A quick question about taking Paco outside.

[Doris48]

Okay so he is banded with a solid SS band.The former owner said he clipped a small chain to this band and would take him outside all summer and mow the lawn with him.....Im uncertain if I should try this.I mean if he wasnt scared by a mower he must be pretty calm outside and trained with the ankle chain.I know they put those ankle things on raptors and not harness's so Im on the fence with this.
I know I will never be able to harness Paco.It would take alot of trust for him to let me put one on..So the only way he could go out is either in a cage or with the leg thing...He will be able to be out on the front porch this summer once I get it rescreened so I suppose thats better then nothing.

What do think about the ankle chain?

 

[roxynoodle]

I think I'd be afraid of it coming off or my letting it go. It would have to be a pretty light chain I think, and I just wouldn't trust it. But, I seem to have over protective tendencies, so I might not be the best person to ask.

If you think it would be safe though (no mosquitoes to transmit West Nile) or any predators, you could roll his cage out. He would probably enjoy it. I used to take my birds out all the time until West Nile showed up. Now I use full spectrum bulbs. It's supposed to be a really nice day today, mid 60s. Hard to believe schools were closed Monday for snow, lol!

I've been seeing mosquitoes though all winter, so I'm not going to chance it even though they would probably love to go out today.

 

[Doris48]

Im not sure if we have alot of west nile here.I mean my chickens have never gotten it.Im not sure how that works though.Maybe they are immune or something.We havent had but a dusting of snow this year.And no ice storms or anything.I can only imagine what the ticks will be like this year.I may spend the summer in the house.

If I did put a chain on I would probably do it several times on the front porch first to see how he reacts and if he spooks or not.The porch will be screened again by then.With such a mild winter we may have more mosquitos this year...I guess I will see how it goes.

 

[roxynoodle]

I didn't even get to enjoy the nice day, really. We have a high wind warning, and OMG, just going to the grocery store was a pain in the butt! I could barely push the cart across the parking lot. Then my truck doors kept slamming on me. And then the cart ran away and I was chasing it all over creation, lol! Finally I realized there was a little dog in the next car and it was having a ball running all over that car to different windows watching the idiot chase the grocery cart, lol!

 

[KBEquine]

I don't think I would try the chain - just my personal opinion.

First, I believe raptors have stronger leg-bones (strong enough to pick prey off the ground). Parrots risk a broken leg, if they are spooked by something, fly & hit the end of the chain. And if they panic, they will increase the damage. If they DO get away by breaking the chain, then there will be a chain hanging from their leg that can get wrapped around a branch, an electric line . . .

Too many things that could go wrong with a chain-on-the-leg, in my opinion.

Out in a cage and/or the screened in porch sounds great, though.

 

[roxynoodle]

You raised some good points, KBEquine. Yes, I watched a hawk carry off a ground hog that was bigger than it. They are much stronger.

 

[Rio Mom]

I too would be afraid of a broken leg if he got startled and tried to fly.

 

[outdoors1987]

I don't have any personal experience with this, but I've always read to never use leg chains on parrots.

 

[lizardsmells]

The thing that would worry me about a chain would be a broken leg if he gets startled and tries to fly off. Can you get him accustomed to an Aviator harness instead? I'm working on getting Kazi accustomed to it, but it's a s l o w process for us.

In the interim he comes out with me in his travel cage. He runs errands with me, goes out to play with the dogs, etc. The only time he's out and not in his cage is when I walk out to the mailbox and it's nice enough for him to come with me. (He's not flighted.) Then he rides out on a hand, with a death grip and an eye toward the sky. He seems to enjoy it and eagerly steps up when I tell him we're going out, but he definitely has a death grip on my hand and is always watching for hawks.

 

[luvmytooo]

Yeah , IMO , the chain idea is from way , way , back before us humans even had a clue about what we were doing. Please dont use the chain method.
Either use a cage or mybe get Paco used to a harness. But like Roxy suggested , a full spectrum light is a good thing to have . My birds love it .

 

[Doris48]

hmm I posted a reply but it didnt show.Anyway I figured as much with the leg chain.I was on the fence with it from the start.I need to find a reasonably priced carrier type cage for going out.I doubt Ill find one.I just cant imagine why they charge such an incredible amount(most are at least 100 bucks) for an itty bitty cage.