Parrots as Service Animals

[Vampiric_Conure]

I used to use a cockatiel as a service animal and plan on using my future grey as an anti-anxiety SA. The laws here in Manitoba, Canada allow me to use animals other than dogs as a service animal.

https://lafeber.com/pet-birds/parro...f5QXlDMUc3FXuxV7xKG-uuFUeh_oLL231L4oPxfpEy6Mr

 

[GaleriaGila]

This is so enlightened and exciting!

Good luck.

Of course, don't try this with a Patagonian rooster. He would make you run away from home... without him.

Thank you for sharing this.

 

[Vampiric_Conure]

This is so enlightened and exciting!

Good luck.

Of course, don't try this with a Patagonian rooster. He would make you run away from home... without him.

Thank you for sharing this.

You're very welcome!

 

[rheashard2]

Post how that goes. I used my CAG once unofficially. I was trauma unit RN. A young person came in w severe head injuries placed on life support literally from head to ankles. I liked caring for head trauma. So I was assigned frequently. I told real stories of my CAG's antics. Well about a year later the unit got a visit. My stories were remembered. Our young person set a goal of meeting the nurse with the parrot and seeing a picture. I was shocked by how well the recovery was. I'd to see future posts.

 

[wrench13]

Salty is a certified ESA animal.

 

[Vampiric_Conure]

Salty is a certified ESA animal.

Awesome! Way to go, Salty!!

 

[Vampiric_Conure]

Post how that goes. I used my CAG once unofficially. I was trauma unit RN. A young person came in w severe head injuries placed on life support literally from head to ankles. I liked caring for head trauma. So I was assigned frequently. I told real stories of my CAG's antics. Well about a year later the unit got a visit. My stories were remembered. Our young person set a goal of meeting the nurse with the parrot and seeing a picture. I was shocked by how well the recovery was. I'd to see future posts.

That is so cool that they remembered your stories! LOL! And I'll definitely have pictures and updates when the bird comes home!

 

[Vampiric_Conure]

A long post at 4 am. Rambling, mainly. Still no sleep. UGH. For those who missed my original post under my studio updates about Yvons - my backpack bird cage died a glorious death.

Anyway... here we go!

Been occupying myself. Fixing the travel cage and looking up carrying packs for parrots. Turns out there's a decent one - a cat carrier, actually, with 2 metal doors, for only $50-$70. Saves me over $300! While the Pak-o-Bird is really fancy, it's EXPENSIVE. I saw the ones they make for macaws. Over $700!

The cat carrier also allows me to ground myself when my bird digs their claws into my back. Really good when I have anxiety. I just have to get another set of backpack straps off Amazon, so I can hitch up the carrier like a backpack. The spaces between the bars of the doors also let me play with Vortex's toes. That, too, is good for grounding, and birds are less obnoxious than dogs when it comes to bringing them into stores! The carrier is heavy enough to help with DPT (Deep Pressure Therapy). Normally, you'd use that with a larger dog and let their weight help ease anxiety attacks. But birds ground me so FAST. All I have to do is have her carrier on my lap or back, and I'm usually good.

I was originally gonna use Yvons as a service bird. HOWEVER, Vortex might be more up my alley. I have to see how she handles a change in environment frequently and when it's hot. She's a quieter bird than Yvons. Unless I get a double Pak-o-bird and bring the two of them.

People tend to ask a LOT of questions when they see you with a bird. Oddly enough, talking about Vortex helps me cope with the anxiety of the bus. The complete opposite of what people are supposed to do when they have service dogs!

 

[rheashard2]

Odd about bird questions. I rarely get them! It's like they look but don't see. I'm the one who gets the weird looks when Nameliss says or makes weird sounds. I wish I'd had a video for some encounters. For avian reasons she talks in a male gruff gangster voice to adults. A high pitched irritating one to kids. A sassy teen voice if talking back to me. None of which is like her at home voices. Her favorite is to interject comments into my conversations. Being called a cat is normal since her carrier resembles one. I never know what, how or why something will come out of her beak. The only certainty is I have no control over it!

 

[silverhuntress]

I have a service parrot too! I have a Goffins Cockatoo! How do you all do outings with them pooping? I am trying to potty train my girl. She is a Goffin Cockatoo. I would train her with a diaper, however we JUST started working with a harness! I dont want to start diaper training until she fully accepts the harness. I live in Southern Ontario myself. My dr is a new one, so she doesnt think fraya is a service animal, and says only Dogs can be that are ADI trained. And calls her an ESA even though it was my old doctor she replaced that wrote the letter for me. I am having access issues in places because she occasionally poops, I clean it up of course... I would LOVE invites!

 

[Vampiric_Conure]

I have a service parrot too! I have a Goffins Cockatoo! How do you all do outings with them pooping? I am trying to potty train my girl. She is a Goffin Cockatoo. I would train her with a diaper, however we JUST started working with a harness! I dont want to start diaper training until she fully accepts the harness. I live in Southern Ontario myself. My dr is a new one, so she doesnt think fraya is a service animal, and says only Dogs can be that are ADI trained. And calls her an ESA even though it was my old doctor she replaced that wrote the letter for me. I am having access issues in places because she occasionally poops, I clean it up of course... I would LOVE invites!

Cool! My first birds were harness-trained to a flight suit, so I could take them on buses and into stores without a carrier. For Vortex, I will keep her in a carrier because her tasks are different. I want her to provide a barrier between people (something that a backpack doesn't do well for me) and light pressure therapy. I'm also thinking of her nipping me on command to act as a distraction.

 

[silverhuntress]

Cool! My first birds were harness-trained to a flight suit, so I could take them on buses and into stores without a carrier. For Vortex, I will keep her in a carrier because her tasks are different. I want her to provide a barrier between people (something that a backpack doesn't do well for me) and light pressure therapy. I'm also thinking of her nipping me on command to act as a distraction.

Can you show me what these flight suits look like, where did you buy it? I use Fraya for dicosiation (butchered that lol), anxiety, Adhd, and a bunch of other things. This is the list of tasks she actually preforms! AI helped me write this . I did not know what would qualify as tasks .


1. Grounding & calming: Provides tactile and auditory support during anxiety, panic, or dissociation, helping you regain focus and composure.


2. Interrupting distress: Notices signs of emotional distress and engages with you (e.g., climbing on you, vocalizing) to interrupt harmful thought patterns or self-harming impulses.



3. Emotional regulation: Encourages routines and engagement, reducing symptoms of depression or overwhelm.


4. Environmental awareness: Alerts you to nearby people or changes in your surroundings, helping manage anxiety or hypervigilance.



5. Meal and hydration support: Encourages you to eat and drink by modeling these behaviors, providing motivation and structure to maintain nutrition and hydration when you experience difficulties.


6. Morning routine support: Ensures you wake up at a consistent time each morning by being active and alert at 6–7 a.m., encouraging you to start the day. She remains insistent until you are up and moving, helping maintain structure and reduce tendencies to oversleep or remain inactive.


7. Social interaction support: Encourages and facilitates daily interactions with others by being a focal point for conversation. Her presence helps reduce social anxiety, making it easier for you to engage with people in various settings.





10. Companionship & emotional support: Provides continuous social and emotional support, reducing feelings of isolation and improving overall mental wellbeing.

 

[Vampiric_Conure]

Can you show me what these flight suits look like, where did you buy it? I use Fraya for dicosiation (butchered that lol), anxiety, Adhd, and a bunch of other things. This is the list of tasks she actually preforms! AI helped me write this . I did not know what would qualify as tasks .


1. Grounding & calming: Provides tactile and auditory support during anxiety, panic, or dissociation, helping you regain focus and composure.


2. Interrupting distress: Notices signs of emotional distress and engages with you (e.g., climbing on you, vocalizing) to interrupt harmful thought patterns or self-harming impulses.



3. Emotional regulation: Encourages routines and engagement, reducing symptoms of depression or overwhelm.


4. Environmental awareness: Alerts you to nearby people or changes in your surroundings, helping manage anxiety or hypervigilance.



5. Meal and hydration support: Encourages you to eat and drink by modeling these behaviors, providing motivation and structure to maintain nutrition and hydration when you experience difficulties.


6. Morning routine support: Ensures you wake up at a consistent time each morning by being active and alert at 6–7 a.m., encouraging you to start the day. She remains insistent until you are up and moving, helping maintain structure and reduce tendencies to oversleep or remain inactive.


7. Social interaction support: Encourages and facilitates daily interactions with others by being a focal point for conversation. Her presence helps reduce social anxiety, making it easier for you to engage with people in various settings.





10. Companionship & emotional support: Provides continuous social and emotional support, reducing feelings of isolation and improving overall mental wellbeing.

The flight suits I bought are available here: https://avianfashions.com/collections. Apparently, you can now get them on Amazon, but I have no idea what the quality is like.

As for your task list- I can certainly make use of many of the things Fraya does! Thank you for posting them!

 

[silverhuntress]

Thank you so much!!! I do not know how Fraya will enjoy these, as she dislikes the harness and only tolerates it when she is stimulated. I am so going to order one asap and start working her with it! Thank you! This will make outings so much better for the both of us! I wonder if i can get one made that says Service Bird on it!

 

[rheashard2]

Please read carefully about flight suits for birds. My avian vet doesn't endorse them. He told me and I have read; flight suits are not made for what birds are hatched to do. FLY. The lanyard usually isn't positioned for flight. There's a risk of injury if bird is frightened. There can be a lot of discrepancies with sizing. If the flight suit doesn't fit it can be too big or small causing problems. He recommended a quality avian harness made for flight. Combined with a birdie diaper if desired. I did some research on them. Most have a rigid mateeial for the lanyard. Flying against it can cause injury to keel bone. A flight harness is made so lanyard is positioned securely. Flight suits the lanyard is on suit. Nameliss isn't a service parrot. But we made the rounds to elderly and homebound individuals. I did a lot of research as a result. Nameliss can find and pick apart a loose thread on her diaper in a 15 minute trip. It would make flight suit useless. If you sew or know someone who does there are several free birdie diaper patterns on line. There's also some videos. Nameliss freely accepts her harness. She hates wearing a poo diaper. Sadly the type of animal that can claim service animal status is defined by the laws in your area. Service animals provide something that quaifies as a service. Bring keys, purse, items from fridge, sense and alert persons to medical problems like epilepsy before it can occur. Otherwise it is a emotional support.

 

[Vampiric_Conure]

Please read carefully about flight suits for birds. My avian vet doesn't endorse them. He told me and I have read; flight suits are not made for what birds are hatched to do. FLY. The lanyard usually isn't positioned for flight. There's a risk of injury if bird is frightened. There can be a lot of discrepancies with sizing. If the flight suit doesn't fit it can be too big or small causing problems. He recommended a quality avian harness made for flight. Combined with a birdie diaper if desired. I did some research on them. Most have a rigid mateeial for the lanyard. Flying against it can cause injury to keel bone. A flight harness is made so lanyard is positioned securely. Flight suits the lanyard is on suit. Nameliss isn't a service parrot. But we made the rounds to elderly and homebound individuals. I did a lot of research as a result. Nameliss can find and pick apart a loose thread on her diaper in a 15 minute trip. It would make flight suit useless. If you sew or know someone who does there are several free birdie diaper patterns on line. There's also some videos. Nameliss freely accepts her harness. She hates wearing a poo diaper. Sadly the type of animal that can claim service animal status is defined by the laws in your area. Service animals provide something that quaifies as a service. Bring keys, purse, items from fridge, sense and alert persons to medical problems like epilepsy before it can occur. Otherwise it is a emotional support.

I didn't know that! Thanks for the heads up, regarding the flight suits!

 

[DonnaBudgie]

It seems the most that the most parrots can be are emotional support animals, even if the owners claim they can't leave the house without them. The things that service dogs are trained to do are more task based and physical safety based. That rules out most parrots being welcome in places where food is sold and served and uncaged in airplane cabins. I know I'd be thrilled if someone walked into Lowes with a parrot on their shoulder!

 

[rheashard2]

It seems the most that the most parrots can be are emotional support animals, even if the owners claim they can't leave the house without them. The things that service dogs are trained to do are more task based and physical safety based. That rules out most parrots being welcome in places where food is sold and served and uncaged in airplane cabins. I know I'd be thrilled if someone walked into Lowes with a parrot on their shoulder!

I went into a Home Depot with Nameliss on my shoulder. Sorry Lowe's isn't on my home route after vet.

 

[rheashard2]

Since Nameliss is insistent and regular as a clock at 1945. I am reminded frequently to let the dog outside. Also she's insistent that I and my daughter go to the bathroom. She follows up with did you go. Technically that is a service. She is fulfilling a function. Maybe that could qualify her as a service animal? My daughter and I have yet to figure out her bathroom reminders. The closest thing we can figure is several years ago we visited my sister. She was babysitting and potty training her grandson. It did include letting her dogs out as part of the pre bedtime routine. But Nameliss didn't start it until nearly two years later. We were only there 3 nights and 4 days!
My vet told me that he had to board a macaw for nearly a month. His owners son moved in for a 'few days '. A month later he showed no signs of leaving. He was a chain smoker and had to smoke outside. One day he smoked under the smoke detector near his room. It went off. A few days later every time he lit up in the house that macaw ratted him out. It progressed to every time the macaw saw him. His owner said that the macaw was better than an eviction notice.

 

[DonnaBudgie]

I guess if (when) we regress to being like three year olds and need to be reminded to use the potty before bedtime or before leaving the house a parrot who reminds us would provide an important service. Perhaps Nameliss should also remind us to brush our teeth after eating and at bedtime. Imagine every time you put Nameliss to bed at night you hear "Brush your teeth"! The dentists and hygienists (my least favorite people) would love it!