Parrot Jesses?

[Featheredsamurai]

I just found these and it seems pretty cool, I would never use it on Rosie because she has one bad leg from being broken and never set. I am a little wary still, it looking super easy to take off and pulling on the parrots legs and they don't have the same strength as raptors legs. My friend uses jesses on her kookaburra though and he does great.

I guess it's all up to opinion, I use a aviator harness but that has it's own set of dangers. I personally feel the dangers/escape risk are greater with the parrot jesses.

here's a vid
[ame="http://youtu.be/_q1GqhuoS3A"]marc morrone bird leashes - YouTube[/ame]

 

[Thingamagigs]

I like the ones he has in the video better, I am a bit uncertain about them. I will probably feel more able to comment once I get my bird and attempt to use the aviator.
I do think a bird would be more comfortable sitting around in parrot jesses than in a harness though... having something wrapped around their body would be more disturbing to them than something wrapped around their foot.
I wonder about the safety of allowing them to fly in them though. Though if you take your bird out on your shoulder a lot, not to fly, just for a shoulder ride... I think the jesses would be more convenient... easier and quicker to hook on and walk out the door. I havent seen one bird yet who has looked "happy" to be wearing a harness. lol

 

[Remy]

These look WAY easier to get on than a harness!

 

[Pookamama]

I brought these up on another forum, and there's quite a bit of controversy. The jesses have been used for birds of prey, but there's doubt that a parrot is physically able to handle a large amount of force on their legs. Lots of avian vets recommend against using them. This one pictured also seems very heavy, lots of hardware, for smaller birds.

However, I have seen a local parrot rescue use her own she made from leather for jesses for her doves. They were simple and went on easily, and I doubt they would have enough weight to harm the legs of the doves.

It seems in general some people are for them, lots don't trust them/are against them, but there hasn't been a good deal of solid research to say one way or the other.

I am trying to work with Pepper to get her used to the aviator harness so I can take her outside. But she is not flighted, and any harness is just to keep her with me rather than letting her fly around. In that case, I would consider using something that had been proven safe that would be a jess. But since I already have the aviator, I'll try with that for now.

 

[Rio Mom]

I think it would be very easy for a parrot to break their leg with these.

 

[khaiqha]

I am intrigued by these, since I've had awful times trying to get my guy to wear a harness. I am concerned about the legs thiguh, I wish there were videos of people reviewing this product.

 

[Thingamagigs]

I think as long as there is elastic in the cord so that they arent suddenly snapped back it would be less likely to cause damage. I wouldnt think it would break a leg, the ones in the video are VERY light and small... at most it might cause a dislocation. I would be more worried about it pulling them off balance and causing them to crash without the freedom of their legs to land properly. I am worried about what the harness does to the birds "shoulders" though, Im waiting to see what its like before I judge though.

 

[Featheredsamurai]

Rosie's harness(aviator) fits pretty good and she has flown in it. She nibbles at it some and I can tell it's not comfortable but she often seems to forget she's wearing it. Although the jesses seem like a good idea I'm worried about the pressure applied to the legs A dislocated leg isn't good.... my avian vet said parrot hip sockets are a lot shallower then ours, Rosie's hip bone is actually healed right out side of her socket.

I forgot to mention in my first post, I hate the fact he says you can attack the jesses to the leg bands already on the legs! Why on earth would he think that's a good idea.

 

[Thingamagigs]

I didnt even play the video with sound LOL I didn't want to hear his nonsense

 

[BillsBirds]

I know this issue is a hot one. But, years ago, we used a closed "S" hook around one of their legs. It looked like an "8" with one loop around the leg, the other was where you attached the leash. It was kept on the bird at all times, like a legband. I've had several birds that were "ringed", as it was called. Yes, there was potential for injury. But, none of mine ever had any problems. It is now considered cruel, but, they were used to wearing it, and a careful guardian kept them safe. It is still done today, particularly outside of this country. I've used leather jesses on my owls, when I did wildlife rehab. Tethered birds is nothing new, and has been done for centuries. With careful attention, any method will okay. Without it, they are all recipes for disaster. Even harnesses and flight suits.

 

[khaiqha]

What type of bird did you have it on bills?

 

[Macawspirit]

I know this issue is a hot one. But, years ago, we used a closed "S" hook around one of their legs. It looked like an "8" with one loop around the leg, the other was where you attached the leash. It was kept on the bird at all times, like a legband. I've had several birds that were "ringed", as it was called. Yes, there was potential for injury. But, none of mine ever had any problems. It is now considered cruel, but, they were used to wearing it, and a careful guardian kept them safe. It is still done today, particularly outside of this country. I've used leather jesses on my owls, when I did wildlife rehab. Tethered birds is nothing new, and has been done for centuries. With careful attention, any method will okay. Without it, they are all recipes for disaster. Even harnesses and flight suits.

So your saying that the lease in the photo should be fine to use on a Macaw? I am curious. Do you think the S hook is weighted the same as the hardware in the photo? Did you ever use one on a Macaw?

 

[triordan]

I actually just ordered and received this from Kings cages. the idea behind the Jesses is that it would have even pressure on both legs, it is a bit heavier than I thought it would be, but I can't get a harness on my grey so I thought this would be better than nothing. I'm going to try it out later on this afternoon I'll let you know how it goes.

 

[triordan]

also there are three swivels one on each leg band and then another one where they join together

 

[Sarge]

Sorry to recusitate this topic but what was your conclusion of the jesses?

 

[LordTriggs]

the original member probably doesn't come on anymore

taking one look at those and NOPE! That looks like the most unsafe thing going. I am not the biggest fan of how the Aviator works but at least the tether is attached the the body. Even with the elastic one spook flight and legs will be broken, plus those clasps look VERY easy for a macaw beak to break through, unlike birds of prey parrot beaks are all pressure based

 

[Sarge]

Yes I agree, I’m not a fan of the way aviator works and it takes a lil bit of the bird not messing with it so that it lasts. My macaw doesn’t know how to fly and he’s usually on my arm to walk, so I’m always holding his feet. Maybe I’ll come up with something that I can use to get him some sunshine.
Thanks for replying

 

[wrench13]

Jesses are for raptors, who legs are much thicker and muscular than parrot legs. In Asia
(Hong Kong) I witnessed many parrots with leg chains, chained to perches, and I understand that is the norm over there. Here in the USA and other places, they are considered dangerous, and have largely been replaced with the use of some kind of harness. Just because Mark Marone shows them and says they are safe, does not make it so, and I personally would never ever chain Salty up by these or other leg related restrain. Better - work with your parrot to allow a harness, and there are 3 or 4 different designs out there; you will have a safer bird, and the training to get them used to the harness will be good for your relation ship.