advice on aviator harness

[birdcrazy]

I just got SIdney's today. I was wondering if anyone who's used these has any tips or hints on introducing to your parrots. Also anything else you think might be helpful from what you've found out using yours.

 

[Peta]

I have the aviator, as you know I'm a big fan of this one.

What I did was let them play with it throw it about a bit, and drape it over their backs, They took to it surprisingly quickly, Ya know the tip in the DVD about lifting their wings, that I think is a great tip, especially if your bird isn't that keen on having his wings touched or lifted (Bucc hated that but it only took a few gos of this before he would actually lift them slightly when I put my hand under his wing.)

When the day came for me to try it on Him (we only had Bucc at the time) I let him call the shots, if he let me know he wasn't comfortable with it I would have stopped, but it went on the very first time, and I've never looked back. Kito was totally different as I was putting this on him when he was tiny. They both love it now, but will let me know when they don't want to go out, and I never force the issue.

 

[indigo]

I'd love to get my lovies into those (well, the ones that don't have bounties out on my fingers anyways)

 

[birdcrazy]

so he is approaching it and playing with it - I shall keep you updated!

 

[TexDot33]

Cool, I just got a different size for Hamlet today ... now that they
both have one I am going to start getting them comfortable with it ... hopefully soon we can have the harnesses on them and get them outside ... but then I have a whole other set of concerns with that as well ...

 

[birdcrazy]

which size did you get for ham?

So we had our first outdoor excursion today and after just getting the harness yesterday!!! I have such a brave little boy I tried to keep it pretty short and it worked great - I'll probably try one more time today. I keep the harness hanging near his cage at all times and try to have lots of little mini sessions.

 

[TexDot33]

Mac has the "petite" and Hamlet has the "X-Small"

 

[birdcrazy]

so i get it on him without much problem, but it is alot trickier to get it off. Any tips on getting it off easily?

 

[Peta]

:35: :35: well done to Sidney, thats great news.

Getting the harness off, well I just put my hands near the neck part and easy it onto my fingers and it comes of pretty easily, If Bucc stands still, usually he walks backwards with head hung down, and it just slips off.

 

[birdcrazy]

oh I have trouble with Sidney trying to climb up me while I slip it over his wings

 

[Peta]

Is that trouble as in he is trying to climb up you? If so Kito used to do this all the time, Are you ready, try and stand well back from him, and have one hand work the harness while the other is undoing it all from wings, neck etc,

Not comfortable at all, but it worked with kito ..... eventually. Your back will probably be a killer for a while, but once they realise it comes off easier if they are standing still then you can move in closer and be standy comfortably.

Hope this makes sense, my brain is saying one thing but my fingers seem to be in a world of their own, need more coffee I think.

 

[birdcrazy]

LOL I'll try that

 

[Peta]

Its very uncomfortable, but it just doesn't give them quite the opportunity to climb up on ya. Let us know how it goes.

 

[birdcrazy]

so he's not as good as the birdy on the movie about getting it on but i can get it on quite easily and once it's on he doesn't pick at it. TOday we went on a walk and he had so much fun! when we got home I tried what Peta said and it worked beautifully. I think he is starting to get teh hang of it oh and he got a pecan too

 

[Peta]

Way to go, once he associates the harness with all that fun, you'll be able to get it on and off so easily. Brilliant news. Way to go Sidney.