Those of you who use Flightsuits...

[cfulhage]

How in the heck do you get them on your fildren?? I bought one for Ollie when she was young, and stupid me didn't work at it diligently enough. She is not scared of it, and will even pick it up and chew on it if its lying around. My problem is getting it on quickly and efficiently before she knows what's hit her!

Does it take 2 people? Do you lay out the suit, pick the bird up and set their feet in the holes? Or does your birdie just pick up their feet themselves and step right into it like I wish Ollie would?? .

I can get her aviator harness on her, just not her flightsuit! Help!!!

[Conure & Macaw Mom]

The ONLY way I ever got one on Romeo is to lay it out, put him on top of it with his feet through the holes, scratch his head to distract him while putting the straps on him. I pretended I was petting him & he didn't know the difference till after I was done. They do catch on after a time or 2 though. Crystal

[cfulhage]

Boy, Ollie sure knows what's goin on! I got the sliced open and bleeding finger to prove it! I didn't even know I was bleeding until I saw the blood on my desk calendar...she bit and it just went numb!

[Conure & Macaw Mom]

Yep! I got that the 3rd time I tried to put it on Romeo. The first time he threw up. The second time was a great success & the 3rd, disaster. LOL I got a harness now but he don't like that either. LOL It is a little big so I may try a smaller one later. Hope your finger gets better. Crystal

[carlylu]

Carly (CAG) used to wear one, but we haven't used it in awhile. I started it when she was pretty young, and she never did get used to it and always fought me putting it on. I did the lay out suit, set feet in holes routine also. She doesn't bite me hard but fusses like crazy.


Theoretically, you can clicker train them to do these things, rewarding for little steps in the right direction, and doing it very gradually. But I haven't myself.


I used one on my pigeon everyday though. They have the (dis)advantage of having little beaks and delicate feet so you can just plop them in it without bloodshed. For her it was essential since she was in the house, office, lab, other people's offices all the time, and they don't potty train well!

raz

[Dani#2]

I put mine on the fids backwards, so to speak. I loop one hole over the wing, then under the belly, pull a little foot through, then up and over the other wing.

It's soo easy when you start them young, my Hazel was so easy for this, I just laid it out and picked her up, placed her feet in the openings and closed the velcro. But then again, she was so sick, she probably didn't care.

Lu still is a bit fearful of his suit, I haven't had his on him in a while, and be sure to inspect it good if you do get it on Ollie, Lu managed to undo the clear thread holding the elastic on the suit. He never got it completely unconnected, but it was on it's way.

[Buteo]

Originally Posted by cfulhage

How in the heck do you get them on your fildren?? I bought one for Ollie when she was young, and stupid me didn't work at it diligently enough. She is not scared of it, and will even pick it up and chew on it if its lying around. My problem is getting it on quickly and efficiently before she knows what's hit her!

Does it take 2 people? Do you lay out the suit, pick the bird up and set their feet in the holes? Or does your birdie just pick up their feet themselves and step right into it like I wish Ollie would?? .

I can get her aviator harness on her, just not her flightsuit! Help!!!

Yes, that's the one of the most difficult things.
Here's basically what I do.

1) Insert poop-pad into suit.

2) Lay out the suit.

3) Set the "Whatdahelkisdat" in front of the suit.

4) Pick bird up and set down with feet in the holes.

5) Lift straps over the front of wings.

(_***_)

6) Reach through & carefully pull the flight feathers through opening on each side.

7) With 2 fingers under the center of the back, pinch/press the velcro closed.

8) You may need to tug down & back very slightly on the poop-pouch to let the tail feathers sit properly.

The next time I dress Gracie up in hers, I'll try to get a vidclip of it & I'll post it somewhere.

(_***_ NOTE: with small or medium bird you can do Step 7, then Step 6.)

[Tiki]

I do basically the same as Dani while holding the bird on my lap.

[galaxee]

1. lay suit on floor
2. tell bird we're putting on suit now
3. pick up bird from the top (works best for small birds, of course)
4. set bird's feet into leg holes
5. while still holding bird from top, grab one half of velcro with bird-holding hand, and the other half with non-bird-holding hand
6. pull velcro up on bird's back and fasten before bird flaps wings and wriggles out of suit
7. ensure feet are outside suit
8. tell bird to flap wings/gently pull wings out
9. ta-da! suited bird happily chomping on velcro.

it's a bit of a precision exercise. and we started casper shortly after we brought her home so that probably makes it easier. good luck! :)

[cfulhage]

Thanks for the instructions....Buteo, do you think I could velcro it on Ollie before I pull her wings out? She is on the small side for a CAG ~425 grams.