Leg harness?

[Casey]

Quite some time ago I saw a harness which was 2 clips one for each leg attached to bungie cord. I asked the bird shop owner about it and he said it works quite well. That the older ones did not have the bungie and would hurt the birds legs. But with the bungie it does not hurt the legs.

Anybody use them or have an opinion about it?

 

[MaraWentz]

I'm getting a leather biothane anklet from mike falconry. It's new and been tested by many eagle, falcon, and hawks, with out any stretching, wearing, or ripping from the birds trying to get it off. It's the strongest he's found and also weather proof. I put it on permanently with grommet setters (mike has a specific size for each bird depending on weight and leg size) and I can put it on both or one ankle and then clip a leash or any sort bungee I want into it to take my Macaw flying. The biothane is 2 ft for 5 bucks, it's the grommet setter that costs money (35 bucks). But it's relatively cheap, and a lot sturdy than harnesses and flight suits, which my macaw eats in 10 minutes

 

[Casey]

Interesting!
Thanks

 

[Mayden]

Mara, could you post pictures of your birds wearing it? Would like to see it kinda, in action and learn more about it

 

[MaraWentz]

I'm buying mine at the end of the year. So I don't have it yet, but I have lots of faith in it

 

[triordan]

Is this it?
Falconry Perches | Kangaroo Hides | Falconry Books and DVDs

 

[MaraWentz]

Yes it is. If you call the number Mike answers and he can go into depth about it with you. He does have parrot owners get other anklets as well, I'm not sure if any parrots have used the biothane. It's only been up for 3 months tops. But he is says it's the toughest he's seen so far.

 

[WharfRat]

I'm definitely gonna try one of these, looks to be much easier than putting on a harness.

Thanks Mara!

 

[Featheredsamurai]

I prefer jesses over those metal parrot clips, but I would never dare try it with my galah because one hip is healed out of the joint along with her leg bones not being whee they are supposed to be(knee cap on side of leg, lower leg bone slid down over foot).

So far I prefer the aviator harness.

 

[MaraWentz]

I wish we could do the harness but Erin just eats hers, plus the anklet will be a bit more normal, as she is used to wearing a leg band (but we removed it for the anklet). Also it won't rub as much on her feathers

 

[yagen]

Hey!!

If you are sure that it will not hurt your birds leg, then by all means go for it. I live in an Arab Country that LOVES theirs birds of prey. They will spend even 100,000 dollars on them, they obviously have their hoods and leg harness and when we took our new macaw to the Falcony Vet this weekend (this is the only vet here that will know what to do with large macaws) my husband in a funny way asked and told him "I wish we could teder him like the falcons!!! The vet laughed and said, no that would be very dangerous and plus macaws are not like BOP they need to see where they are, they need to feel free and not constricyed otherwise they will get very stressed and hurt trying to break free of the harness. This is what he said, best of luck to you!! I don't know what I would do if it was my choice.

 

[aliray]

I think I would worry about them hurting a leg . Their legs don't look as strong and robust as falcons and birds of prey.

 

[Featheredsamurai]

I wish we could do the harness but Erin just eats hers, plus the anklet will be a bit more normal, as she is used to wearing a leg band (but we removed it for the anklet). Also it won't rub as much on her feathers

yeah, Rosie nibbles at her harness some and the feathers on her chest sometimes are at odd angles when she's wearing her harness.

 

[MaraWentz]

Alot of the falcoln's and hawks legs are very tiny compared to a macaw, even my my small red front, so Im not too worried, plus I'm getting the appropriate sizes and this has been used safely and effectively before. As for the whole seeing where they are going, I'm not up for the whole attire with the hood, I think that'd be scary to have some vision blocked off! The leg harness will just replace the aviator harness until she can 100% be confident in flying, then she she will free flight

 

[Battyterri]

Hi,
By your statement Erin has a leg band was that put on by a breeder or is she an older wild caught bird?
Our avian vets always said leg leashes were not good for parrots as to many injurys can happen. And if in the house and used to flying your bird is likely to take off from her cage and there is a good chance of her flying into windows, birds have heard owners in kitchen cooking dinner and fly into boiling pots or getting startled and knocking into a decor that's sharp or shatters causing injurys.
I would consult with your avian vet before doing anything.
Terri

 

[MaraWentz]

Erin is not wild caught lol, she was from a breeder. And thank you for your concern but she is trained and an exceedingly excellent flier, as her species typically is one of the best of all fliers. And my vet and I both agree to the flight and he suggested the Jesse so I'm sure all is safe and well.

 

[cd4565]

I have a greenwing who hates his harness as well and this will be a God send so i can get him outside again as he loves to be outside. I have seen other macaws with leg harnesses on and they do just fine.

 

[khaiqha]

I really want to get jesses for my Alexandrine as it has been awful trying to train him wear a harness, his legs just look so fragile to me though. I get worried because the few times he has allowed me to put a harness on him, he just kept panicking and kept flying and straining against it, even over the course of a few hours.

 

[MikeyTN]

Now I think this is cruel!!! It reminds me of a jail shackles....if not done right, there is a chance the bird can hurt themselves.