Flight Harness

Really? How the heck are you supposed to get that on a bird without hurting the bird, freaking it out, getting bit, losing trust, wasting the twenty dollars it cost because you can't even get close enough to the latches without getting bit you have to cut it off?

I got the dang thing on after about twenty minutes of struggling with it only because I already had the part around his neck and it was either struggle going forward or struggle going backwards. And the clips near his wings seemed less likely to get my bit then the one right by his neck. In the end he hated it but I wasn't getting close enough to him to get it off so I had to find some scissors and be as careful as I could in trying not to cut a feather.

I love Skyler and would enjoy it if I could put him on a walker and not worry about putting him in a carrier when I travel, but that just did not work out.

I had a similar experience with the aviator harness. When I finally got it on him all he did was chew it even when he was outside. The stress a bird goes through with these things on is not worth it for me.

gopack041 said:

I had a similar experience with the aviator harness. When I finally got it on him all he did was chew it even when he was outside. The stress a bird goes through with these things on is not worth it for me.

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I have to agree. I know Skyler was incredibly stressed and I think he had it properly on for about five minutes. Not to mention my own stress level sky rocketing both in trying to put it on him and take it off. Who designed this thing!?!

Awwwww..... poor Skyler...bet he was terrified....

Haven't tried this myself, but take a look at this: [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=etKRisR7vgo]YouTube - Tips to Harness Train a Parrot - GoodBirdInc.com[/ame]

I don't know what kind of harness that was, but I want it. The one I had had a bunch of metal pieces to it and it was ridiculous!!!

Keep in mind that the bird in the video has probably been around a harness since he was born. A harness was probably one of the first things this guy saw.

From my experience, training a bird to wear a harness when it hasn't been around one at a very young age is very, very difficult. It takes a lot of time. The problem I had was my bird freaked out when I got the harness over his head. He actually stuck his head through, but it still didn't matter.

This is the aviator harness btw. They are about $40 each at the parrotuniversity.

Another thing to keep in mind. The smaller the bird, the harder it is to put the harness on. I wish training videos like this would use little conures like mine.

gopack041 said:

Keep in mind that the bird in the video has probably been around a harness since he was born. A harness was probably one of the first things this guy saw.

From my experience, training a bird to wear a harness when it hasn't been around one at a very young age is very, very difficult. It takes a lot of time. The problem I had was my bird freaked out when I got the harness over his head. He actually stuck his head through, but it still didn't matter.

This is the aviator harness btw. They are about $40 each at the parrotuniversity.

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I've got a five month old eclectus. He was fine when I put the harness I had around his neck but one I got it around his neck he started flipping because he wouldn't let me actually fasten it and started tripping over it. The harness in the video seemed much more simple. I literally had to clip an attachment around his neck and two under his wings to get this one on. And these were small clips which gave Skyler ample time to bite me. lol. So I will try this harness out. I will definitely keep in mind that Skyler has not been around any harness up until today. Thank you very much.

The good thing bout the macaw breeder I use is u cn get ur bird harness trained before u get him my new ones getting that done makes more sense than me stressing it out trying to do it

Our breeder recommended that you let the parrot play with the harness first. Basically, just let him/her get used to the fact that it exists. Then bit by bit start puting it on, fastening, etc.

I want to get a harness for Ruby and Jade, not sure about Max since he doesn't really like to be touched. But definitely go with an Aviator harness. They're pricy compared to other brands, but better made and safer.

Matt you really should try the aviator and follow the dvd.. It took 6 weeks for me to put it on Echo the first time and I will take about 4 weeks to reintroduce it when the weather is warmer.

Chris Winkler said:

Matt you really should try the aviator and follow the dvd.. It took 6 weeks for me to put it on Echo the first time and I will take about 4 weeks to reintroduce it when the weather is warmer.

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Hey Chris, I am definitely going to. Its been awhile. How is everything going?