Flying Away ???

[CaptainGentleGiant]

My GreenWing's wings are NOT clipped. He likes to flap them as if he were flying when on my shoulder or sometimes on his perch.

I need to take him outside on my shoulder about 20 feet under a walk-way to get him from one point to another (cage in one place, day perch another).

My question is: Since he flaps his wings so much, what are the chances, I could lose him by flying away?

If a macaw flys off, what are the chances of them flying back to you?
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[MissV]

Very high. Large macaws have a lot more webbing to work with too so hard flapping will take even a clipped bird up...and then just a gust of wind is all it takes to carry them off. With your bird unclipped this is a huge danger. At the very least, you should put him in a carrier--even a simple dog one would do.

Otherwise, you could get the aviator harness and start conditioning him to get used to it. I love my aviator...and Etienne is...starting to get used to it. ^^ It's slow going, but once they're used to it it is a life saver.



Chances of retrieving a lost bird are...unfortunately very slim.

[chapala]

You are taking a real risk of losing your bird, walking with an unclipped bird outside on your shoulder. Either clip, or use a harness, or put him in a crate to take him outdoors and into a different area.

[Emmilyy]

HUGE risk...

I wouldn't chance it, why don't you just get a travel cage type thing to take him from one place to another?

Any luck getting him a new cage, yet?

[Ashling]

It's not very far to bother with a harness or carrier etc every day but at the same time, it would definately be worth it. Couldn't you just carry him in your hands?

[Congobongo]

Or maybe towel him when you carry him for extra security?

[r2rusmc]

Can't imagine the beating your face takes from all that flapping.

[ROYJOY]

See my post on the duplicate thread you put in the parrot forum, under the macaw forum.

[CaptainGentleGiant]

Great ideas! And even a chuckle from one of you. Yeah...the flapping near my face actually feel good...it's Florida here...HOT...the cool breeze is nice.

Afraid the towel will anger him and he may bite.

How do you get a huge bird like this in a dog crate? I have one that would fit him...but to get him in?????????

Harness idea...don't have one and not sure after 35 years he would like it.

Ohh...I just thought of an umbrella. I wonder if that would work. I may try that. Hope it does not spook him though.

Thanks for the ideas. What all of you did was confirm that I need to do something. And I will! I'll keep you posted.

[jenseits]

How do you get him to the vet? I assume he needs to go in a carrier for that? Crate training is a really good thing to do in any case, just in case. If you use lots of postive reinforcement, he will come to think of it as a fun game.

I echo everyone's sentiments that walking outside with an unclipped, untrained macaw is courting a fly-off. And once a strong flyer like a macaw takes to the air (unless free flight trained), the odds of getting him back are extremely small.