Harness Training

[Faraaz]

So I recently got a Budgie and I wanted to take him outside. I am trying to put on the harness which my old Senegal parrot liked to avoid spending another $40 on one. It seems the right size f I adjust it but is it possible to harness train a budgie?

[Wolf]

The size harness that fits a Senegal is much too big for a budgie, and while it is possible to harness train one, I don't hear of the results being all that good for the bird.

[Pajarita]

My dear, you can't take a budgie outdoors in a harness without causing huge stress to it.

[Faraaz]

My dear, you can't take a budgie outdoors in a harness without causing huge stress to it.

But then how would I take it outside?

[Wolf]

I use a small travel cage to take mine out to cages just like they have in the house. I am also working up the money to build an aviary for them to all go out together in. I do have aviator harnesses for all three of mine but none are trained for them yet. My Grey is the closest to being ready for harness training, the Senegal is ready but really doesn't like the looks of the thing, maybe I got the wrong color, who knows, and the Amazon is at least a year from being ready.

[Michael]

It's not even a question of stress. They don't make a harness small enough for a budgie. Period. Forget it. You can't and shouldn't do it. You will end up losing your bird. Not a chance worth taking. Stick to a carrier.

[Faraaz]

It's not even a question of stress. They don't make a harness small enough for a budgie. Period. Forget it. You can't and shouldn't do it. You will end up losing your bird. Not a chance worth taking. Stick to a carrier.

Sorry but I disagree. I just found a harness at my local Budgie store and I bought it.

[Wolf]

I hope it is the aviator harness as it is the best one on the market that I am aware of. I don't have budgies, but as I have said already, they can be trained for a harness but so far I have not heard of satisfactory results. I do know that you will need to keep a very close watch on the area that the harness fits under the wings and at the junction of the body and wing and harness, where they all come together is prone to rubbing raw. That is all I know about at this time. I hope that you can get it to work for you. Do keep a watch for signs of stress as budgies are really quite timid birds.

[EleriDragonfly]

I'd feel a cage would be safer, I take my budgies outside in small Hagen Vision cage. They are happy enough, and are safe from cats and other birds. I would love to have a harness for them, but I wouldn't risk it.
If you do take your budgie out in a harness, be very careful. Test him out inside first, see how he reacts.

[cml]

It's not even a question of stress. They don't make a harness small enough for a budgie. Period. Forget it. You can't and shouldn't do it. You will end up losing your bird. Not a chance worth taking. Stick to a carrier.

Sorry but I disagree. I just found a harness at my local Budgie store and I bought it.

Foo, you are going to either lose your bird or seriously stress it out. It will not be a kindness to use a harness on a budgie, you will be harming it.

If you do this, it will be only because YOU want it - not the bird.