Bird Harness?

Ladyred · #1 (**permalink**) 10-12-2009, 11:27 AM

Has anyone ever use a bird harness, I'm not talking about a flight suit? My husband is a tour guide and he would love to take Mozart with him sometimes.
Mozart is real good about staying on your shoulder but it only takes 1 time, you really just don't know.

Jessalyn Eaton · #2 (**permalink**) 10-12-2009, 01:36 PM

Ruby has a harness and we started when she was a baby also. I just let her play with it first for a few days and then with only a bit of fuss, she let me put it on. Then we went right outside so she would connect the two. Good luck!

Michelle & Fids · #3 (**permalink**) 10-12-2009, 03:35 PM

I have two and out of 20 macaws, only 2 will wear them.

DancingGreenBird · #4 (**permalink**) 10-12-2009, 03:37 PM

We use an aviator harness with Ollie, our Military Macaw. I started using it with him when he was about eight months old. I like the aviator harness much better than others I have tried to use, for one thing, there are no buckles to fasten and only one slide. You can buy a harness now and leave it around for the bird to see so they get used to it, but I wouldn't try starting harness training until the bird is fully fledged, no blood feathers.

We just took Ollie outside on Sunday, it was such a beautiful day. He hadn't been out for a while. He was good about putting the harness on, but for some reason was giving me fits about pulling it over his head to take off, I may have been hitting a blood feather, although I was sure he didn't have any on his head/neck at this time.

Good luck!

Sherry

DancingGreenBird · #5 (**permalink**) 10-13-2009, 10:22 AM

Here are two pictures we took when we were outside with Ollie on Sunday. You can barely see the harness in the first when he is on my shoulder, but I love this shot. In the second, he is up in a tree and you can see the harness.

Picasa Web Albums - Sherry

Picasa Web Albums - Sherry

Sherry

Jessalyn Eaton · #6 (**permalink**) 10-13-2009, 11:32 AM

Ruby is HOLLERING "STEPPPP-UP!!". You are so beautiful Ollie!

Xanthus · #7 (**permalink**) 10-13-2009, 03:55 PM

I also use the aviator. My scarlet Tarot is trained to it, though she grumbles a little putting it on, she wears it with little fuss. I did start with her at about 6 months.

Jessalyn Eaton · #8 (**permalink**) 10-14-2009, 03:08 PM

I think one of the best tips I heard is that you need to "keep it up". Don't go for very long without using it, or you will get some lip. Well, and maybe some beak. Buy extra bandaids.

Xanthus · #9 (**permalink**) 10-14-2009, 03:36 PM

The big issue with me is if I dont use it often enough, she tends to chew on it, which is worrisome.

Jessalyn Eaton · #10 (**permalink**) 10-14-2009, 04:20 PM

Parrots chewing??? Now that's really odd!

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