Tips to Harness Train a Parrot. Part 1

[Eloy]

I'm so proud of Eloy! <3

 

[tab_xo]

thank you very much!
i am up to the stage where fargo is putting his head through the loop happily while eating out of my hand.. i will try get him to walk through a big loop next..
cant wait for part 2 of lifting their wings for the harness, i have a feeling that will be the hardest part

 

[Eloy]

cant wait for part 2 of lifting their wings for the harness, i have a feeling that will be the hardest part

It depends on the bird and how tame they are. For Eloy this will be the hardest part, but I will never give up. And summer here in Sweden is 7 month away so..

 

[friedsoup]

Good work and great video I found having the bird on a training perch help the donning of the harness but I also (It was in Boston in the winter) was ready to take the bird out of the room the minute the snap was fastened I was working in a hotel so we went visiting the construction workers on another floor and she looked forward to the greetings from all the workers who adored her so she would push her head into the harness and was really ready to go. Can't wait for the second video. P.S. I carried popsicle sticks to distract her from chewing on the harness durning the first few outings.

 

[Kantia]

Very good video, I'll be sure to use some of your techniques, thanks. :]

 

[008kenichijouji]

Is it possible to train a 14 year old macaw for the harness? I'll be getting a macaw soon who is 14, and his owner used to take him outdoors but he had flown away a couple of times and gave his owner a scare. I personally don't like the idea of being outside with no restraint, so I'm wondering if a harness is my option right now (I can't afford an aviary just yet...).

 

[Eloy]

Thanks all! <3

@008kenichijouji It's never to late.
You will find out how tame the bird is and then you can take it really slowly.
14 year and Macaw is a young bird so good luck with your new friend!

 

[008kenichijouji]

Thanks all! <3

@008kenichijouji It's never to late.
You will find out how tame the bird is and then you can take it really slowly.
14 year and Macaw is a young bird so good luck with your new friend!

Okay! Awesome. I'll definitely consider a harness then. The macaw is pretty tame, but he might not like it at first... Haha. Thank you.

 

[Eloy]

Part 2. :-=)

[ame="http://youtu.be/lVW2Mn8Az6E"][/ame]

 

[lotosha]

Do you have any advise for a bird who wouldn't let me to touch it's wings or to lift them up?
My african grey is ok with me touching her back and had, but starts screaming when I try to touch the wings. I am afraid that if I don't do it wright it will reduce her trust in me.

 

[Eloy]

Do you have any advise for a bird who wouldn't let me to touch it's wings or to lift them up?
My african grey is ok with me touching her back and had, but starts screaming when I try to touch the wings. I am afraid that if I don't do it wright it will reduce her trust in me.

Start touching the wings with something else. I touch Eloy wings with my lips at the beginning. (kissing them, LOL!) And candy is very important!
How long do you have the bird?

 

[tab_xo]

Eloy when is part 3 coming out! hahah

fargo lets me touch him anywhere and spread his wings and such! so i need the next steps please xD

 

[lotosha]

Hello Eloy. I broght my AG 3 weeks ago. We have a good bond, she is a cudler and likes head scrutching. Overall she has a good self confidence and prone investigation of new things. She learned a wave trick withing 3 days. So far the wing thing is our only problem.
Will try to touch her wings with a toy. Thanks for a good idea.

 

[Eloy]

Hello Eloy. I broght my AG 3 weeks ago. We have a good bond, she is a cudler and likes head scrutching. Overall she has a good self confidence and prone investigation of new things. She learned a wave trick withing 3 days. So far the wing thing is our only problem.
Will try to touch her wings with a toy. Thanks for a good idea.

Your welcome and good luck!
You can also use the harness as I do in the video.

 

[Eloy]

Eloy when is part 3 coming out! hahah

I don't know if I really like you..

But If you visit Sweden I can make the Part 3 with Fargo.

fargo lets me touch him anywhere and spread his wings and such! so i need the next steps please xD

The next step is to put it on. But only the head. Can you lift the wings straight up and hold them their for a few seconds?
Does he like the harness?

 

[tab_xo]

hahaha oh We are on our way to Sweden right now

yes he let's me lift his wings up and he is doing really well with the harness, he walks over it, under it and through it now
I just am so paranoid because if I have got the harness half on and he tries to get away I think he might hurt himself!
he has put his head through the loop, he would just go in then pull out, but now he lasts about 30 seconds of keeping his head there eating the treats out of my hand.. would probably last longer if I just had a bowl full of treats haha

but I don't know how to keep my hand there with the treats, but then try lift his wing up at the same time!

 

[Eloy]

hahaha oh We are on our way to Sweden right now

Nice! Looking forward to see you soon.

I just am so paranoid because if I have got the harness half on and he tries to get away I think he might hurt himself!

I don't think he is ready yet. At the moment his is more confident with you and in getting threats. Train more and be patient.

he has put his head through the loop, he would just go in then pull out, but now he lasts about 30 seconds of keeping his head there eating the treats out of my hand.. would probably last longer if I just had a bowl full of treats haha


but I don't know how to keep my hand there with the treats, but then try lift his wing up at the same time!

You must learn him to do things and not getting threats before the training is over. So put his head in the loop, and put his wings up doesent mean threats. But after a few seconds when you decide it's over he can take his wings down and his head of the loop and then it's threat time.
Their is no need to let him hold up his wings more then 3-5 seconds at the time. Good luck!

 

[Eloy]

Part 3. "The loop"

 

[friedsoup]

Since they can give a very bad bite I'd suggest trying the stick trick for petting using a popsicle stick or chop stick to pet with touching the feet the head and under the wings. you can read the post "Stick Trick Described" under the training threads.

 

[Remy]

I just got Darcy a flight suit. He appears to be totally comfortable being near it, and will even chew on it. He just HATES putting it on! Last time I got a pretty good bite, but I pushed the issue because I wanted to take him out and about with me. Once it's on, he's fine. I will probably end up getting him a harness like yours too, because it looks easier to put on, and the poop doesn't get stored in it.