Aviator ordered!

[Freespin]

I am quite excited!! I have ordered Nelson a pretty red Aviator harness and i cant wait until it arrives and i can get him outside and flying =D

It comes with the DVD and i have watched a couple of videos about them online but does anyone have any tips from experience about getting him used to it?

Oh btw im a little excited!!!!! XD

 

[Sadie13]

Oh, both of my birds have one and i just ordered one for my newest member!
(my eckie boy got a red one too, it looks stunning on them )

My best advice is just get him use to you stretching out his wings, tickling his belly (for tightening the harness) and covering hid eyes for the over the head motion.
My eckie took to it almost immediately, and loos forward to it because it means its time for an adventure!
good luck!!!

 

[Freespin]

Thanks =D He doesnt really enjoy me playing with his wings but he doesnt try to kill me so i will keep on doing that and im sure he will be fine =D

 

[Anansi]

Bixby is not a fan of his harness at all, Sophia. But that's likely because I didn't get to do the slow introduction that was suggested in the video. Smh. I opted never to clip him, so while he was weaning I had to make him wear the harness whenever I came to visit him. So he regularly tried to eat it. Lol!

I decided to give him a break from even seeing it since we took him home in November through until now. But I'm going to start working on acclimating him to the harness again, soon. Looks like we'll be working it out together.

I plan to use the same method I've been using to get him used to towels: move it incrementally closer, rewarding him each time he doesn't attack the thing.

Oh, one thing that helped for me: pull out the loop big enough for one of the wings BEFORE putting the neck loop over his head. Cuts down on what you have to do once the harness is partly on him.

Let me know when you start his training.

 

[lpolliard]

Getting your boy used to being handled goes a long way toward everything - the harness, nail & beak filing, clothing, toweling, wiping down the beak after a messy snack. I give him foot and beak rubs. I also stroke his back and wings, top and underside. I know they say not to as this encourages sexuality but he seems to show no adverse effects from this affection. I also stroke his tail to help preen his feathers back into place. He got used to my fingers around his head after I started stroking his noggin (with and not against his feathers). He likes it. His eyes seem to roll back into his head. Maybe not, but he sure does seem to relax when I do it. Best done when you have him cradled on his back. I just got him a Hoodie that goes over his head and the first time was a breeze. Trust is key here. I think by me adjusting the Hoodie on him a little longer than necessary, he realized that this foreign object was something not to fear.

 

[lpolliard]

Here is a neat little add-on to the harness.

http://www.parrotforums.com/do-yourself/36752-avian-harness-diy-accessory.html

 

[Anansi]

Bixby is a LONG WAY from letting me cradle him on his back! Lol! We'll get there eventually, though. He enjoys being handled, but orientation shifts freak him out. And if your guy can put on a hoodie, a harness must be cake for him! Nice!

 

[Anansi]

Here is a neat little add-on to the harness.

http://www.parrotforums.com/do-yourself/36752-avian-harness-diy-accessory.html

Wow! Sweet! Thanks for that. It will come in very handy come this Spring.

 

[Empath]

go slow getting them used to it. my first cockatoo i just chucked it over him and away we went. he elt em do it for a few months but then wouldnt have a bar of it and flew away whenever he saw it.

strangely some of my other birds (who never saw this previous interaction) are scared whenever the harness is around. even though i've never actually tried to put it on them, if they're on my shoulder and i put it on the other they try and get away as fast as possible. even if i put it on the end of a branch then add them to the branch they bolt. they dont do this for other foreign objects which makes me think my harness is possessed (i actually have 2 sizes)

 

[lpolliard]

Bixby is a LONG WAY from letting me cradle him on his back! Lol! We'll get there eventually, though. He enjoys being handled, but orientation shifts freak him out. And if your guy can put on a hoodie, a harness must be cake for him! Nice!

He sometimes plays "Keep Away". Keeping his beak from entering the loop but most times once the loop is over his head he will actually hold the loose end while I slip his wings through. My big helper.

You maybe closer to flipping him over than you think. I was freaked the first time I did it. So paranoid of his beak. Ekkies tend to freeze when stressed so they have a tendency not to panic when rolled over and will lay quietly on their backs. When I socialize Chico with kids I always roll Chico over and place him on his back in their hands. He is less likely to bite in this position and just lays there. I can even toss him in the air and he will stay in that position.

 

[lpolliard]

Empath is right if you haven't developed a close trusting bound with your bird then slow is good. I would start by hanging the harness on the cage for a week. Be careful it is not seen as a toy and gets chewed up. When you have your buddy out I would drape it over a shoulder or arm while he is perched on your hand. Moving it closer if he seems comfortable with it. Getting to the point where you can touch his feet or body with the loop. Make it a game to touch his beak with the harness. Always praising and treating for good behavior. Eventually you will get to the point where you can slip it over his head. Treat, remove, treat, and do it again. Also during this time you will want to play with his wings. For the next step you will have to be able to, and him allow you to lift his wings so you can slip a loop around each. It can be a slow process if done the right way (non-traumatic).

 

[Freespin]

Thanks, im pretty straightforward with my animals and dont baby them. I try to introduce him to new things regularly and dont make a big deal out of it so hopefully if i am the same way with the harness it shouldn't be a huge issue.
He loves his warm mash at night so i am thinking if i introduce it when he is eating he has a distraction as well as a good association with the harness.

 

[Kinny]

You could also try giving him his favourite snack whenever he goes near the harness. It will get him thinking that the harness is a good thing, because he gets more treats the closer he gets to it. Just a thought in case he hates it at first

I gave my conures a tiny bit of peanut before each harness fitting, then id take them outside and theyd get a few sunflower seeds and a HUGE bath which can only happen outside. And then afterwards they got a small pile of tiny almond/walnut and peanut pieces. They grew to think of the harness as a bringer of amazing treats and fun.