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

[Anansi]

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.

So true on both counts!

The speed is definitely vital. Tricky, though, because you don't want to go too fast and pinch something. So it's not so much about rushed movement as economy of movement.

 

[RavensGryf]

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!

Raven is a character. He's a different one. When he 'puts his foot down' and tells you he doesn't like something, he means it (in typical Pionus/Amazon style so have the band aids nearby), and holds a grudge unlike anyone else I've ever had.

Honestly, now I hope we can even continue. He absolutely made it clear that he hated it. Oh, and this is an Aviator brand, and it's pretty snagged already.

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.

That makes sense Tom. The more I think about it, I know that was part of the problem the other day. He didn't want it on in the first place, but the fumbling around with it for so long pushed him over the edge.

Once the harness was on, we didn't tighten the 'belt' part of it (don't ask why, but we didn't) and he kept grabbing it with his foot as I tried to at least take up some of the slack, which was taking a while. Then I kept handling him while he was in it. So that means he was already frustrated at the experience, let alone it taking so long fiddling with the thing, plus touching him a lot and even snuggling him which he hates lol. He had had enough and made sure he let me know at bed time!

 

[ToMang07]

That makes sense Tom. The more I think about it, I know that was part of the problem the other day. He didn't want it on in the first place, but the fumbling around with it for so long pushed him over the edge.

Once the harness was on, we didn't tighten the 'belt' part of it (don't ask why, but we didn't) and he kept grabbing it with his foot as I tried to at least take up some of the slack, which was taking a while. Then I kept handling him while he was in it. So that means he was already frustrated at the experience, let alone it taking so long fiddling with the thing, plus touching him a lot and even snuggling him which he hates lol. He had had enough and made sure he let me know at bed time!

The way I do it, start with the big loop as far out as it goes, and have one side pulled out ready to go. I kneel at the couch and place her on it, head goes on quick, then I take my time with the wings, (relatively speaking, still go pretty quick) one in, switch loop to other side, 2 in, and now the tricky part.

It took me WEEKS of practice/playing with her to get get Willow to lay on her back at all, let alone a minute or two. So the soon as both wings are in, I tighten them across the back, and flip her over belly-up. I let her grab my left hand with her feet (so they don't tangled on the harness, and carefully/quickly tighten the waist band. One finger snug, then I flip her up and immediately take her out.

 

[Anansi]

I pretty much do it the same way except for the flipping on her back part. I just cinch the strap around her waist while she's standing there. I've actually never considered trying it with her on her back. Interesting.

 

[RavensGryf]

I pretty much do it the same way except for the flipping on her back part. I just cinch the strap around her waist while she's standing there. I've actually never considered trying it with her on her back. Interesting.

Raven is not a bird who likes to be on his back. Although I think he was caught by surprise in the harness and let me do things to him that he normally wouldn't have. He was like a deer in the headlights :52:. If he got used to it, I have a feeling he would be trying to set boundaries with me and biting if I put him on his back to cinch the strap. Pionus aren't a species where being on the back is natural like a Too, Macaw, Caique, Lories, some Pois. A Pionus would have to be conditioned to accept that sort of handling from an early age most likely.

I know the "buckle" is supposed to go on the front, but I wonder if it would work if I could turn it around and put it on the back? That would be easier for me to cinch, as well as keeping my hands away from his beak .

 

[ToMang07]

I know the "buckle" is supposed to go on the front, but I wonder if it would work if I could turn it around and put it on the back? That would be easier for me to cinch, as well as keeping my hands away from his beak .

It would be easier, however if they get spooked and try to fly, the leash will interfere with their flying and you'll risk injury.

After Willow getting spooked a couple times.... I wouldn't attempt to have the buckle on the back.

 

[Anansi]

Nah Julie, you definitely can't put the buckle on the back. It's not designed that way and would cause more problems than the one it attempts to fix.

 

[RavensGryf]

Good point guys. Although I just remembered that the flight suits have the lanyard on the back... Maybe I shouldn't try to get creative, and just use products like they're supposed to be used lol.

I'm still thinking of the flight suit. But then I hesitate, what would I do if he never accepts it? Then so that the money doesn't go to waste, I'd have to get another Pionus or like sized bird for it, you know?

 

[Anansi]

...Then so that the money doesn't go to waste, I'd have to get another Pionus or like sized bird for it, you know?

Well, there you go! Sounds like a plan to me! Hahaha!

 

[ruffledfeathers]

Gil is semi poop trained but he still will poop on me especially if nervous. I bought a pack of microfiber towels and I clip a clean towel to my shoulder with small binder clips. He knows that is his spot. He just stands on that towel when we go places and it is also great in summer (nails on my bare shoulder? No thank you).

 

[Roanoke]

My GCC wears a Flight Suit on occasion. It took weeks of conditioning to get it on him though. He nailed me good the first couple times I showed it to him. You have to first get them used to seeing it, then groom them with it (Wasn't too hard for me, Teeko will rub his quills on anything) then little by little get them used to standing on it and being wrapped in it. Give treats generously with each step. Soon enough he'll be wearing it.
I can't guarantee it'll work for every bird (Mine still fights it but he doesn't bite me anymore, just the suit) but considering the benefits it's worth a try. If you can believe it, they don't even look very stupid in person!
Besides, like you said, you can always get another bird to put in it if Raven says no! Haha!

 

[RavensGryf]

Gil is semi poop trained but he still will poop on me especially if nervous. I bought a pack of microfiber towels and I clip a clean towel to my shoulder with small binder clips. He knows that is his spot. He just stands on that towel when we go places and it is also great in summer (nails on my bare shoulder? No thank you).

That's smart Patti, it's bad enough on your clothes, but no one wants bird poop on their skin, running down their back in public ew LOL! The nails too, I hear you .

My GCC wears a Flight Suit on occasion. It took weeks of conditioning to get it on him though. He nailed me good the first couple times I showed it to him. You have to first get them used to seeing it, then groom them with it (Wasn't too hard for me, Teeko will rub his quills on anything) then little by little get them used to standing on it and being wrapped in it. Give treats generously with each step. Soon enough he'll be wearing it.
I can't guarantee it'll work for every bird (Mine still fights it but he doesn't bite me anymore, just the suit) but considering the benefits it's worth a try. If you can believe it, they don't even look very stupid in person!
Besides, like you said, you can always get another bird to put in it if Raven says no! Haha!

I remember when you were going through that, and finally Teeko was able to wear it. That was great that patience and persistence did it! You're right though, I believe even with that level of patience, some older birds won't be successful, but that fact that Raven isn't scared of it, and will grudgingly get into the harness so far, that's a good sign.

Now that I think about it, the flight suits aren't all that bad looking. Teeko's looks good on him in fact! The tuxedo and dress ones, no. The psychedelic rainbow print would embarrass me too. But the more subtle ones I'm willing to try. It's actually a pretty clever idea, whoever invented it. I wish they didn't go so high up in front. It doesn't seem necessary, and would cover a lot of his pretty color.