Aviator Suits or Harness?

[MaiasMom]

Okay, do any of you put aviator suits or harnesses on your Amazons? How hard is this to do? Do they hate it? What is your advise? I would love to take Gracie outside but I am afraid she will fly away. They are pricey if they are not going to work.

Any thoughts are appreciated.

[Lisa B]

hopefully Chris will get on this thread. she wrote up a comparison of them all.
I will bring her attention to it...

[Lorenzini]

My opinion would be to clip her wings so she can only fly down, I kind of frown upon harnesses, they're pretty demoralizing.

Although taking away a birds flight is cruel in a sense as well, but if she will be happier with diminished flight but a life with an outside supplement, it's worth the sacrifice.

Whatever makes her happier, thinking back now, trying the harness would be the best option. If she hates it, think about wing trimming. If she doesn't mind it, then you're good. Don't know until you try.

Good luck,
Loren

[Monica]

Originally Posted by Lorenzini

My opinion would be to clip her wings so she can only fly down, I kind of frown upon harnesses, they're pretty demoralizing.

Although taking away a birds flight is cruel in a sense as well, but if she will be happier with diminished flight but a life with an outside supplement, it's worth the sacrifice.

Whatever makes her happier, thinking back now, trying the harness would be the best option. If she hates it, think about wing trimming. If she doesn't mind it, then you're good. Don't know until you try.

Good luck,
Loren

Birds can and do fly when clipped.... especially if caught by a gust of wing.... and a harness being demoralizing? I dunno.... If the only way you could take your dog for a walk is on a leash, is it really better to make the dog suffer a leash so that he could go on a walk and explore? (although I realize birds and dogs are indeed different!)

YouTube - Charlie Flying Outside

[Lorenzini]

Birds can and do fly when clipped.... especially if caught by a gust of wing.... and a harness being demoralizing? I dunno.... If the only way you could take your dog for a walk is on a leash, is it really better to make the dog suffer a leash so that he could go on a walk and explore? (although I realize birds and dogs are indeed different!)

Yeah, I realized that about the harness, that it is most likely better for the bird to be outside and on a harness than inside without.

I have a rescue bird who can't really fly, so I'm used to just setting him out on our fig tree and not having to worry about him flying off. He usually wants to get down and see me so bad that he doesn't think about anything else.

Tailoring your situation to the individual is the best, I think. She may hate the harness at first, but then realize that it lets her get a romp outside, and all will be well.

Disregard what I said about wing clipping (I wasn't thinking clearly), I don't believe either that or a harness is especially fair to the bird, but when it's an issue of safety, you should do what's right.

[Monica]

Indeed, each situation is different! I have two birds here who can't fly... one of them enjoys going outside to our apple tree, and she'll sit in there, fluffing up her feathers, rubbing her beak on the branches, or finding a good spot to chew on! The other I don't take outside because her mate can fly... neither are hand tame, and I wouldn't want to separate the two!

[my-africangrey-echo]

Please see this link where I have a comparison of harnesses. The fight suit is not a harness it is a diaper with a velcro closer no way would your FID be safe outside with that on..
A comparison of the 3 major bird harnesses

[girlybird]

Hi, I have tried both the Kaylor Collar and the Aviator Harness. Dozy HATED the Kaylor Collar. So I bought the Aviator Harness to give it a try and see if she'd like it any better. WOW!!!! What a HUGE difference. She does not mind it at all!!! I would definitely recommend the Aviator Harness.

[MaiasMom]

Thanks to everyone. I appreciated all the info. I am going to see about getting an avian harness next week when I go to Bird Paradise. I am meeting up with some of my Caique friends on the 11th.

Thanks again guys.

Also I never thought about the mess being next to them in the flight suit or that the only fastener was a velcro piece.

Thanks again,

[sweetpeaches]

hey beth,

i bought bailey an avitar from bp a couple months ago. it is very light weight and nice. i did get it on him quite easily, but he wasn't crazy about it too much. it was harder getting it off. but that was my fault as i have yet to watch the video. which i plan on doing this weekend as the weather is getting nicer and i want to take him outside.
i read up on it myself and found the avitar to be the most popular. i think once he gets used to it he'll be fine.