Flight or not to flight ?

[lene1949]

I'm very interested how you came to free flight your bird... Was he free flighted in his previous home? Did it happen by accident?

I free flight my bird every day that weather permits. He comes in a few times every day and for bed time. In the early days of this journey, there was a time when he didn't come in and scared me so bad, I felt so guilty knowing I was the cause of his death. My husband and I didn't sleep a wink that night, we were both up before the sun, calling and looking for Amigo. He was in the tip top of a large bull pine and so happy to see us!

I've discovered since this episode, that...if you don't have your bird safely in the house by the time the sun goes down, you are not going to see him till morning. Once they decide it's bedtime, they move into roosting mode.

 

[roxynoodle]

Yes, very light birds can still fly quite well with clipped wings. 'Toos definitely can! So can Blue Crown conures I learned right after I brought my baby home. She was significantly lighter in weight than Rowdy even though she was bigger. Rowdy and Pete can't fly with clipped wings. I bet Merlin couldn't either, but they are all pretty hefty birds.

 

[427HISS]

If clipping flight feathers does not do much good, I won't do it anymore.
Seems senseless.

I'm happy the Lord helped us !

 

[roxynoodle]

If clipping flight feathers does not do much good, I won't do it anymore.
Seems senseless.

I'm happy the Lord helped us !

Me, too! That must have been horribly frightening and stressful for you.

 

[427HISS]

Yes it was !

We were very concerned about nightfall coming.

Since I broke my neck years ago and have three vertebrates fused together, looking up for all that time really killed my neck, so I'm paying the price today.

Do you think that since she now knows she can fly, should I always put her harness & leash on when going outside ?

When we're on the deck, I put her on the back of a chair and she loves it, but can I trust her ?

 

[roxynoodle]

I wouldn't trust her. You just never know. And a hawk can show up faster than you could get her back if she's up in a tree.

I would either roll her cage out there, or use the harness. Or invest in a cheap cage that fits out there better to put her in.

 

[Mare Miller]

I agree with Roxy. The fear factor is very stressful.

To answer Lene, no, Amigo did not come to us as a free flight bird. He came to us very unhappy. I'm thankful that he never plucked himself, but I would have understood it if he did. It was a conscious decision, on our part, to allow free flight. Very, very, stressful...but we felt it was the best choice for our bird. He stays around his territory and is loving life!

 

[427HISS]

I knew the answer, it's just hard to swallow as it's not total freedom, but I would rather have that than her flying away again,... or worse !

 

[Wulfgeist]

Tico was flighted until recently. A) he nearly flew out the door when a friend was leaving one day B) It was advised by the place I bought Jasper because he was being such a little snot that depending more on me would change his attitude and it did work. I likely will leave him flighted now unless something happens to change that.

Jasper was clipped in the store due to the store setup and how easily the birds could be able to take off and accidentally fly out into a busy street if someone had the door open. I did buy a harness for Jasper, same one you are looking at. I got the med even though he came home at I think only 408 grams. He will put on weight (he's figured out where the top bowls are, just have to work on him eating from the inside ones) I'm sure. As stated the size is more the head opening and I don't think a smaller size would be very easy to get on if it even fit.

I just got done working with him a little on it. He's not afraid of it but doesn't like that odd feeling of it touching him so right now I'm really only putting it over his head and leaving it there a moment before removing it. I put it over his head, give him praise and a sunflower seed and take it off. Some birds probably take better to things.

My desire is to be able to take him outside and perhaps even take him places and I am hoping he can wear the harness to accomplish this. I want to expose him to new things as much as possible while he's still young, I read that is supposed to help them be more confident as an adult.

I'm not sure it had a place to choose colour unless I missed it. Oh, I ordered mine from My Safe Bird Store, that might have had something to do with it. All I asked was no *pink*, it came purple, purple I can handle.:41:

 

[roxynoodle]

Well, mine have a lot of freedom in the house. It's not the same thing, but I would be devastated if one of them were lost. And if I didn't get it back I'd be wondering all my life if someone found it and took good care of it, or if it died.

 

[427HISS]

I agree.

When we take her into our vet, we're having him put in a I.D chip like our dogs, just to be even safer.

 

[Mare Miller]

Roxy, I'm looking forward to a day when I can have a companion parrot that likes to hang out with us, (in the house). Maybe, we made him into what he is today, an outdoorsy guy. But, I'm telling you, there really was no other choice with Amigo.

 

[roxynoodle]

No, things have worked out well for you and Amigo. I just can't take that chance I guess. Merlin can't even see well; she wouldn't know what to do. And just because she has been all lovie dovie with me from the very beginning doesn't mean she is that way with everyone I've learned! Pete doesn't warm up to everyone quickly either. Now Rowdy would probably look for a guy and go to him at least, the little flirt.

 

[luvmytooo]

I agree.

When we take her into our vet, we're having him put in a I.D chip like our dogs, just to be even safer.

Good idea to chip her. I'm glad you got her back safely
Lesson learned.

 

[luvmytooo]

Yes it was !

We were very concerned about nightfall coming.

Since I broke my neck years ago and have three vertebrates fused together, looking up for all that time really killed my neck, so I'm paying the price today.

Do you think that since she now knows she can fly, should I always put her harness & leash on when going outside ?

When we're on the deck, I put her on the back of a chair and she loves it, but can I trust her ?

Dont trust taking ehr out again without a harness or in a cage.
She knows she can fly now and you may not be so lucky next time.
There are a number of things that can spook her as well.

Just dont take the chance Kevin. The warm weather is just starting.
Either get her used to a harness or flight suite or maybe get a smaller cage that you can use for out in the yard.
I would use the cage for Yoshi , I would love to invest in a flight cage for my guys . But after reading about the hawk that took someones Cockatoo "through" the cage bars , it makes you think twice....

 

[Mare Miller]

Roxy, I don't recommend our lifestyle for anyone, it's just the way WE do it and I know that if I died and came back, I would want to be one of your birds!

 

[427HISS]

Yes it was !

We were very concerned about nightfall coming.

Since I broke my neck years ago and have three vertebrates fused together, looking up for all that time really killed my neck, so I'm paying the price today.

Do you think that since she now knows she can fly, should I always put her harness & leash on when going outside ?

When we're on the deck, I put her on the back of a chair and she loves it, but can I trust her ?

Dont trust taking ehr out again without a harness or in a cage.
She knows she can fly now and you may not be so lucky next time.
There are a number of things that can spook her as well.

Just dont take the chance Kevin. The warm weather is just starting.
Either get her used to a harness or flight suite or maybe get a smaller cage that you can use for out in the yard.
I would use the cage for Yoshi , I would love to invest in a flight cage for my guys . But after reading about the hawk that took someones Cockatoo "through" the cage bars , it makes you think twice....

Yep, no more total freedom. We ordered a real nice and well built harness that still allows wing movement and the leash eyelet can slip all the way around.

I plan on making a outdoor aviary to place either on our deck or a dedicated place in the garden. I will never leave her out there unsupervised. I'm also looking through our tree branch's to make a nice looking small tree for her to perch on when we're near. I can easily move it from the back deck or in the front yard. I'll screw in a anchor for her leash to attach to.

I have seen a flight suite that is fabric and wraps around the birds body and also have replaceable DIPPERS,.... for when you're taking them out and about ! lol,......

I'll have to do a search, but do you know where to get one ?

 

[roxynoodle]

Roxy, I don't recommend our lifestyle for anyone, it's just the way WE do it and I know that if I died and came back, I would want to be one of your birds!

With Amigo it seems to work wonderfully. It might help as well that you have such a large property and not as many risky things outside. Heck, my birds think food comes from the refrigerator, lol! They probably don't even know they can eat roots and things. They think they are supposed to bathe in a shower, and watch TV, and dance to music. Their idea of fun is to sit on the couch with me and sing along to my guitar, and dance on the computer keyboard.

And they want me for a mate Except Rowdy who realizes I'm a woman (unlike Merlin apparently); Rowdy wants a human man for a mate. Maybe they don't even know they are birds!

 

[luvmytooo]

Yes it was !

We were very concerned about nightfall coming.

Since I broke my neck years ago and have three vertebrates fused together, looking up for all that time really killed my neck, so I'm paying the price today.

Do you think that since she now knows she can fly, should I always put her harness & leash on when going outside ?

When we're on the deck, I put her on the back of a chair and she loves it, but can I trust her ?

Dont trust taking ehr out again without a harness or in a cage.
She knows she can fly now and you may not be so lucky next time.
There are a number of things that can spook her as well.

Just dont take the chance Kevin. The warm weather is just starting.
Either get her used to a harness or flight suite or maybe get a smaller cage that you can use for out in the yard.
I would use the cage for Yoshi , I would love to invest in a flight cage for my guys . But after reading about the hawk that took someones Cockatoo "through" the cage bars , it makes you think twice....

Yep, no more total freedom. We ordered a real nice and well built harness that still allows wing movement and the leash eyelet can slip all the way around.

I plan on making a outdoor aviary to place either on our deck or a dedicated place in the garden. I will never leave her out there unsupervised. I'm also looking through our tree branch's to make a nice looking small tree for her to perch on when we're near. I can easily move it from the back deck or in the front yard. I'll screw in a anchor for her leash to attach to.

I have seen a flight suite that is fabric and wraps around the birds body and also have replaceable DIPPERS,.... for when you're taking them out and about ! lol,......

I'll have to do a search, but do you know where to get one ?

I did see those somewhere before....hmm...I will look into that and get back to you Maybe check out Bird Paradise for flight suites or harnesses , couldve been there (maybe) :/
www.celltei.com has birdie strollers ! lolol.
www.bird-diaper.com for all your diaper needs , lolol. And they sell harnesses and flight suits

 

[Mike]

I use an Aviator with Mardy. Started her out with it during her weaning period to get her used to it. She tolerates it today. Mainly she likes to pick at the buckle.

I do not really see the harness as giving Mardy an ability to fly safely. It appears to me to simply be a safety leash which gently slows her down and lets her land safely when something spooks her and I suddenly see her winging off away from me.