Your opinion: the Aviator harness modified

[xbcc]

Hi all,

I would like your opinion on the following. If you could choose to buy the Aviator bird harness as it is now VS a version (from another brand with good reviews) which has a retractable leash which you can attach to it for the same price. Something like a dog leash but customized so it is better suited for birds. Which one would you choose? The harness would be the same.

Looking forward to your input!

[Wolf]

Why?

[xbcc]

Because I want to research if people are interested in buying a modified version of it. I want to create it.

[Michael]

You can't use a retractable dog leash on a bird. It will yank it so hard that it would drag on the floor.

[Wolf]

I think that I see where you are coming from, but could be wrong. There would probably be a market for a retractable leash that the strength would be downsized to work with birds. My concern is that if it would be strong enough to reel in a long leash that it would be too strong for many birds, especially for the smaller ones.

There have been a few enterprising DIYers that have used a braided fish line attached to a modified fishing rod and reel setup. The length of the rod from the reel to the first guide makes for a good perch once it is wrapped with vet wrap and it is easy to use as well as to take with you and it just attaches to the existing lead coming off of the harness. I do not know of any of these being on the market, but you would have to check that out to be certain.

Let me know if this is or is not the direction that you were headed with this and if this is helpful to you.

[xbcc]

I think that I see where you are coming from, but could be wrong. There would probably be a market for a retractable leash that the strength would be downsized to work with birds. My concern is that if it would be strong enough to reel in a long leash that it would be too strong for many birds, especially for the smaller ones.

There have been a few enterprising DIYers that have used a braided fish line attached to a modified fishing rod and reel setup. The length of the rod from the reel to the first guide makes for a good perch once it is wrapped with vet wrap and it is easy to use as well as to take with you and it just attaches to the existing lead coming off of the harness. I do not know of any of these being on the market, but you would have to check that out to be certain.

Let me know if this is or is not the direction that you were headed with this and if this is helpful to you.

Thank you. I was actually headed for something like the retractable dog leash, but it seems that it would be hard to make one for a bird without it yanking the bird. People are also afraid (maybe rightfully) that the lash would get stuck on a tree for example.

The fishing rod you are talking about is very interesting. But I am afraid that the market for that is too small. I am trying to better the existing bird leashes and enough people wanting it. Maybe I will come up with something.

[Wolf]

Well you could possibly consider using a reel like is used on some of the longer tape measures, but I would be afraid that an automatic retractable outfit would be too strong for a bird. Any leash is subject to getting caught in a tree if the human is not paying enough attention. Most of the longer leashes that are available are not recommended for use in or too close to trees and bushes for just that reason.

[ParrotsForLife]

You could make it like a retractable dog lead only use something else so that you have to reel it in but use a actual lead instead of the fishing line.

[Wolf]

Can you imagine a small bird like a budgie or even a cockatiel trying to fly dragging 50 feet of flat woven webbing? I would think that it would weigh much more than the bird. Even 100 pound test braided fish line is stronger than the biggest bird can break and it is also much lighter tan any of the webbing on the market, which is why I suggested it for the line itself.

[ParrotsForLife]

Can you imagine a small bird like a budgie or even a cockatiel trying to fly dragging 50 feet of flat woven webbing? I would think that it would weigh much more than the bird. Even 100 pound test braided fish line is stronger than the biggest bird can break and it is also much lighter tan any of the webbing on the market, which is why I suggested it for the line itself.

Im talking about using the bungee lead which is on the harness.