Jasper's Flight Harness Training (Video)

[katie_fleming]

Here it is

[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RoB6sWYvV7w"]Jasper Eclectus Parrot Flight Harness Training - YouTube[/ame]

 

[Dinosrawr]

Amazing progress! I love how calm and sweet both of you are. You've done a phenomenal job

 

[Anansi]

Amazing, Katie! Jasper is coming along VERY well! At this rate, I have no doubt that he'll be completely harness trained by the Spring. You have a deft hand when it comes to training.

 

[katie_fleming]

Thank you! The day after I shot this video I tried putting it on him completely and he let me! I also got it on camera! That reminds me I should upload it tonight.

Once he's in it fully he seems to panic though and wants out quickly. He's figured out he can stretch his head all weird and take the head part off, and then he just walks out of the rest of it :/

Gotta work on that, but I'm so pleased with him

 

[camo]

Kate,

Well done!! How long would you say to get to this stage?

Cheers,

Cameron

 

[katie_fleming]

Kate,

Well done!! How long would you say to get to this stage?

Cheers,

Cameron

Over a month!

 

[katie_fleming]

And here is the next video! Completely in his harness! (Well sort of haha you'll see)

[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SQWiaxyNa2Y"]Jasper Eclectus Parrot Flight Harness Complete - YouTube[/ame]

 

[Minimaker]

He's so calm I bought one of these for my two recently acquired babies and I'm thinking it will be awhile before I can even think of trying it on either of them. My 8 year old conure hates finger near him but will cuddle up to face and neck, and my greenwing would bite the crap out of us if we even attempted to get her harness near her. More training needed, that's for sure. Both are too new to the house. How long have you had your bird? You must have gotten him from a good breeder, that really helps.

 

[katie_fleming]

He's so calm I bought one of these for my two recently acquired babies and I'm thinking it will be awhile before I can even think of trying it on either of them. My 8 year old conure hates finger near him but will cuddle up to face and neck, and my greenwing would bite the crap out of us if we even attempted to get her harness near her. More training needed, that's for sure. Both are too new to the house. How long have you had your bird? You must have gotten him from a good breeder, that really helps.

Its taken an incredible amount of patience. Really felt like we weren't getting anywhere several times, then suddenly he lets me and it's great!

I've had Jasper almost 7 months, in a couple of weeks. He was an absolute sweetie when he arrived and very gentle.

 

[Anansi]

Most impressive, Katie! My Bixby never got past the point of wanting to eat his harness after I got it on him. I'm glad Jasper seems to have accepted it.

One thing, though. I wasn't completely sure in the first video, and I'm still not entirely certain in this one, but it looks to me like you've been putting the harness on backwards. That is to say, the vertical strap that you have going down his chest should actually be going down his back.

Given the movement and perspective in the video, I can't say for certain that is the case, but here's how you can see for yourself. The longer of the two vertical straps should go down the back. The shorter down his chest.

The reasoning behind this is that the shorter vertical at the chest allows more space at Jasper's throat, as the vertex section of the "y" would be at the chest rather than the neck. Not a big deal while he's just standing there, but quite significant while he's in flight and reaches the end of his tether.

 

[Psittaciformes]

Nicely done
I have to start training Kiwiberry again.. I really wanna go to parks and stuff with her this summer

 

[katie_fleming]

Oh crap! Haha I could be doing it backwards. I'll check tonight, thanks for pointing this out! Poor bird LOL

 

[Anansi]

Hahaha! No problem. Glad I could help.

 

[camo]

Oh no Katie, now you will have to start again. I think 1 month 15min a day is a good effort, Jasper is obviously a good student and you are clearly a patient teacher!

Cheers,

Cameron

 

[katie_fleming]

Here's a picture of his harness. I've putting the longest side (top of the picture) down his chest and the shorter one (bottom) on his back. Guess I have had it backwards :/

I tried again tonight but Jasper wasn't in the mood for training, kept taking it off his head right away lol. It feels awkward this way, and the part to tighten feels backwards hmm...going to have to try again next week

 

[Anansi]

Yeah, definitely backwards. Haha! But considering all you've accomplished with Jasper and his harness training otherwise, pretty much a minor setback.

 

[katie_fleming]

Hahahaa that's awesome Glad you noticed that Hopefully Jasper will accept it the other way and not notice too much haha

 

[katie_fleming]

Hmm when I put it on the other way I can't seem to tighten it at all. Gotta dig out the DVD and re-watch it lol

 

[miloslave]

Lol, make sure it is backwards and not upside down or inside out. [emoji12] I recommended moving the clasp to the birds back and tightening from there, that is still the only way I can do Charlie's, otherwise he thinks I want him to step up! Lol

 

[katie_fleming]

I just watched this video

[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_BzMYma4QCo"]How to Put Flight Harness on a Cape Parrot - YouTube[/ame]

So I do have it right (now that I know the long part goes on their back haha) I'll try again tonight.

One thing I'm having problems with is as soon as it's on completely Jasper has been freaking out and struggling to get out of it quickly. He got into a tangled mess last night because he wasn't waiting for me to take it off for him This has been an interesting process......

Dogs seem so much easier haha