Responses To Harnessed Parrots

[Taw5106]

Yesterday, Husband and I went to Lowes and took Venus with us. She has to wear her harness if she is not in her travel cage because she has 3 wing feathers that have grown to full length. Not taking any risks and she hasn't flown for me yet but you never know. Our purpose? To get some washers to help brace a new perch, and to find a plant hook that we can hang Venus' new boing from.

Got the washers and we were heading to the opposite side of the store to look at plant hangers when a woman, looking at Venus smiling in aww says to me, "This is the first time I've ever seen a bird on a leash." She wasn't mean or rude, you could tell she was intrigued. My response to her was that they make a harness for birds to minimize the risk of them spooking and flying off. Then she wanted to know what kind of bird Venus was so I shared with her. I've even had people ask me if she was a real bird, seriously.

I was wondering if anyone has run into this and what answers you give people for the question of harnessing a bird.

 

[RavensGryf]

I guess non-bird people are more familiar with seeing more of the old school way of no harness, just sitting on the shoulder.

Is that a real bird?!! :52: I can see maybe a young child asking that, but an adult? Come on people. Tracey walks around in public with a fake parrot in a harness on her shoulder, to make people 'think' it's real... lol

 

[Taw5106]

I have had three people ask me if she is a real bird, seriously. I've only had one person recognize and say she's an "Eclectus". Venus is so quiet in public where Buddy is NONSTOP NOISE!!!! He's an extrovert, he says "Hello" to everyone, where Venus has to warm up. Everyone knows when Buddy is around so I think that, plus her coloring adds to the mystery.

 

[Doublete]

I take my gcc with me and people either say aww how cute or they quietly stare and wonder lol.

Saw today a harness for walking your CHICKEN at my grain store. Asked them if people actually do it and she said they sold out and had to reorder them... But nobody has provided pictures or proof. ('Loki and I have gone in with his harness)

 

[Xraysrrad]

I take my conure out for errands in his flight suit.

I get the strangest questions!

 

[Kiwibird]

Sounds like Venus had a lovely day out I have had people ask me before if Kiwi was real too lol (sometimes I feel like telling them I enjoy taking my toy bird out with me for some fresh air:20. I think your response was great. It's for her safety, so she doesn't fly away. You may want to say something about it being designed to be comfortable for her too (in case the person is wondering that as well).

I take Kiwi in a backpack, not a harness, but I get a lot of questions and interest (sometimes more in the backpack itself than the creature lurking inside:52. I just explain it is for his safety so he can enjoy seeing the 'wider world'. I also get asked a lot if he likes coming out, to which I respond he loves it, that it's enriching for him and he gets to meet new people so that helps his socialization skills. People really seem to like that response A lot of people have negative connotations with pet birds because they assume they stay in a cage 24/7, so anytime you can inform them not all bird owners do that, is a positive thing in my book. You may also get another bird owner who never thought to bring their bird out (or never knew a safe way how) to give it a try (and end up having another birds life positively impacted). So glad to hear your getting your birds out too! It really does make an impact on their attitude and well being.

 

[Kiwibird]

I have had three people ask me if she is a real bird, seriously. I've only had one person recognize and say she's an "Eclectus". Venus is so quiet in public where Buddy is NONSTOP NOISE!!!! He's an extrovert, he says "Hello" to everyone, where Venus has to warm up. Everyone knows when Buddy is around so I think that, plus her coloring adds to the mystery.

Ahahahaha! Buddy is just a friendly guy lol I can *so* picture the vocalizations and body language of an amazon in full 'excitement mode' too. He must be fun to go out with! I bet Venus doesn't draw quite as much attention:54:. Kiwi is very quiet in general, and usually doesn't vocalize when we go out. He does give lots of happy puffs and tail shakes though.

 

[ruffledfeathers]

Yes, we all have the same things happen! I have had the "omg he is REAL??!" asked a number of times. And lots of questions about harnessing and misinformation about birds ("he is clipped right?" as if that means he was somehow surgically altered and can NEVER fly, or "he is your friend, he would never fly away anyhow!") You realize how little the average, non 'bird person' knows about birds.

The ones I like are people who have a pet bird or who truly want one and are intrigued and ask details about the harness because they love the idea.

The ones who make me sad are the ones who just ask how much I paid for him and how 'yeah i'd put a harness on that after paying all that money'. Ugh.

 

[amjokai]

I get "is it a real bird?" on a regular basis also "what if it poops?" and Will it fly away?" I also get, "IS it biting you?!" cause drogo uses my hair as a handle bar to hold on to when he thinks he is going to lose balance...

 

[SilverSage]

Lol, I get that all the time. Funny enough, the most memorable time was when I had Flick on my shoulder, and my friend Ariel had her Eclectus Drogo on hers. We were stopped by a man who said almost exactly what you mentioned (and we were in a hardware store, too!) and kept saying "no way! Shut up! For real? Shut up!" Lol.

 

[amjokai]

Hahaha yup... oh my god that was the funniest thing. He asked us 5 million questions and every response to our answer was "what? No? No way? What? For real!" Bahahah

(Silver sage and I have the best outings!)

 

[EdgesofTwilight]

I can only imagine what responses I'll get when I get Cosmo's backpack and mount it in a stroller.

 

[Blancaej]

I get that "is it real" question, too. Seriously! I have a Bird with a 3 foot wingspan on my lap. It would be a little weird to carry around a fake one.

I really dislike when people ask me how much they cost. So freaking nosy. I want to say "none of your damn business!!" Lol!

Ive had a similar situation as SilverSage & Ariel. The kid was just so blown away. It was fun to watch.

 

[Dopey]

I can only imagine what responses I'll get when I get Cosmo's backpack and mount it in a stroller.

Around here you would be known as the crazy bird person.

My family and friends have now said that as long as they don't see me on tv they won't refer to me as the crazy bird lady.

 

[SilverSage]

I get the "how much does it cost" question a lot, too, but what really bugs me is when I'm in a pet store with say, one of my GCCs, and someone will be like "so if I buy that one over there, it will be just like this? Can it live in a dog crate? My aunt has one and she just keeps it covered so it will be quiet." And other things that make me pray the person does NOT walk over and buy the bird for sale in the next isle.

 

[Chihuahua]

every time i take orion in public he starts doing contact calls as soon as we enter the building?? i dont know if he is calling to the people or what.

 

[Anansi]

Can't wait until I have my guys willing to put on a harness without de facto trying to eat it! I'd welcome whatever questions would come at that point. Haha! All well worth it.

Tracey, I'm loving how much socialization you're giving your birds. Beautiful!

 

[Taw5106]

Buddy could be a Walmart door greeter, he can be throwing a tantrum but a new person appears and he suddenly turns sweet and says "Hello!". He can turn it on and off in the fraction of a second and he talks to EVERYBODY! Everyone gets a "Hello." He's an attention pig, lol. Buddy gets more attention than Venus because he's loud, doesn't stop talking and people love that, especially kids. Venus is quiet but looks at everything. I've been taking her out more because I don't want her to think every trip is to visit that mean vet, lol! Both do good with their harnesses once they are on, but if they are bored, they will try to eat it until something gets their attention.

I've met people because of the birds. One lady at a store knows me now because of Venus. I took Venus in with me and she told me she had a 20 year old CAG named Toto and he knows 1500 words. You can tell he is a very loved bird and a part of her flock. Last Friday I took my niece in and introduced them to each other and my niece was smiling at Toto stories.

 

[Blancaej]

I agree, I by far get more positive feedback and interesting questions then the annoying ones. Watch out though, get me talkin about my fids and I'm not likely to make it short!

 

[June2012]

I get that "is it real" question, too. Seriously! I have a Bird with a 3 foot wingspan on my lap. It would be a little weird to carry around a fake one.

I really dislike when people ask me how much they cost. So freaking nosy. I want to say "none of your damn business!!" Lol!

Ive had a similar situation as SilverSage & Ariel. The kid was just so blown away. It was fun to watch.

It is nosy! I would never answer and just turn. But I have to wonder, why would they want to know? Go look for one yourself. XD