Harness Training

[Hobo]

Remember we touched on the subject of harnesses in this thread viewtopic.php?f=3&t=7137&hilit=harness
Well, it has taken a loooong time but Miss Scarlett has finally grown a few more flight feathers.
She still can't FLY but she can, with a lot of flapping, stay airborne for 10 to 15 mtrs
That's enough to worry me and enough for her to end up on the road when we go for our afternoon walk. She has only 'flown' off my shoulder once but that was enough to alert me of the danger.

I did try ages ago to get her used to the harness without any success. I am going to try again, using the techniques described in the video.
The alternatives otherwise are to not let her outside or to clip her new feathers. As she absolutely LOVES going out for a walk or being in the ute with me, it's got to be harness or clipping.

http://www.theparrotuniversity.com/aviator_harness.php

wish me luck

[Heather&Iggy]

Goodluck! i keep meaning to buy one of these and train Iggy while he's young

[Viper]

Hi,

Poco had the Aviator. She would bite it until I got her outside, and started running around the parking lot in my wheelchair with her on my headrest.

[Hobo]

She would bite it until I got her outside

You are giving me hope
I haven't managed to get the harness all the way on Scarlett yet.
I'm trying it slow and steady, she is now 'tolerating' for a few minutes having the part around her neck while I distract her.
She is biting the harness but not going into 'panic mode' like she was when I first tried to put it over her head.
Next step to try and get the wing parts on her.... that is going to be fun, not

[Hobo]

Struggling
If only Scarlett could understand that; the harness = fun times outside

[PeCe]

At first it sure is struggling. I have tried several kinds of harnesses, my ekkies would not accept those. So they got a little older and I bought two aviator harnesses. After showing it to them, playing with the harness near them they got interested.

Now I take the ekkies that can go with me to the toilet (smallest room, so flying away is not a real issue) and put the harness on. In general that goes very easy and then they enjoy going out with me. Just give Scarlett some time (as you are doing already), for now it is struggling, but probably later this year you both will enjoy that she can go outside with you, safe and well in her harness.

[Hobo]

thanks.. we're still trying to de-sensitise her to it

[cookie]

I've bought the aviator harness you recomended and at the moment i haven't put it on him. I'm taking it slowly just like the instructional dvd said. The problem is that like yours mine is growing his flight feathers, i'm not sure he'll be ready to accept the harness in time. He's not scared of it, but more like annoyed with it when i loosley put it around him(he has no problem playing tug of war with it!). Since this is his first molt and his first chance to fly i'm wondering if anyone knows whether i should keep him indoors and let him learn to fly before clipping him again(if needed)until he's willing to accept the harness?

[rcivegotit]

The aviator harness is a good harness but remember even clipped birds can fly.
Renee

[Hobo]

I'm afraid it is an epic FAIL trying to get Miss Scarlett to wear her harness
I was at the vet's yesterday, she clipped only one feather, the others aren't ready yet to be clipped.
When we got home Miss Scarlett flew (and on the rise) from the front to the back screen door so we still cant go for our afternoon walks.

[sodakat]

I don't know how cold it gets where you are, but with fall coming and then winter, will you be taking her outside then? I ask because maybe she'll enjoy being able to fly in her home this winter and the tradeoff would be worth not taking walks with you for a while.

As an alternative, how about one of those front packs for birds? Pak o Bird http://www.myparrotshop.com/index.php?searchStr=PAKF27+PAKH27+PAKX27+PAKA27+PAKM27+PAK327+PAKU27+PERK27&_a=viewCat&Submit=

You are so clever... maybe you could make one from a regular backpack.

[Hobo]

Winters in Sydney are mild so walking is an all-round event unless it is absolutely pouring with rain.

I'm afraid this house is very open plan both up & downstairs... in fact the only internal door is on the bathroom LOL. so it is free-flight unfriendly ... and I dont wanna put her in a bag LOL

I wanna get back to walking how we used to

Dont mind me I'm just throwing a little tanti like a petulant child

[Hobo]

SUCCESS


With the help of the SOH I managed to get Miss Scarlett into the harness...... and even better we went for a walk with her wearing it.
She did make 'huff and puff' noises but didnt get 'aggressive' with us or attack the harness today.
Once we were out walking I think she was distracted and forgot about the harness.
Let's hope she now realises; harness = walk = fun and it is not as hard tomorrow to get her into it.

Dontcha HATE that, I came home and went to take a photo and the camera batteries are flat
I'll post one when she is wearing it again.


SUCCESS

[Heather&Iggy]

Yay! congrats fingers crossed she'll be good for you next time!

[Hobo]

The photo's are a bit cruddy, I just wanted to get some shots quickly.

Day 2 we have been for our afternoon walk with her in harness