Feather Tether Warning

[Tracy842]

I recently purchased a small size "feather tether" bird harness. I wanted to harness train my senegal popsicle. Just a warning to everyone these feather tethers can be dangerous to your bird. The small size one fits around the neck then around the chest of the bird. I managed with lots of problems to get this bulky harness on Popsicle. She decided she wanted nothing to do with this so she managed to get her foot hooked onto the part that went around her chest and pushed it off her chest which in turn tightened the piece around her neck. If I had the neck piece any tighter she could have choked herself. These are hard enough to get off a grumpy bird, let alone when your panicing yourself.

So a warning for everyone out there, be very careful if you go to use this type of harness. I'm not sure how the other sizes work but the small size harness is in my opinion horrible!!!

 

[Peta]

Tracy I'm so glad that you were able to get this thing off Popsicle without too many problems.

I hate the feather tether, had one for Bucc and swore I would never ever use one again on a bird of mine. He managed to undo the clasps and get himself out of it. Thankfully we were inside at the time. I have since got an Aviator Harness and they are brilliant. In fact they are so good that I have just ordered one for Kito. I would highly recommend these for anyone who wants to harness train their bird.

http://theparrotuniversity.com/harness/harness.html

Although I'm in the UK, I ordered mine from Steve and it came within a week and was cheaper than I could get it in this country and no shipping. Even better.

 

[birdcrazy]

thanks tracy i was thinking about getting one for Sidney now I saved my money!

 

[Tracy842]

Thanks Peta, that looks like a much better design.

Poor Popsicle at least she forgave me for putting that thing on her!!!

 

[Peta]

The other great thing about the aviator is that the leash is elastic, so if the bird does take off they don't get yanked when they reach the end of the leash. The are just pulled gently round to you. I haven't found a bad thing to say about this harness.

 

[birdcrazy]

does it have any clips or anything a curious beak could pop I mean seriously Sidney's beak is dangerous he can snap stuff really quick!

 

[Peta]

does it have any clips or anything a curious beak could pop I mean seriously Sidney's beak is dangerous he can snap stuff really quick!

No, well not one that he could undo. Hang on I'll take a picture of mine and you can see the only metal clasp on there. I'll get it posted in a little while.

 

[Peta]

Heres the whole thing, you just slip it over the birds head and wings,

And the only buckle is this one, you just pull this to tighten the whole thing up.

As you can see Bucc has tried to open it without any success. If your bird in on the ground the leash will slip round so its on top of the bird, If he's on your arm it will slide round to be underneath him. You don't have to take it off and turn the whole thing round like you do with the most of them. Also the whole harness is very light. I believe Steve is bringing out a flight line so your birds will have a longer flight area, not sure when though.

 

[birdcrazy]

AWSOME!!! that looks really neat

 

[Tracy842]

This does look great. Can you just purchase the one of the site?

 

[Peta]

Yeah, you can order from Steve at the above site, I ordered mine from him and it came to me quicker than the one I've ordered for Kito (from the UK) and it cost me less.

Honestly this guy really knows what he's talking about, and he loves to have feedback about how your bird got on with it, and if there is anything you would change about it.

 

[Tracy842]

Thanks Peta just ordered one so I'll let you know how I do make out with it.

 

[TexDot33]

Ya know what, I think I am all about that leash ... but I don't think I will need one for a while ... it's still WAAAAAAAY to chilly to take the little one outside right now. I think come June or so, we will be venturing out into the outside world.

~ Tex :50:

 

[Tracy842]

Gonna be until May or June until mine can go out to, but I figured might as well start the training so it won't be too hard to get it on them by this time.

Knowing how the feather tether was going were not gonna like putting this one on either, but at least its not a choking hazard!!!

 

[NicoleN]

How exactly would you go about 'training' them? Is it just basically putting it on them so they get used to it?

 

[Peta]

Tracy I thought the same with Bucc, but he was in his nearly straight away, it was fantastic

How exactly would you go about 'training' them? Is it just basically putting it on them so they get used to it?

No you need to take it slowly, some birds will take to it sooner than others but basically you need to get them used to having their wings lifted, and then have something going over their heads. If they will tolerate this then it should be quite easy.

The nice thing with this harness is that it comes with an Instructional DVD. I now have two of them so if anyone would like one just pm me your address and I'll get it off to you.

 

[Tracy842]

When training Popsicle, who wanted nothing to do with a harness, I took small steps to putting it on. So I would do the first step in the intructions and give her lots of praise and treat her when she let me. The eventually getting it on completly and rewarding her again. Then, if it doesn't try choking her, I'd keep putting it on her everyday day or so, to have her used to it by the time she can enjoy the fresh air in the summer.

The younger they are when you start harness training the easier it is, but you can still train an older bird of course.

 

[Peta]

I'm going to start training Kito as soon as I get him, so very young.

 

[NicoleN]

I'm looking at the website for the harness, and I had a question for anyone that already has it:

The Medium is recommended for Double Yellow Heads, and the weight is 425-600 grams.

The Small is recommended for smaller Amazons, and the weight is 190-425 grams.

Sisqo weighs 401 grams.

Seeing how the harness fits on your birds, which size would you recommend?

 

[Tracy842]

I would go with the medium, he'll just have some extra that he wont need. The way the harness fits it won't matter if you have some extra. Better to have too much then not enough!!!