Dealing with poop when you're out with a harness...

[RavensGryf]

I'd like to start seeing if I can take Raven out. Don got him in a harness once before a while ago, for a very short time around the house (though Raven won't let me do it yet). He's ultra hormonal all the time... hmm, maybe he'll behave and not bite my face off when he's away from familiar surroundings? I'd like to try. We have an Aviator harness which I had for a different bird, and I thought it was a little too big for Raven, but it's probably fine since it adjusts. After practicing with it more, if he accepts it I'm ordering his size in black, and the smallest lightweight cat name tag to put on it .

SO what do you do about the POOP problem when you're out? Raven is the one who refuses to be poop trained, and poops just as often as a budgie on top of that. Do you get it all over down your back ? Do you throw a towel over your shoulder? Does your bird do bombs all over the floor in the store you're at? Lol. Nice way to be welcomed back. What is it that you do, to keep this problem at bay? I'd feel awfully silly with this: http://www.mysafebirdstore.com/product.cgi?group=8054&product=12279

A few minutes later....

We just put it on him, and he hates it. He's not freaking out, which is good that he's not frightened of it, but he's not used to the feel of it on his body. Do your birds keep trying to bite at it? After a few minutes he stopped trying to bite it, but I'd hate to order a nice new brand one and get it all snagged up and chewed. I guess I'll just use this old one until he's used to it. I was thinking maybe attaching a string of beads on it as a distraction/toy, but it would need to be very light weight.

 

[Aquila]

Wear a windbreaker or other water resistant fabric lol.

I have "bird shirts" that are mostly old dog food advertising shirts like from Nutro.

Gonzo is pretty poop trained, so I'll make him go every 15~ minutes. Sydney pretty much just holds it for as long as possible, he's rarely pooped on me so I'm pretty lucky, because he has some messy poops. Willow has cute little poops, pretty dry so no mess but she does poop pretty often. I've considered the birdie diapers but I think they're silly, I'd rather just toss a towel over my shoulder like people do with babies!

 

[itchyfeet]

I don't know how large Raven's poops are compared to Henry's, so take this with a grain of salt They don't drip/dribble so much, but they seem to 'cling' in one spot. Maybe the fabric I'm wearing? He has healthy, normal poop's normally. I just wipe it with a baby wipe.

Is Raven biting his harness as in hard out 'I'm GOING to escape?'. Both of mine accept the harness, and are beaky with it but it's more a gentle preening. I reckon it might feel just a wee bit odd and so they're trying to 'fix their feathers'.

I don't leave the house with Henry, without baby wipes. Work a treat. They are also in my lounge and office for carpet moments lol

 

[OOwl]

I take my birds with me places (where other pet birds are not) and I carry a "diaper bag" with me containing baby wipes and a small trash sack, treats, bottle water, band-aids for any scratches or nips (hey, you just never know, my RB2 who has never in 11 years bit anyone on our travels picked my BOSS of all people to bite and bite badly; it left a scar, so now I have those in the bag, just in case). I also take a couple of those puppy pee pads. When I go visit people, I perch my bird on a chair (one that can't be chewed. . . learned that one the hard way, too) and put the pee pad in the poop zone on the floor. My Grey and RB2 both poop on command, so I usually take advantage of any trash cans in the vicinity. One will wear the harness without much fuss; the other would rather not, so I just respect that and he rides in his Wingabego carrier until he can get out at our destination.

Good luck with the harness training and with day-out-with-mom. Sounds fun.

 

[RavensGryf]

Wear a windbreaker or other water resistant fabric lol.

I have "bird shirts" that are mostly old dog food advertising shirts like from Nutro.

Gonzo is pretty poop trained, so I'll make him go every 15~ minutes. Sydney pretty much just holds it for as long as possible, he's rarely pooped on me so I'm pretty lucky, because he has some messy poops. Willow has cute little poops, pretty dry so no mess but she does poop pretty often. I've considered the birdie diapers but I think they're silly, I'd rather just toss a towel over my shoulder like people do with babies!

The windbreaker might work in the winter here, but not when it's 100 degrees out LOL. I can do the bird shirts... then whenever I'm out with him, I'd never be able to wear whatever I want to .

Willow has cute poops?! :18:.

I don't know how large Raven's poops are compared to Henry's, so take this with a grain of salt They don't drip/dribble so much, but they seem to 'cling' in one spot. Maybe the fabric I'm wearing? He has healthy, normal poop's normally. I just wipe it with a baby wipe.

Is Raven biting his harness as in hard out 'I'm GOING to escape?'. Both of mine accept the harness, and are beaky with it but it's more a gentle preening. I reckon it might feel just a wee bit odd and so they're trying to 'fix their feathers'.

I don't leave the house with Henry, without baby wipes. Work a treat. They are also in my lounge and office for carpet moments lol

Raven typically has much drier poops as compared to the Pois, thank goodness. He often has surprisingly small poops for his body size. I think a lot of that is due to his odd habit of going too often, so it doesn't build up to normal Pionus size. :52:

Ah, baby wipes . So you don't have everyone saying "excuse me, you have poop on your back".

Raven was definitely "chewing" on it as if he wanted it off his body. Good thing is he wasn't too persistent after some time. I think we just have to "torture" him with the harness several times a week for a few minutes around the house so he'll get used to it. Hopefully he'll eventually get used to it.

 

[Allee]

Julie, I can't add to the excellent advice, just wanted to say I hope Raven's day out with Mom goes smoothly and it's the first of many.

 

[RavensGryf]

I take my birds with me places (where other pet birds are not) and I carry a "diaper bag" with me containing baby wipes and a small trash sack, treats, bottle water, band-aids for any scratches or nips (hey, you just never know, my RB2 who has never in 11 years bit anyone on our travels picked my BOSS of all people to bite and bite badly; it left a scar, so now I have those in the bag, just in case). I also take a couple of those puppy pee pads. When I go visit people, I perch my bird on a chair (one that can't be chewed. . . learned that one the hard way, too) and put the pee pad in the poop zone on the floor. My Grey and RB2 both poop on command, so I usually take advantage of any trash cans in the vicinity. One will wear the harness without much fuss; the other would rather not, so I just respect that and he rides in his Wingabego carrier until he can get out at our destination.

Good luck with the harness training and with day-out-with-mom. Sounds fun.

That's an excellent idea! You're certainly prepared!

Julie, I can't add to the excellent advice, just wanted to say I hope Raven's day out with Mom goes smoothly and it's the first of many.

I think we'll have to practice around the house for a while first. Then the front yard, then out somewhere without a lot of commotion at first. Pionus are not the most outgoing of birds. They're pretty cautious.

I've considered the birdie diapers but I think they're silly, I'd rather just toss a towel over my shoulder like people do with babies!

I used to think the flightsuits were ridiculous! I have to be honest, although I've gotten a bit more used to the idea, IMHO they're embarrassing, but it sure would solve the problem. Unless he's like some birds you hear of, who hold it as long as the suit is on, which could be awful depending how long it's on. Knowing Raven, he'd probably have the thing filled up! Hm, maybe a dark color that blends in with his colors wouldn't be bad...

 

[itchyfeet]

Ah, baby wipes . So you don't have everyone saying "excuse me, you have poop on your back".

Lol I often have a child with me, they're my eyes! But otherwise, I live in a small country village. I may have bird poop on me but others are generally covered in worse

 

[Doublete]

I don't know how many times I've wandered into a public place only to discover once I'm home that I had horse manure smeared on my jeans, or hay in my hair, or mud splatter across my butt from the horse that decided to take advantage of his turnout time the minute he was loose...
Bird poop is just one more thing...

 

[Kiwibird]

How exciting Julie! Get that little stinker out there and socialized Is it just Raven you're thinking about taking out or will that little gray troublemaker or old man Robin ever be considered too?

I've seen these before, so perhaps one of these would be a good option
Bird Shoulder Cape

 

[Aquila]

I actually just had a thought about this, groomer's smock, I have my old ones somewhere.
https://www.petedge.com/zpetedgemai...D5349BEFB3&show=12&view=grid&wec-locale=en_US

 

[Birdman666]

Mine are poop trained.

They go poop before we get in the car.

They go poop when we get out of the car before we enter any buildings.

 

[RavensGryf]

How exciting Julie! Get that little stinker out there and socialized Is it just Raven you're thinking about taking out or will that little gray troublemaker or old man Robin ever be considered too?

I've seen these before, so perhaps one of these would be a good option
Bird Shoulder Cape

Well, Raven was angry from the harness, plus he didn't want to go to bed last night and "pretended" like he was going to take his 'step up bribe' safflower seed from me, when he nailed me good and bloody instead .

He is the only candidate that I can see would adjust into being a good out bird with some getting used to it. They don't make harnesses small enough for Mink my tame budgie lol. The Pois are just too flighty and nervous, and Griffin has reverted mostly to a very wild "fight or flight" INSTINCT off and on called Phobic behavior as he hits a certain age. It's found more in Poicephalus parrots. It's extremely difficult behavior to extinguish, and worse than gaining trust of a wild parrot. It's like a switch flips in his head from tame to "literally" wild mode in a flash with no apparent trigger, where he doesn't recognize you for that moment. I working with him. I've researched a bit on it, and there is no guarantee I'll get my cuddly baby back. Not to get off course here and I havent mentioned it much because it's hard for me to talk about and come to terms with.

Oh about the shoulder cape... Nah. Maybe for $1,000,000 in a town far away from home lol.

I actually just had a thought about this, groomer's smock, I have my old ones somewhere.
https://www.petedge.com/zpetedgemai...D5349BEFB3&show=12&view=grid&wec-locale=en_US

Thanks Liz . I was trying to think more of a way I can wear whatever I want without getting poop on it at all, not even on the outside of a bird shirt or smock. Maybe if I can get Raven used to the harness enough without biting at it and holding a grudge and biting me, I can get him a dark color flight suit?

 

[StephenAndKyleigh]

FlightSuits? Bird Diapers - Avian Fashions

A buddy of mine has one for his macaw. He said it was no different than training her for a harness. I thought about buying one soon, considering that Kyleigh goes with me everywhere lol.

FlightSuits? Bird Diapers - Avian Fashions

 

[RavensGryf]

FlightSuits? Bird Diapers - Avian Fashions

A buddy of mine has one for his macaw. He said it was no different than training her for a harness. I thought about buying one soon, considering that Kyleigh goes with me everywhere lol.

FlightSuits? Bird Diapers - Avian Fashions

Thanks Stephen, I just watched their video Almost looks easier to put on than a harness since you don't put their head through anything. How about a solid black one for Raven. I'm thinking about it. I'd be embarrassed for him in the tuxedo one!

I was surprised they said on the video that they offer 16 sizes, including ones for the smallest parakeets! That means I might be able to take Mink out too .

 

[BoomBoom]

Congrats on getting the harness! That's my ultimate goal. As for the pooping, I know that Patty (Gil's human) drapes a towel over her shoulder.

 

[Doublete]

My gcc took the harness... Not so much the flight suit.

 

[RavensGryf]

Mine are poop trained.

They go poop before we get in the car.

They go poop when we get out of the car before we enter any buildings.

Raven is an extra stubborn bird when it comes to poop training. He might know what it means after 2 years of training, but pretends he doesn't lol. Also, his odd habit of pooping as often as a budgie doesn't help matters.

Congrats on getting the harness! That's my ultimate goal. As for the pooping, I know that Patty (Gil's human) drapes a towel over her shoulder.

Don't congratulate me yet lol Raven was angry all night and drew blood. I hope we can continue this without him telling me he's not going to go along with it.

A towel is also a good idea

My gcc took the harness... Not so much the flight suit.

I hate to risk ordering something only to find you can't use it and waste money.

 

[Anansi]

Raven in a harness, Lady Jules? Sweet! I'm sorry he drew blood in the aftermath, but hopefully that will subside as he gets more used to it.

Personally, I just deal with my bird in a harness in the same way I deal with her when she's out of her harness. (Only Maya accepts it so far. And Bixby before her. Jolly's still a work in progress.) By paying attention to the time intervals between her droppings and making sure that she is on my hand or arm when time comes for her to drop her next bomb. (I've been lucky in that none of my birds have ever gone on my shoulder, but I still take that precaution.)

As for the harness chewing, yes, that's common. Bixby was ridiculous and would spend maybe 80% of his harness time chewing at it if you didn't find a way to keep his attention occupied. Lol! And Maya bites at it a lot until she settles down.

It's nothing to worry about, though. The aviator harness is VERY durable. It stands up well even in the face of such constant abuse from my ekkies. Of course the integrity will eventually become compromised, but it would be unrealistic to think otherwise. It will, however, easily last long enough to make the purchase worth it. (Just don't give them the opportunity to chew on the elastic material of the leash itself. That, of necessity, is considerably less durable.)

Looking forward to some pics, my friend!

 

[ToMang07]

My only advice is I have noticed 2 things that significantly help with harnessing her:

1: Speed is my friend. The quicker I get it on/off her, the less PO'd she gets....and the less bit I get. (None when I'm fast enough.)

2: The quicker I get her outside of her "normal" areas the less she focuses on the harness. If I leave her (say perched on a branch for a bit) for a while she'll get back into chewing the harness, but walking/moving around, she just watches everything that is going on.