Do you use a Harness ?

[Buzz7]

I really would love to use a flight suit/harness (what's the difference; is there a difference). I assume Baxter would take to it (he loves to be handles- his favorite position is upside down and he's seemingly fearless- though I worry he will really chew it), though I could be wrong; but when I discussed it seriously someone (I don't remember who) really scared me about hawks so I decided I'd buy a birdie backpack instead? Do any of you worry about hawks or preditors?

[Twinkelstar]

well we don't have hawks here :D glad for that ! i you just keep an good eye i on your bird i don't thinks is and danger tking him/her out in a harness :D

[Buzz7]

k Twinklestar, I've not seen one in town but I think I'd just die to lose... I just remembered! I think it was grandma, here on the bird board who convinced me not too; she had a grisly story of losing almost all her birds. Maybe I'm getting this story wrong???

[ray1457]

Originally Posted by Buzz7

I really would love to use a flight suit/harness (what's the difference; is there a difference?

A flight suit is mostly cloth and usually wraps around the bird's body (with holes for the wings) and is secured at the bird's back with overlapping velcro. Fight suits (usually) have a "poop pouch" for the bird's droppings. They also often have a metal ring built into the front of the suit where a clip leash (similar to a dog's but much smaller) can be attached.

A harness has no cloth, velcro, rings, clips or "poop pouch"; it is a one-piece unit designed to slip over the bird's head and around / under the wings (both the harness and the flight suit do this). The "leash" is built into the harness (at least it is on the Aviator harness that I purchased), uses elastic and functions much like a horizontal bungee cord in use.

Of the two, I personally prefer the harness vs. the flight suit. I don't like the location of the flight suit's large ring / clip; the leash on the Aviatory harness is designed to "slide" around the bird's body as needed for movement or flying, where the flight suit's ring / buckle arrangement is located at the front of the bird, and if they fly, they can be 'jerked' around when they reach the end of the leash. The Aviator harness' elastic cord brings the bird to a more gentle stop, and the bird is (usually) facing forward when they land.

[Luvmygrey]

I got my grey in an Aviator once. Haven't had any luck getting it on him again. However, I am still working on it.

[Yondo]

My meyers parrot Saga just can not accept either her harness nor her suit. My cockatoo however, was just four months and five days old when I first tried to put a harness on him. First I tried to just hang it "softly" and loose over his neck. He did not seem to like it but when I a while later tried to put on the whole harness he did not struggle at all, and has after that been with me outside many times.

With my meyers I made the mistake in the first place to just put the flightsuit on without even thinking of letting her getting used to it first, she was about one year old back then and she is three now. I belive she is NEVER going to accept the suit (nor the harness) so I will never try it again.


Here you can see how much Saga LOOOVES her harness! (Not) As said, I will never more put it on her.


This pic was taken April 10th this year. As you can see, she kind of accepted the suit for there for maybe an hour, she almost behaved as if it was'nt there. But the next time i tried to put it on, she was just like "NO WAY!!!"


And so, here we have Yondo, in his lime green harness. He can be really angry at some times when you put the harness on and off, and that is the only time when he bites. He never bites the harness, and he never bites me in other situations, (yet) but when you put the harness on and off Yondo, you must have really quick reflexes.

[Twinkelstar]

yondo is soooo cute ! my favourite cockatoo :D i hope to see you and your lovely parrots some day Frida !