Finally get to go outside!!

[terri]

I had wanted to get a harness for my macaw Harlow.Ive envisioned her and I having sweet summer nights on the porch swing with me LOL.I ordered one from THE PARROT UNIVERSITY.It came today .I carefully reviewed the harness training clips.I gathered from alot of people on here its not as easy as it looks!! After realizing this might take awhile. I thought screw this ,Harlow were just going to put this thing on.She was FINE with it [I was thrilled]. We went outside she wanted to stay right on my arm[Ithought she would at least flap her wings] I also put her on the ground but she tried to climb up my leg[interesting a macaw climbing up you] shes a big girl!.Well anyways a great first day

[Eurycerus]

That is amazing! I'm so impressed and happy for you and your bird. That is one if the number one things I intend on doing. I want my little buddy to go where I go

[cml]

Congratulations, really happy for you !

We want both our guys to be able to wear harnesses, but since stitch freaked out once when outside, he wont go near it again .

[Pomlover2586]

I too skipped the "easy does it" harness training. One day i took it out and let him look at it and then rubbed it over his body. The next time time i showed him the harness- bout a week later? I placed a harness one size too big on him so that if he panicked I could remove it easier. Two days later I popped on his regular harness and off we went outside to explore. Gave him a "victory nut" for being such a good boy and that was that.

I can understand the take your time method for birds who are easily frightened or untrustworthy.....but my Iago is truly fearless......so I felt more confident with the rushed method of training.

[terri]

Congratulations, really happy for you !

We want both our guys to be able to wear harnesses, but since stitch freaked out once when outside, he wont go near it again .

CML my Hawkhead is a freak out kind of bird.When shes in a situation she doesnt like we calmly keep her there and she gets better.Do your guys let you touch their heads and wings easily? Maybe if you can get their harnesses on ,take them out for awhile and ride out their dislike of it.

[cml]

Stitch used to allow us to touch his wings (thats why we could do harness training to begin with, and the wings trick for that matter as well ^^), being grabbed, lying on his back in my hand etc but lately he is in a phase when thats not okay, even though I work with taming exercises during each training session.
He's still the most amazing at trick training, he loves to cuddle (so touching his head is totally fine), and will always step up, its just situations he doesnt have control over in which he has regressed.

I put it down to Leroy coming into Stitch's life, and us letting it happen, when Leroy came Stitch started to behave more like a bird, and we should have doubled training and gone back with basic training immediatly. Now we have to work on it with both of them, as we work with Leroy.

My intention is to start harness training again when Stitch is comfortable with me grabbing his wings again.

Leroy was raised an aviary bird, and I think he was somewhat neglected at his previous home, and he's had a tough ride. Building our bond with him has been hard, with a few setbacks, but we are making a lot of progess. He will step up, occasionally let us pet him, and take showers now. Also, another great thing is that when frightened, he prefers to be with us rather than fly off somewhere to be alone. But he is far from being able to start harness training with, even if Id love for him to come outside as well!