Just ordered an Aviator Flight Harness

[Acindo]

Hello all,

I just ordered a flight harness for Kylar it will take a little while to get here and I will watch the DVD it comes with I was just wondering if anyone had any tips about getting him familiar/comfortable with it.

Thanks.

 

[faeryphoebe1]

I just got Sunny's a few weeks ago. Yesterday was the first time that I got it on him with more success. We even went to the park yesterday!

Other people on this forum have helped me in regard to this, so hopefully they will have some more tips for you. My best tip: Have lots of millet and let your parrot associate the harness touching him with getting millet treats

I've also had it hanging on the outside of the cage (in a way that he won't get tangled in it) where he can touch it and see it. At first he was terrified of it. Not anymore. Now at least he mouths it, lol. Have lots of patience. It's worth it.

 

[Ashleigh86]

I've had mine for a few weeks but I'm taking it extremely slow because this is my first bird and first bird harness so I'm just paranoid of making him phobic of it lol So I've just been using freeze dried berries as a treat and have guided his head through with the treat and praised him a lot and he's less afraid every time we do it. I also just lay it there when he comes out so he can play with it and get used to it, but he doesn't seem scared at all. That's as far as I've gotten so far, just waiting for him to get used to it going over his head to where I can get the wing part on without him trying to get it off and I'm sure we will get there eventually. Good luck!

 

[SilverSage]

I am glad you asked because I have wondered too!

 

[Marc.cheshire]

Just ordered my harness for my grey.

aside from leaving the harness outside his cage to get used to it, is there anything else you guys can suggest to stop me losing a finger or two? He likes me stroking his head, but wont let me anywhere near anything else. Im scared that if I can get it on, it wont come off!

 

[Calace]

I know a lot of people on here have used a hair elastic to get their bird used to putting their head through something. That makes sense to me so I will be trying this with my new baby!

 

[Acindo]

Luckily I happen to have one of these hair elastics.. guess one of them left it here lmao. I will use that and treats to get him used to it if I can. I plan to take him outside within a few days of getting it. He better do what I say

Thanks everyone for your suggestions.

 

[ruffledfeathers]

I thought the dvd that came with the harness was really helpful. I did the exercises to get Gilbert ready to have to close his eyes when something goes over his head and we did the wing exercises to get him used to my lifting his wings. Luckily he wasn't phobic about the harness itself. I got it on him w/o a problem the first time even though he wasn't crazy about it.......and i quickly took him outside and rewarded him with the freedom and excitement. He quickly associated it with good times and he offers his head (leans it forward to help me put the harness on him) and doesn't fuss now. (I say "do eyes" and "do wings" when i am about to touch those spots).