fully flighted outside?

[Carmalita]

i'm a new member here and i have a very open ended question. i just horrified myself by looking at the lost bird forum and thought of how devasted i would feel if i lost my little pionus, but i noticed that people would bring fully flighted birds outside. i've obviously seen people do this before with larger parrots but i've known people who have lost the smaller ones this way.

so my real question is... what do people think about bringing fully flighted parrots outside? what have you done to make yourself feel safe from your bird flying away?

not trying to start a debate or anything, i just don't have any bird friends in nj yet and i have no one to discuss ideas with!

 

[tab_xo]

Have you tried a harness?

I take my macaw outside fully flighted, he flies around, and learning flight recall at the moment..

But he is always wearing his harness, it is very safe..

One little scare and your bird could just fly off, so unless your bird is fully free flight trained, then taking him outside without a harness is risky!

With the aviator harness, you can get a flight line as well!

 

[mrgoogls]

i agree cooper is now flighted and he never leaves the house outside of a carrier or in a harness

 

[Carmalita]

i have no interest in bringing my bird outside down here in nj, i was more curious on peoples opinions on the idea of taking fully flighted birds outside.

i have btw considered a harness but the air down here is awful and i don't want to expose her to the pollution.

 

[tab_xo]

I am fairly sure you will find that there are not many members who would take their birds outside fully flighted


The birds are either clipped, or most members have the harness for them!


No one wants to risk it! There have been a few stories on here about birds flying away, which made us all even more cautious!

 

[Caesar]

I agree ..It is a excellent experience for your bird to go out side.
I have posted b4 about the harness and I use the AVIATOR harness its the ONLY escape free harness but buyer beware of knock offs.
My Caesar enjoys his time outside and the harness doesn't worry him one little bit.
But in saying that I never over fly him to the point of exhaustion, I don't take him out in the middle of the day when it is too hot and just because he has the harness on doesn't mean I always fly him. The walk is just as enjoyable for your bird.
Since I have been using the harness I have seen dramatic changes in Caesars behaviour as well.

 

[yavorssj]

Get your bird fully trained INDOORS first!!!

Buy the time we flighted our Sun Conure outside, he knew where the safe zone was... Which is the most important thing!!!

Home is where the heart is for our friends. All the "treat training" in the world is no assurance against the call of freedom, unless they view you as home, that is... If they get startled, to whom do they run first?

For full disclosure, I only have experience as the person of a Sun Conure, and former person of a Quaker (killed during a burglary). The biggest issue is what they are willing to "come home to." If they view you as "home," no biggie. If it is as a food source only... Well... Good luck.

I also have limited experience in falconry, so I know the limits of food training.. Different genus and all, but still...