Play, play, play ... Harness training!

[Psittaciformes]

Okay so for a while I've been working on getting Kiwiberry to wear her harness, been an on and off kinda deal, but we're getting back into things now!
However, I'm having a slight problem, all she wants to do is play with it.

She'll either chew it or climb it, if she manages to climb it it takes a while to get her off...
It's been like this the last 2-3 days. She's done good the other sessions,
Does anyone have any tips? I'm gonna do it earlier today and see if that makes a difference, we usually go around 4-6pm.

 

[Sunset_Chaser]

Hmmm, I've never harness trained a bird before so can't really help you out with that. However I DO know how to reply to a post so that it goes back to the top and get's seen by other members who are more experienced and can help you Good luck with the training!

 

[Psittaciformes]

Lol thank you Melissa!

 

[thekarens]

There's a video that should give you instructions. If you don't have it there's probably something on YouTube

 

[itsjoyceduh]

Hi!

I have the aviator harness and I just finish watching the video. So according to the video harness training is best in the afternoon, because in the morning the bird just woke up and is hungry and after they eat they nap, so their attention span is shorter in the morning. It is best to do training in the noon time where their attention span is longer. According to the video its best to play with the birds wings and push their limit.

Step 1:
lift their wings out one at a time and when you see that they are starting to move you count to 3. This will allow the bird to learn that "okay after you count to 3 youll leave me alone"

Step 2: After the wing test you need to practice pushing the bird to get them use to being off balance. So you slightly push the bird on one side and then count to three. you do the same thing to the other side and count to three.

Step 3. If your bird is used to be touched thats a good thing. BUT they are not used to being touched over the eyes. When you place the harness over their head they are not use to closing their eyes so they get freaked out with the harness. SO when you touch or play with your bird practice by placing your hand over the head so that the bird is used to closing its eyes.

You repeat this step every hour and you ONLY do each step once for every hour. You dont want to annoy the bird.

This works for young or older birds. If you have an older bird practice by placing the harness on you when your playing with your bird or on the birds cage so that he/she is familiar with the harness.

I hope this helps! I am practicing with my 3 months BFA and I wished i watch the video first >.<


Oh one more thing! Once your able to put the harness on, you should take the bird outside let the bird explore to keep his mind off the harness. Also this will allow the bird to learn that once the harness is on he/she gets to go have fun

 

[Mariar]

Thanks! that was helpful.

 

[Kyoto]

I'm finding doing a lot of handling practice without the harness is really helping me! Just slowly getting Kyo to accept me touching her wings now. She will already let me lay the harness on her and isn't shy of it at all, so I feel that this is going to be the most important part for us to work on when it comes time to finally put it on her. She will also walk through the side of it no problem (obviously opened up wide), so once I can more easily manipulate her wings I will start to work more on putting it over her face.

Personally, my conure is so active I find it's actually best to do this before bed for us, when she is her calmest. Otherwise she just won't sit still. When she's sleepy she's cuddly and more accepting.

 

[Mariar]

I must admit i never watched the video.sissy has worn her harness twice..and did great.

 

[Kalel]

I've been trying to train my sun conure for months. He is not afraid of it at all and also likes to play with it. He is at the stage where he will put his head through on his own and wait for about 3 or 4 seconds then pulls his head out expecting his treat. LOL...the little brat is only doing it for the treat. I am kinda stuck on how to get him to accept the idea that this thing is going to be on you for 3 or 4 hours, not 3 or 4 seconds. If anyone has experienced this and has any advice on how you got over this hump, I'd really love to hear it.

Psittaciformes, to answer your original question about how to stop him from playing with it...For Lemon, playing with it was more like chewing on it so I just used the same command I use for his bite pressure training "be nice". He caught on quickly that I do not want him to chew on this thing. Also, when he chews no treat. When he doesn't chew and cooperates=treat! I hope that helps.

 

[Mariar]

I can't help i dont offer sissy a treat til i take it off..then its like what ever to her..im so amazed at sissys progress..good luck on your journey

 

[itsjoyceduh]

I must admit i never watched the video.sissy has worn her harness twice..and did great.

Wow! you are very lucky that sissy is tolerant towards the harness! Bella my BFA yes I was able to put it on her few times but now when she sees the harness she freaks out and tries to escape . So thats why I decide to work with her again slowly so that she wont freak out every time she sees the harness..