aviator flight harness for sunconure?

[skeetersunconure]

[Michael]

Actually turns out I did get it today. That was pretty quick considering I just ordered it tuesday.

[skeetersunconure]

oh wow really that means i should get it on.... monday! becasue i dont think they deliver on sunday. i cant wait! now i have a question: when i first try it with skeeter i was thinking of luring his head through with a treat do you think that would work?

[Michael]

Just remember not to be tempted to go too far on the first day. Heck don't even put it on the bird at all at first. You can plan to do something like this:

Day 1: Leave harness on a table at distance in view
Day 2: Leave harness near cage in view, then do target or other trick training in vicinity of it
Day 3: Target parrot to come right up to or touch harness
Day 4: Start holding the harness in your hand and briefly touching it to the parrot
Day 5: Wrap the harness material around parrot without putting it on
Day 6: Start training head through collar trick
Day 7: Practice head through collar some more
Day 8: Start fastening the other straps
Day 9: Put harness on/off in full
Day 10: Meal while wearing harness

Basically spreading it out reduces the likelihood that your bird will become terrified and hate the harness. It will take much more time to undo a harness phobia than a gentle introduction of it like this. So don't be tempted to rush it. Go slower still if necessary. As you see the first half of the time is just slowly letting the parrot get used to the material rather than wearing it.

Also, don't let it fly indoors wearing the harness unless you are holding the leash and doing short recalls. Kili flew off with the harness and got tangled which really scared her about it. But do practice some short indoor recalls within the distance it allows before going outside with it. You want the parrot to know its flying limitation with it.

EDIT: The reason I was able to teach Kili out of the phobia in 3 days is because we have a strong training regime but that is much faster than most people can expect or should even try. Actually it took a full month before she stopped being scared/cautious of the harness but I got her to put her head into it for treats in 3 days.

[skeetersunconure]

okedokey will do i appreciate your advice!

[TheNzJessie]

Michaels video on kili harness training is a very good example.

[skeetersunconure]

yup i have watched it several times already

[skeetersunconure]

hey so guess what i got it today actually it came a few minutes ago. i have a question i let skeeter mess around with it a little bit and he liked biting it and playing with it is this a good idea? should i let him bite it and play with it?

[Michael]

Personally I try to dissuade Kili from biting it, but as long as your parrot isn't too destructive it's not a big deal. Kili hasn't come close to destroying it and all my efforts to get her to stop biting it are futile. Just supervise and make sure it's not purely a chew toy for it.

Resist the temptation to even try to put it on the bird today. Give it time to realize how harmless it is and then slowly work it closer and closer through play and training and then the bird will never have a reason to panic from it.

[skeetersunconure]

ya he hasnt done damage to it yet but there is no doubt in my mind that he couldnt tear it up he bites through my hair rubberbands all the time! haha anyway so far it is near his cage and he had some cantelope for dinner and he has played with it and he slipped his head through it on his own once but im going to take things slow as he is clipped right now (the breeder clipped him just like kili) and he isnt as tame as kili yet. tonight i'll let him play with it more and then maybe tommorrow if he seems comfortable i will have him play dead and do other tricks near him and so on. its kind of confusing looking sortof. are you sure the head strap wont be to tight?