Poppy hates her harness

[Mirlito]

So I tried Poppy with her harness 3 times and she absolutely hates it and actually goes into a bad mood with us afterwards, it is no simple process. Do you guys (who have harnesses) have the same problem? If so do you know a better way?

We´re going to be outdoors a lot soon as the weather is great and we want to have Poppy with us too.

Thanks


M.

 

[ruffledfeathers]

I know when i bought my Aviator harness (just recently), it came with a DVD. They said on the dvd to get familiar with it first, away from the bird, to make putting on quicker and less 'fussy'. And to not practice indoors but wait until a day that you can actually do something special. Go outside, make it fun, etc, so that it is related to good times and 'liberation' instead of restriction. I find it must be working with Gilbert because he is becoming less and less fussy when i put it on him and like he is 'ready' to hit the yard with me. He enjoys the adventures.
Not sure if you tried that. Maybe even back off it and show Poppy the harness, give treats, make a positive association. I think if they make a negative association, they will be harder and fussier.
The dvd with the Aviator also said to do practice moves, like swiping your hand gently over the face to make the bird close his eyes, and holding up the wings for a count of three, etc. I did these things with Gilbert a few times before trying the harness and he actually seemed to improve a lot and 'get it'. I thought it was good advice.
Maybe this will help.

 

[Grinder]

Hey Mirlito. The introduction of the flight harness should be a VERY gradual process. You cannot expect a parrot to like something like a harness so quickly. I am not sure how far you took it with your harness so far so you may have taken a few steps backward with Poppy as far as the harness is concerned.

At this point I would recommend the following steps. (again - this is a slow gradual process especially if Poppy has had bad experiences already).

1) Leave the harness outside the cage somewhere easy for Poppy to see.
2) Each day move it a little closer.
3)At some point lift the harness up and show her the harness (dont bring it near her though). Use happy and positive praise when showing her the harness.
4)Each day move it slightly closer - use praise and happy words.
5)Eventually put it close to her head. PRAISE
6) Eventually put her head through the harness (praise the whole time) and take it off. This step should be done quite a few times. But not quite a few times in one day!
7)Slip her head through the harness and leave it there for a short period of time. PRAISE!
8)Next, head through harness, and one wing. Again remove the harness shortly afterwards. Did I mention... PRAISE!
9) Eventually if Poppy already lets you handle her you should be able to slip the harness on and manipulate her wings through without issue.
10) She will finally associate it with getting to go outside.

Harness training is something that should be started early, but if the parrot is older or has had bad experiences already such as your Poppy, the steps can take longer. Just be patient and good luck!

 

[Mirlito]

Poppy is almost 2 months old, we´ve just started training her though I am wanting to buy an aviator harness because they are really popular and have great reviews. We give her lots of praise but it´s going to be something that she´ll eventually accustom to...well I hope. She is still young so it´ll be gradual.

Do you know a good place to buy the harness?

 

[Featheredsamurai]

Take it very slow, I didn't know better with Rosie when I was first harness training her and I regretted it months later when I had a bird who would take off the harness as fast as I could put it on. She is now great, she easily puts it on 90% of the time, the other 10% I don't push it and let her stay home.

I first trained her with the feather tether which is heavy and bulky, she did much better with the aviator harness and doesn't mind it.

*Edit*

Best place to buy the aviator is on their website. I think it's parrot university.com, they offer free world wide shipping.

 

[Mirlito]

Cool will do, thanks again!

 

[ruffledfeathers]

I just bought mine from Drs Foster and Smith when i renewed my heartworm meds for my dogs (got free shipping for spending enough). I think they are having a sale now and it is even cheaper.

 

[MeganMango]

Mango absolutely HATES his harness. He was doing really well with it for some time, he was even putting his head in it for a sunflower seed, but out of no where he became irrationally afraid of it. If he even sees it now he loses his mind and flies all over the house. The last time I brought it out he took off and flew into the window and hurt his nose. It took a good 15 mins for me to get him back on his cage and he was breathing heavily and terrified of me. It took 48 hours for him to "forgive" me and it took a lot of work to get him to trust me again. I have personally given up on this whole thing. Mango flies a little but has no real control. He cant really steer or land and he really just flies from his cage or play stand to us. We keep the doors locked and we have put up signs not to open the doors unless the birds are locked up. Ive just come to terms with the reality that it might not happen. He is only a year old, we will try again in a year or two and see if he is still scared of it. We still dont know what caused the fear, but I cant see him like that, and Im worried he is going to get hurt.

 

[tokensmom]

Well I put Tokens on him for the first time today...he was good for the first time. Then I took it off and put it on later...each time taking him outside. He liked it being put on less each time and would try to escape from me. No amount of praise, fruit juice, nuts or even sugar cookies would ease his worries or keep him from biting the front of the harness. He is just fine with me taking it off. Then he high tails it away from me asap. He didnt trust me for 3 hrs. He even ran to my 7 yr old daughter who he doesnt even really like. Oh the drama for such a little bird and hes only 10mos.

 

[Mirlito]

I just bought mine from Drs Foster and Smith when i renewed my heartworm meds for my dogs (got free shipping for spending enough). I think they are having a sale now and it is even cheaper.

I just checked it out but they don´t ship outside the US

Though i´ll keep searching, thanks.

Had the harness close to Poppy today and she wasn´t as scared as normal.