Leg leashes are coming back?

ShellyBorg · Sep 13, 2013

King's Cages - Avian and Pet Bird Cages, Supplies, Food, Toys, Perches, Aviaries, Pluck No More

I found these today. They have from small all the way to macaw size. I am uncomfortable with this idea and see a great way for bids to get hurt. Even if the legs do not get injured, if the bird is at the end of the leash they could not get there legs under them in time to land properly and not on there keel.
Looking to see what others feel about these. Something you would try or not?

Karigan · Sep 13, 2013

Ick... I don't trust leg leashes, though having one that attaches to both legs might not be so bad. I'd still stick to harness' given the choice.

That said, the piece looks plastic and easy to chew through.

If you want to go this rout, I would look for a better model.

calieckies · Sep 13, 2013

The breeder we work with uses and recommends them for the Large Macaws: Hys, Greenwing and Buffon.
I am going to get one for our rescue Macaw- He is fully flighted and he steps up but never was touched so a harness is not an option b/c he freaks out if you try and touch his feathers. I can though touch his legs. I keep all our parrots fully flighted and clipping him is not an option we would consider.
Something to be noted this is NOT something to be used like the old restraints were and to be left on the bird to tether them to a perch etc. It was meant to be used for parrots that you want to take outside but are unable to use a harness with to ensure they don't fly away.

ShellyBorg · Sep 13, 2013

I had just put up the link for the smallest. The larger bird stuff is sturdier. Would love to hear what the breeder says about landing and hitting there keel.

Blancaej · Sep 13, 2013

I found a video on these but couldn't find the actual product for sale. I had my doubts about them. But the video was intriguing. I would love to know if anyone owns one of these and to share the experience with them.

brianlinkles · Sep 13, 2013

The person that designed them is Marc Marrone (Martha stewarts "pet guy") I watched a video on it. I have to say at first I was not a fan however I would like to let my cag's wings grow back. Now that I have a fully flighted rb2 I love the freedom he has. I know that she would not like the harness and I think that this might be easier for her to accept. If anyone has used this let us know.

Billy29 · Sep 13, 2013

The only thing I can see beneficial to this is that it is easy to get on. If the bird bolts, I could see this messing up the joint in the foot. I have a aviator harness for my Amazon and while the hardest part is getting it over his head, once it is on its great.

Blancaej · Sep 13, 2013

I just can't see getting my CAG into the Aviator I bought him. Just the thought of getting it over his head makes me cringe. LOL! If this worked well and I knew it would not cause injury, I would love to try it on him!

ShellyBorg · Sep 13, 2013

Blancaej I was thinking of your CAG when I saw these. I am just worried about fright take offs and crash landings. If I could get any real world feedback it would be great. In the video he did say his GW could remove them, but then again our birds can chew free of a harness also. I would NOT use this for flight, but if I can get more info I may think about outings.

Kalidasa · Sep 13, 2013

I don't know, for a smaller, flightier bird those look like an emergency vet visit waiting to happen. Their legs are so delicate.

Blancaej · Sep 13, 2013

ShellyBorg said:
Blancaej I was thinking of your CAG when I saw these. I am just worried about fright take offs and crash landings. If I could get any real world feedback it would be great. In the video he did say his GW could remove them, but then again our birds can chew free of a harness also. I would NOT use this for flight, but if I can get more info I may think about outings.

Thanks Shelly, I always feel guilty that he can't do as much with me as Savannah. I wouldnt use it for flight either! Let me know if you find out more! It would open up a whole new world for him!

ShellyBorg · Sep 13, 2013

Out of a LOT of places saying this is the worst idea ever, I did find a forum where 5 people tried them. One the bird could not even stand up right after putting it on. They other 4 used them with no issue. ALL said that they kept the tether short and in their hand so there was no fly off. From reading these 4 accounts it sounds like if only used for outings where the bird was kept in hand and watched they felt them safe and usable. I really wish I could find someone who has used one and could give first hand knowledge.
Anything new is scary, I still have some reserves about this. I may order one for my 'zon. He has thick little legs...

KimKim · Sep 13, 2013

I read on another forum that a few people had them for greys and they felt they were to heavy on the birds.

SoCalWendy · Sep 13, 2013

Blancaej said:
I found a video on these but couldn't find the actual product for sale. I had my doubts about them. But the video was intriguing. I would love to know if anyone owns one of these and to share the experience with them.

You can find the medium ones on amazon. But kings cages has them too, in all sizes.

On amazon they don't get a very good review, they were even called dangerous. I did see the video too, thought cool! Rio hates the aviator harness. After the last attempt to go harness and cutting it off of Rio, and receiving a nasty bite, I'm not sure about investing on another harness. So thought this might be a good option. I'm glad it was brought up here because I too was going to bring it up.

weco · Sep 13, 2013

If you look close, that’s vinyl coated cable, probably aircraft cable, that & the weight of those buckles would act like diving weights for a small bird…..my patty has some sturdy legs, but like those cautious about fright flight, I would think that when they reached the end of that cable, a joint dislocation and/or break would be in the offing…..maybe for a large macaw, but I’m not going to use that leash on any of my conures & certainly not on my p’let…

Featheredsamurai · Sep 13, 2013

I've never liked these, I think they're very unsafe. The metal has no give like a falconry anklet which is soft leather, and also much wider to spread out that weight.

If I were to ever use leg leashes I would use cloth, or leather. Using falconry anklets(the jesses attach to those) would be inconvenient as they're meant to be used long term. Here is a quote on how to do a simple leg leash from a live journal, although I would do BOTH legs not one and never with Rosie since she has a bad leg.

The actual leash is a two part affair. The first part is a general small leash (I think this one is from a feather tether). The second part is a nylon rope. The reason that there is a small leash attached to the rope is that sometimes, parrots get themselves tangled up. If you can detach part of the leash, you can untangle them. You can also detach the end, loop it around a chair back or a branch, and reattach it.

This is the small leash attached to the nylon rope loop.

And this is the part that goes around the leg. Essentially, it is a slip knot kept in place with a stainless steel nut that has threads inside to better grip the rope. Behind that nut is a knot, heavy and majorally incapable of being easily untied. It's also possible to lightly melt the knot so that it is impossible to untie.

Here are a few more slightly dark closeups.

And then the application with our favorite model.

With Theo, I sit him on his knee, slide the loop under his front toes, then lift his foot and wrap the rest around the back toes. He usually protests, but can be done without toweling. Cin, also, can be done without toweling on most occasions, though sometimes a towel helps.

And then you simply hold the rope and push the nut forward until it's resting snugly against their leg.

The leash here is a little bit too loose, it should be more snugly fitting against his leg, but he was being exceptionally crabby and didn't want me to mess with it too much. Considering I had no intention of taking him outside in the dark, that wasn't a bit deal.

BillsBirds · Sep 13, 2013

Years ago, most parrots were what was called "ringed". That was a metal figure 8 around one leg. The leg was in one loop, and the other loop was for a leash or tether. I, myself, had a Quaker, a Mynah, and a Conure, all ringed before I got them. The "ring" stayed on all the time, like a legband. Usually there were no problems, as long as the guardian kept an eye on things. My birds lived well for years like that. But, some birds did get hurt, and some folks thought this was a cruel & inhumane treatment. So, these fell out of fashion. In many countries, they are still used. Like anything for our pets, guardian care & vigilance is the key. I think they would work in a situation where a harness is just not an option.

ShellyBorg · Sep 13, 2013

You always need to do BOTh legs. One leg is asking for a spiral fracture.

Featheredsamurai · Sep 13, 2013

ShellyBorg said:
You always need to do BOTh legs. One leg is asking for a spiral fracture.

I fully agree, using one is extremely dangerous

Kinny · Sep 16, 2013

Personally, I despise any leg leashes. I can get any of my birds to wear the Aviator Harness (granted it can take A LOT of time of 'training' before i start introducing the actual harness) and all my persistence has always payed off. Each one of the birds I've taught to wear the harness knows that it means a fun outside adventure with a billion treats!

But then I've never owned a big bird who absolutely despises the harness..

If people are going to use the leg leash, I certainly would ONLY recommend the slipknot nylon rope one, and for use on both legs. *nodnod*

Leg leashes are coming back?

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Is it okay to bring my bird for weekends away from home?

THe kea I can't believe it wow

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