"Just Putting" the harness on your bird method of harness training(video)

[Sunnyclover]

Okay so I made these 2 videos this morning of Finley and Ollie. I did my "Just put the harness on" method without any kind of grace period for them to get used to it or step in it themselves ect. Yes they are not in love with it but to be fair it's Finley's second time ever wearing a harness! And Ollie's 2nd time this summer, as the summer goes on he doesn't even bite the harness while I'm putting bit on. Now keep.in mind your bird must trust you fully to do this or you might end up hurting your bird or you badly. Never ever use harsh force or do anything that could hurt your bird. You may not be able to tell but I'm actually being very gentle and only slightly holding their heads to get them through the hole of the harness.
Afterwards they definitely don't hate me, they haven't become scared of me, they are happy to be outside or just with me and Ollie even does a Hail Mary jump to me after I take his harness off lol.
Oh and at the end of the video Ollie poops a liquid type poop but don't worry he just ate a bit of apple. Questions and comments welcome! I might take a video of how much calmer they get at the end of the summer too. They really will get used to it! Hope this makes people less scared to harness their birds.
[ame="https://youtu.be/PZJc5ogEElc"]Ollie putting on harness - YouTube[/ame]


[ame="https://youtu.be/kNsAM1QITx0"]Finley putting on harness for the 2nd time ever - YouTube[/ame]

 

[Kalel]

Re: "Just Putting" the harness on your bird method of harness training(video)

That was great! You are very good at it! Thank you so much for sharing!

 

[BirdGeeks]

Re: "Just Putting" the harness on your bird method of harness training(video)

Great advice. I know it's a tad off topic but do I spy a Hogwarts crest on those pants? Very handsome birbs you have there!

 

[Sunnyclover]

Re: "Just Putting" the harness on your bird method of harness training(video)

Yes I'm a huge Harry Potter fan! Those were pajamas haha. Thank you guys!

 

[Billdore]

Re: "Just Putting" the harness on your bird method of harness training(video)

Thats awesome Pretty sure Timneh would be holding my amputated finger if I tried to do that to her

 

[YUMgrinder]

Re: "Just Putting" the harness on your bird method of harness training(video)

Such wonderful boys you have! I almost lost my tiel to the wind last week I think I will need to get the ol' harnesses out. I bet cheddar will get a kick out of one. Not lol.

 

[Sunnyclover]

Re: "Just Putting" the harness on your bird method of harness training(video)

Thanks Yumgrinder! My boys are wonderful! I just wish people would realize their bird doesn't have to be jumping for joy to put the harness on but you can still do it and have a safe and successful outing. They don't have to like it ...they only need to wear it.

 

[Sunnyclover]

Re: "Just Putting" the harness on your bird method of harness training(video)

Thanks Yumgrinder! I just hopevthat people can realize their bird doesn't have to be jumping for joy to wear harness but you can still get it on them and have a safe and successful outing. They don't need to love it, they only need to wear it.

 

[Mm6393]

Re: "Just Putting" the harness on your bird method of harness training(video)

What happens when they’re TERRIFIED of it?? My sun conure will be so scared to the point that she becomes too afraid to bite and and talk. She hates the part that you put around her neck. It scared me half to death because I thought the shock would kill her. I mean she’s okay now but how do I deal with that lol btw...your birds are BEAUTIFUL!!

 

[Sunnyclover]

Re: "Just Putting" the harness on your bird method of harness training(video)

Hmmmm. If she is really that scared of it then I would not recommend putting it on her. She will not die from the shock though...that's not common at all. Maybe she's afraid of the color (Like Wrench13 said in another thread)? My Ollie (sun) is scared of the color blue and if something is entirely blue and new he will not even be near it and will go above and beyond to avoid it. This maybe what you're experiencing here. If I tried to put a blue harness on Ollie I think it would not go well at all. Birds are weird like that...buy a second color harness and see if she has the same reaction or Put the same one (and or new one) on your hand and act like it's part of your clothes and maybe tie it around your neck like a necklace and then put her on your shoulder. Maybe put treats on top of it and and wrapped up inside it to see if its less offensive.These are all things I would try if it were my bird.

 

[Mm6393]

Re: "Just Putting" the harness on your bird method of harness training(video)

Thank you for the tips I’ll make sure to try it

 

[Kalel]

Re: "Just Putting" the harness on your bird method of harness training(video)

Sunnyclover,

I am sure you will be proud to know that I tried your method and.....








I did have to wrestle him into it, but once he was outside he forgot it existed and we went for a 1/2 hr walk in the neighbourhood! He was very interested in other birds (blackbirds, magpies, Canada geese) and would squawk and chatter when he saw them. He did not seem traumatized by it either! I just showed the harness to him and he grabbed it and started playing with it!

Thank you so much for helping me get over the hesitation of just going for it!

 

[reeb]

Re: "Just Putting" the harness on your bird method of harness training(video)

I’m replying to this so I can keep track of it and try it on Berry later today!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[LordTriggs]

Re: "Just Putting" the harness on your bird method of harness training(video)

I do feel this works with birds that trust you

though I will add to personal addendums to this. 1 make sure before trying the harness size is correct, the last thing you want is the harness to be too small and scratch their eyes as it goes over the head.

2. With the aviator tighten and loosen it a few times before doing it to loosen the action a little. When I went for a harness it all went wrong when I couldn't tighten the harness as it was so damn stiff

 

[Sunnyclover]

Re: "Just Putting" the harness on your bird method of harness training(video)

Sunnyclover,

I am sure you will be proud to know that I tried your method and.....








I did have to wrestle him into it, but once he was outside he forgot it existed and we went for a 1/2 hr walk in the neighbourhood! He was very interested in other birds (blackbirds, magpies, Canada geese) and would squawk and chatter when he saw them. He did not seem traumatized by it either! I just showed the harness to him and he grabbed it and started playing with it!

Thank you so much for helping me get over the hesitation of just going for it!

That's wonderful! Yay! A time goes on it will be easier but don't be surprised if next summer they forgot what it was unless you put it on periodically throughout the year.

LTriggs: That's a very good point about size, the last think you want is for it to hurt them the 1st time and not fit.

 

[LordTriggs]

Re: "Just Putting" the harness on your bird method of harness training(video)

yeah the head loop on the one I got for Rio was slightly small for his head and squashed his eyes as it went over which he hated, then it took too long to tighten and his fear spilled over and set him into a panic which ended with him getting tangled in it and dropping out the sky. The harness was removed from the home afterwards, he would freeze in terror after if he saw something vaguely similar to a harness (shoelaces near him completely out)

I would suggest getting 2 harnesses when you order and opt for the larger size first. If it looks loose around the head then you can switch to the smaller one, if not then you can just send the smaller one back (or even donate it to a rescue to give something new to the birds)

 

[Sunnyclover]

Re: "Just Putting" the harness on your bird method of harness training(video)

Oh LTriggs that sounds completely horrible! Good advice.

 

[LordTriggs]

Re: "Just Putting" the harness on your bird method of harness training(video)

Oh LTriggs that sounds completely horrible! Good advice.

he was very good about it but he was clearly traumatized by the event, I think that may have even been part of his passing but I'll never really know.

Thankfully he lost no trust in me

 

[Sunnyclover]

Re: "Just Putting" the harness on your bird method of harness training(video)

LTriggs.. I really don't think it had anything to do with Rio's passing. My birds have been paralyzed in fear a few times at the vet and they recovered fine.