Does your bird like outside?

[lee42048]

I am babysitting a friends Macaw. I am able to get the harness on him with a bribe but he doesn't seem to like it. He keeps picking on it. I fear one chomp and it's gone and so is he. Fortunately he is clipped and can't fly well.
I can't tell if he likes going outside. It almost seems he doesn't. He did like climbing a tree and would have been out of reach real fast if I let him. Do your birds like out?
thanks
Lee

[Parrotpeople]

Most definately! They get very excited when they hear the travel cage come out. Ziggy, Green Cheek, we just take her whole set up out to the patio, but Poppy, TAG, goes in his smaller travel cage to go out. We have a screened in canopy, but they're happy (and safer) in their cages. Poppy chews at his harness too

[Bonesy]

I think most birds chew harnesses much like dogs like to chew leads.

I wouldn't have anything less than a 1 CM thick harness for a macaw. But then again clicker training corrects most of my clients birds from chewing things in no time, including their harness and themselves.

Smaller birds I just take out in the cage, but I do like to fly bigger birds. Friend of mine was a falconer and helped me fly a clients Hyacinth Macaw when I was 'Cawsitting for a while

[Monica]

The birds who are allowed to go out here enjoy it! Charlie is the only one who wears a harness, and he wont leave it alone if we are inside a building... outside however he's been learning to ignore it... At first he wouldn't (first time he had it on he was 12 years old... he's bout 13 or nearly 13 now).

If I was walking around with him outside, and he started to chew the feather tether, I'd just "bump" him... i.e. if he was on my shoulder and started picking at the harness I'd do a little skip/hop while walking.... or if he was on my hand I'd just move my arm just enough to unbalance him. It actually worked out well as he now hardly bothers with it as long as we are moving.

[Tiki]

Sure they do! I only take mine out if they are in a flightsuit and leash though as anything can spook a bird and cause him to take off. My bird room has windows on the backyard and they love sitting on the security bars and peering out at the garden and wild birds.

[RMSacha]

Originally Posted by Bonesy

I think most birds chew harnesses much like dogs like to chew leads.

I wouldn't have anything less than a 1 CM thick harness for a macaw. But then again clicker training corrects most of my clients birds from chewing things in no time, including their harness and themselves.

Smaller birds I just take out in the cage, but I do like to fly bigger birds. Friend of mine was a falconer and helped me fly a clients Hyacinth Macaw when I was 'Cawsitting for a while

I have seen B&Gs, GWs, and Scarlets flighted; but a Hy?!!! I can't believe someone would be willing to risk that! I would love to see pics!

[Bonesy]

What do you mean, risk it? I never found them much more agressive than other macaws. Infact Saffie was one of the better behaved 'caws ive had here. (Saffy short for Miss Saphire Morning Dew Water! Posh name! )

She needed flying, too. That four and a half foot or more wingspan took half the room with it when she flew!

It's beautiful to see birds like that doing what they were supposed to do, soar in the open air and enjoy themselves!

[KimM]

My Harlequin macaw "loves" it outside. As soon as we walk out the door, he yells, "Pretty"! His wings are clipped so I do not harness him. When I take him outside, he is kept in a screened porch. For safety's sake, I never leave him unattended when he is out of his cage.

[tielmama]

I take my U2 out and let him sit on top of the swingset almost every day after his shower. I can do this because he can't fly. He came to me 5 months ago with his feathers in pretty bad shape. We are going to have an outdoor flight built for when his feathers grow in, but for now, it's safe. He does seem to enjoy being outside, but if I try to sit with him where he can see the back door, he hops off of me and walks up to the back door and asks to go in. On the swingset, he can't see the door, and he has a good time. I take my Sennie out with us, but she has to be in a cage since her flight feathers are growing longer.

[RMSacha]

Originally Posted by Bonesy

What do you mean, risk it? I never found them much more agressive than other macaws. Infact Saffie was one of the better behaved 'caws ive had here. (Saffy short for Miss Saphire Morning Dew Water! Posh name! )

She needed flying, too. That four and a half foot or more wingspan took half the room with it when she flew!

It's beautiful to see birds like that doing what they were supposed to do, soar in the open air and enjoy themselves!

Ummmmmm... I wasn't referring to aggression... I own a Hy and would never think about taking it outdoors to fly... now, I see you meant she was indoors. I totally agree with the idea of flighting birds, I am just apprehensive about doing it outdoors. It seems more prevalent in Europe than in the U.S.