Flight Suits?

[Xraysrrad]

Does anyone here use flight suits? I purchased a week or so ago. We have been doing conditioning training for Bodhi to get use to it.

Finally decided to put it on him yesterday. He spend the entire time trying to get it off. :52:

Any thoughts?????

Thanks in advance,
Robin

 

[Doublete]

I couldn't get my conure to use it at all. He does like his aviator. That's it.

 

[amjokai]

I use them on all of my birds. Honestly I just put it on. After a few days of consistently using it they stop fussing with it.

Well everyone but my ringnecks.... They eat theirs lol.

 

[Xraysrrad]

Hi Doublelete,
What is an aviator?
Robin

 

[Doublete]

Google aviator harness
(It's the best on the market)

 

[Xraysrrad]

Flight Suit Update - Day 3

For anyone considering the use of a flight suit, thought I would give you an update.

Day 2- Bodhi still spend a lot of his time trying to get it off, except when we went on a walk outside and he was distracted.

Day 3 - Decided to build on distraction of being outside the house, so Bodhi will associate the flight suit with fun things. Took a ride in the car and visited my father. (Only lives 3 miles away) Also took Bodhi on a quick errand to the store. He was so interested in the new environment, he "gave up" biting his suit! (till we got back home anyway.

Took suit off as soon as we got home. Will continue to include Bodhi on errands and hopeful he will associate suit with "fun activies". Seems to be working thus far!

 

[Roanoke]

Good work, keep it up! My conure tolerates his but chews on it all the time. Still, if he really hated it, I'd know. He can bite like hell when he wants to, yet he always lets me put it on him without a scratch.

I honestly think FlightSuits deserve more support. They're well made, escape-proof (Unless you have a professional chewer) and keep your bird from flying away
(Or in my case, attacking people) plus they save the furniture and your clothing!

 

[Mariar]

I want to start harness training so the aviator is the best? My severe macaw has never been out of her tiny cage till I rescued her and now she sits either on her play stand or the back of the couch...or at night she in the walk in cage . But I would love love love to learn how to harness train.

 

[Doublete]

Yes the aviator is the best. Comes with a DVD that helps teach you how to use it.

 

[JellyBean]

I have tried zillions of times to get the aviator harness on JellyBean - he is just NOT having it... he ruffles his feathers and gets cross. I followed the instructions on the DVD exactly. I guess I could force him into it, but don't want to do that..

Would a flight suit be a better option for him? Is it easier to work with?

 

[ruffledfeathers]

I can get Gilbert in the flightsuit but he fusses and really really doesn't like it (I have to force it on him at this point, now that he knows he hates it). He is a fan of the aviator harness too.
I wish he liked the flightsuit too because they are hilarious for holidays (he has the Santa costume that I make him wear for Christmas photos and he gets a lot of rewards just for wearing it those few minutes.)
For real flight, I prefer the aviator anyhow.

 

[Xraysrrad]

Hey JellyBean,

I am not familiar with the harness at all.

There is a video about putting the flight suit on on the following web page.
FlightSuits? Bird Diapers - Avian Fashions

Not sure if the harness is more cumbersome, but thought this might help you decide.

It does take a little practice on my part. I have treats to distract him (he LOVES grapes) I cut one up into tiny pieces and have him walk up to the suit. Once he gets his "treat" I attach the velcro while he is chewing.

Robin

 

[jiannotto9492]

So a small aviator should do well for a Jenday? Are these totally safe to use as well?

 

[ruffledfeathers]

The aviator harness should work for a Jenday as long as the bird gets used to it. I find mine really secure. (I feel safe having him out on the beach all day with me). Your bird is probably close to my Gilbert's size, maybe slightly smaller.

 

[Kalel]

I have been trying to get my sun conure to wear a harness for about 3 months now. I can't say I do it daily consistently but on and off for about 3 months and only in the past week has he started accepting the harness around his neck (not all the way down yet but almost) and lets it sit there for a few seconds and then I remove it. Don't loose hope! When they say it can take months to years for some birds, they are not kidding! I don't know if he will wear it this summer as I have yet to get to the stage where it's all the way down his neck and then try to put it around his wings. Hopefully, that step will be easier to accept than this one. Good luck!

 

[Flboy]

I am conflicted on the use of a harness, love the thought, but my daughter is dead set against it! My JoJo is fully flighted, and skilled. At this point he does not try to follow me outside. My daughter feels if he gets used to being on my shoulder when I walk outside, this may push him into taking matters into his own hands/wings. He loves being outside and I use a smaller cage for this. He already associates front door= me leaving, back door= me taking him out in cage. I can leave the house and he doesn't fuss, but if he sees me walk out the back door without him, he makes his displeasure very clear. I know there is always a risk involved in anything, but thoughts are this would make him a bit more inclined to view the door as a right. And he is fast, very fast!