Do you use a harness?

Do you all use a harness with your macaws? In my current novel, I'm going to have a green wing wear one. Have to figure our how they fit!!

I own one for Bonny (purchased it during a sale), and am currently working my way toward her being able to use it. I am at a point that I think I could put it on her, but I am holding off until I can get her past her fear of...well everything.

She's not a macaw, but my little pionus parrot goes on harness. She has worn a Flight Suit in the past and currently uses the Aviator. She loves being a pirate parrot :43:

I like the Aviator Harnesses. Pay attention to weight rating tho, not "recommended species" sizing.

Neither of my big macs, unfortunately, but my little guy with the BIG attitude, yes.

I use the aviator harness...pix in my profile....sissy took to it pretty easy. And I won't take her outside without it.

I don't have a macaw, but I do harness my ekkie, Maya! (Working on Jolly.)


And here's a good thread to watch if you're looking for more harness action: http://www.parrotforums.com/training/59374-harness-training-videos.html

1500 said:

I own one for Bonny (purchased it during a sale), and am currently working my way toward her being able to use it. I am at a point that I think I could put it on her, but I am holding off until I can get her past her fear of...well everything.

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I was wondering if they did become afraid of the harness!

Team Aviator Harness over here!

Well I've got mine on a leg lead attached round his leg band. It is attached to an elasticated lead. Before anyone flames me his vet said it was ok to do that. He said everyone else was being paranoid. And he's tried to fly off on it countless times and it hasn't injured him so I think it's fine. Still I know someone is going to have a go at me so I don't know why I'm posting this to be honest.
He hates his harness so it's my only choice to take him outside. He worn the harness when I first got him but got increasingly more frustrated with it and now bolts at the sight of it.
I need to make him a coat now so I can still take him out in the winter. Hopefully he'll realise it's purpose and wear it.

Shayne said:

Well I've got mine on a leg lead attached round his leg band. It is attached to an elasticated lead. Before anyone flames me his vet said it was ok to do that. He said everyone else was being paranoid. And he's tried to fly off on it countless times and it hasn't injured him so I think it's fine. Still I know someone is going to have a go at me so I don't know why I'm posting this to be honest.
He hates his harness so it's my only choice to take him outside. He worn the harness when I first got him but got increasingly more frustrated with it and now bolts at the sight of it.
I need to make him a coat now so I can still take him out in the winter. Hopefully he'll realise it's purpose and wear it.

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I hope no one flames you for being honest. When I first adopted BB there was a guy on youtube I thought was the smartest guy with birds. You can tell he loved them . He used a leg attachment for all his Mac. Chris Brittain was his name. He has since passed away. I watched ever single one of his videos before finding this forum.

Shayne said:

Well I've got mine on a leg lead attached round his leg band. It is attached to an elasticated lead. Before anyone flames me his vet said it was ok to do that. He said everyone else was being paranoid. And he's tried to fly off on it countless times and it hasn't injured him so I think it's fine. Still I know someone is going to have a go at me so I don't know why I'm posting this to be honest.
He hates his harness so it's my only choice to take him outside. He worn the harness when I first got him but got increasingly more frustrated with it and now bolts at the sight of it.
I need to make him a coat now so I can still take him out in the winter. Hopefully he'll realise it's purpose and wear it.

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Not flaming you, here. And we won't permit anyone else to, either. Flaming has no place on this forum.

I do, however, respectfully disagree with the use of a leg leash. Parrot legs simply aren't as strong as hawk or falcon legs, and as such are far more easily damaged.

That said, I'm not claiming to have verifiable evidence that a leg leash can damage a parrot. Though a parrot's leg is structurally weaker than a raptor's, is that relative weakness enough to constitute a significant danger to your parrot while using said leash? I honestly can't say for certain.

Yours has not been injured, and I dearly hope he never will be. But it could just come down to a matter of angles, you know? The wrong angle one day on an attempted flight could wind up being a heavy stressor on his bones.

But this is just an opinion, just as your stance is an opinion. No disrespect is meant, and no judgement implied.

One thing, though. If you do manage to coat-train your bird, harness training will be a relative breeze! Hahaha!