didn't quite understand how to fly yet. She took off once, suddenly, but the cord stopped her of course. So it'll take some time for her to learn how to fly.

The hard part of this was taking it off of her! We tried, but she started to bite and struggle, and wasn't cooperating with us at all. So it was back to the shower. In the shower, it was a piece of cake again, off with the harness, and a happy bird.

Not sure where to proceed from here....it definitely succeeded, but requires some work, and taking it off was difficult without putting her under the shower. We have a jacuzzi tub, and maybe it would work better to just run the faucet, and place her under it briefly for removal.
 

friedsoup

New member
May 5, 2012
503
1
North Carolina
Parrots
Senegal Male Bogart
It will get easier the more times you do it and she enjoys the trips outside, and yes the taking it off always seems to be a "okay I'm done get it off now" kind of trial but maybe one of the popcicle stick to distract her might help? But all in all good job!!!
 

luvmytooo

New member
Dec 22, 2011
1,914
1
New York
Parrots
*Yoshi* Goffins Cockatoo
* Rosie*Rose Breasted Galah
*Stella*Hyacinth Macaw
*Baby*Catalina Macaw

*Multiple Parakeets*
Maybe just try running the water without putting her under , see what happens , you never know , lolol
 

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