which harness for a medium sized parrot?

[CaitlinRice413]

[marie83]

Aviator harnesses are by far the most highly recommended I have seen, the safest, most comfortable for the bird. I have 2 aviators and can confirm they are excellent quality. That said I wouldn't want to let a bird just chew on it for a while but I don't think any bird would literally just bite through it.
Order straight from the parrot university website and it is cheaper than pet stores and you get free shipping to most (if not all countries) There is a size guide on the website.

[Polarn]

Polarn actually cracked the plastic thingie that tightens the harness on his first one... and that was like in an instant, but nothing more than I could keep a close eye on the way home as to it not breaking or him beaking there again and then replace it the day after.... other than that only thing I've heard from others about the aviators is the "welded" seams sometimes break when they plie their beak in between... however thats the one by the plastic thingie to tighten the loops, and even if you separate that seem they cant get out and it cant loosen, however it slips through when you take the harness off...

But yeah I like the aviator harness and been looking at a few others, even on birds up close (although only macaws) but as long as you can get the head through the headloop I'd say the aviator is by far the best quality and nicest fit I've seen so far.

[CaitlinRice413]

[marie83]

Yea, aviator is a brand as you now know. Other makes include feather teather which have metal clips holding them together and flight suits which are not really harnesses, they do the same job but are held together with velcro:S. I definitely think the aviators are the most secure and comfortable for the bird as they are all one piece so no buckles or clips that can be accidently undone.
Let us know how you get on with the harness training if you decide to go for a harness

[Michael]

I have read online reviews for bird harnesses at the pet store and an overwhelming number of people say their bird was able to bite right through the harness in an instant.

I only hear that from people who don't use a harness and usually an excuse to justify clipping. Keep in mind that a harness is only plan B and should never be relied on as plan A. The harness is that backup for in case a parrot flies off and would have created a fuss that you couldn't get it back and NOT as a primary means of restraining a parrot. If you think it is likely your parrot would fly off and not return to you, then you gotta go back to training at home before even contemplating taking a parrot outside harness, clipped, or not.

[CaitlinRice413]

[marie83]

I just had a very quick look through the reviews on amazon.com. At a first glance I can see only 2 bad reviews, 1 whos parrot didn't accept the harness, the other who claimed his conure had escaped because the straps snapped, believe me if the straps were in any way defective and about to snap then you would be able to tell, it would be like trying to tear a nylon dog lead in half otherwise (impossible). My only thought on this really is the owner allowed his parrot to keep chewing on it or was careless enough not to check the harness prior to going out.

If you want to look at the training process then Michael has an article on training Kili to wear one, step by step. It is alot better than the DVD that comes with the harness -although I did hear a rumour they have improved the DVD now. By the way, aviator is the make Michael has so you will be able to get an idea of exactly how it fits and the quality of the material.

Ps I don't work for the parrot universty, honest they just really are the best harnesses I have come across.

[Michael]

Kili's been chewing the heck out of her harness for going on 4 years now and every year I promise myself I'll replace it by the end of the season but it's still holding up just fine except for some ripped strands sticking out here and there. Truman has had his for 2 or 3 years and it's good as new. If the harness holds up for a bird the size of a grey but with the beak of a macaw, I have a hard time picturing any other bird breaking the one that is sized for them.

[CaitlinRice413]