Do any of you have a flightsuit or harness

[Riio]

Hey everyone! I need some help/opinions here please! I bought Rio a flight suit and he hates to have it on. I know some people say that they just have to get used to it, but he really protests it AND it seems to weight him down, meaning that he actually rolls over backward and falls off my finger etc when he has it on.
I was thinking about getting a harness but wanted to see what you all thought, im not sure if the harness will be the same way.
Also I have been a "bad" birdie mom because he goes outside with me all the time as is (wings are clipped) so putting the thing on and taking him outside will not seem like a "treat" to him since he already goes out all the time. He sits on the patio table on his playstand every am while I have coffee, rides in the car with us (on my sons carseat) when we take dad lunch etc. I really wanted the flight suit so he could go into places with me and also when we go camping it would be more enjoyable for him to not have to stay in his cage the entire time. (I know...why do I trust my backyard and not the great outdoors of camping...that I dont know!) Sooo any help would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!
PS the flight suit to catch the poop is a great perk, but I would be just as happy to have a harness if that will work out better, so the "diaper" part of it does not really matter, just his comfort!

 

[Mayden]

Not a single complaint about the aviator... I prefer that over a flight suit. More lightweight and stuff. :3

 

[Riio]

Thanks Mayden! Thats what I was hoping! I will have to try one!

 

[andrea.faerie]

Lucy's getting used to her flight suit right now. I'm not going to take her outside in it, I'm planning on a harness for that! but so far the flight suit is wonderful! no poo!

 

[Riio]

Andrea, are black caps bigger than green cheeks? Im wondering if Rio's size is what is making him fall over? I dont remember what his weight was but the vet said he was a little small, no worries just on the smaller side. If he didnt "flip" over or fall over when walking with it on I would just see if he would get used to it. Maybe he is just being "over dramatic" (a gcc a little over dramatic...HA!) and I feel sorry for him! LOL

 

[Abzeez]

I am buying an aviator... I will never trust a flight suit again after Ida's broke and she flew away. She did come back though, thank goodness. But I for sure would just try the aviator.

 

[Riio]

Abzeez! OMGoodness! Im glad she came back! Wow broke away...eekk that is a bit scary!! I was thinking about the harness...and def will try one now (I think I just needed a little nudge) I hate spending the money on items that dont get used...but as Ive said before...its all about our lil guys and gals being happy. I live in San Diego and we have a thing called "Freecycle" maybe I will just give the flight suit and his happy hut (both he does not use) away to someone who can use them...that will at least make me feel better than just tossing them! Thanks for your help!

 

[andrea.faerie]

Lu is so freakin dramatic lol. I got her a jr. small and a small. It seems like she needs an in-between size but she seems more comfortable in the small. She was rolling around and didnt want to step up and all that stuff, I kept it on her for 3 hours and after about 2, she was just fine. Stepping up like normal, no problems with walking besides a funny little awkwardness caused by the suit haha. Black caps (to my knowledge) are smaller than GCCs. She's 65 grams

 

[ebohacek]

i tried both the harness and the flight suit. No away any of my birds will take it.

 

[Remy]

I haven't been able to get Puck's harness on him yet!

 

[andrea.faerie]

I'll probably get scolded for this from the other members but...

I toweled Lucy to get it on... off was no problem... but the first 2 times I toweled her to put it on because she wouldn't hold still long enough for me to pull up the straps and fasten the velcro. The third time I didn't, and she bit me.. but we got it on and it stayed on for a while and she was fine with plenty of praise and treats.

I familiarized her with the flight suit for a month first. Outside and inside the cage, cuddle time with the suit, playtime with the suit, everything. BEFORE I tried to put it on her. and I've been trying for about 2 weeks to get her to step up or into it on her own. Today I needed her to wear it since we're at my parents' for the hurricane.

 

[Mayden]

You did it for a 'good' reason. I don't blame you for it.

 

[Mayden]

He hates it being put on or taken off, but he quite enjoys being outside. I need to do more aviator training with him really.

 

[Riio]

Thanks everyone for all the great input! I am going to get a harness and try that, and possible try the flight suit again and just leave it on him longer to see if he adjusts and does ok with it. I havent left it on for more than about 10min. Maybe drama king just needs a little more time in it. Thanks Again for all your opinions and stories...I will keep you all updated!

 

[Riio]

Andrea~I hope all is well with you and your flock!
Mayden~Thanks for the adorable picture! So cute!

 

[brighteyes]

Hi my daughter has the suit as well as the harness you can see her two cockatiels in my photo section , we would never just the flightsuit on its own so her birds wear harness over the top of nappy , place nappy open on table as u place bird down lift up nappy as feet touch top table , praise birdy Jess has treat for them , snowflake the aviary bird was never tricky but some days Tarrleea tuckes her leggs up so if someone handy to help your bird will not fuss .
Jess would never take her birds out without their harness as they can get a scare & fly off into harms way !
Good luck , Don,t give up , Even if u use it each day for 30 min then reward ...

 

[Riio]

Thanks brighteyes. I will get the harness and try it, I will persist with it as an everyday thing. I am realizing that it might take a while but I love to take Rio outside everyday so I guess we just need to take it slow and steady. I am thinking that I am going to get the harness and just work with that and skip the flightsuit for now. Jeesh
as Im typING tHIS RIO iS trying to pull keys off the keYBOARd! LOL
Thanks again everyone for your helpful information! I really appreciate it!

 

[Nakiska]

I decided to get Franklin a harness as well...found one on ebay (there's lots of them...the aviator NIP) Anyway, I can't WAIT to be able to take him bye bye with us in his harness.

I know he won't be terribly accepting of it at first and will probably have to end up going Andrea's route with the toweling...in the meantime, I've been playing with him with ribbon, just trying to get him used to me putting "things" on and around him.

We'll see!

Toni

 

[andrea.faerie]

I've been playing with him with ribbon, just trying to get him used to me putting "things" on and around him.

Funny thing about that is that Lu is being a meaniebutt about the flight suit... but i made her a little cape out of some old t-shirt material and she LOVES it... she'll wear a cape... but not a flight suit... haha it's blows my mind