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How many of you harness your parrot?

Off topic discussions that are unrelated to parrots and other parrot discussions that don't fit anywhere else.

Do you harness your parrot(s) outside?

Yes
9
45%
No but planning on it
7
35%
No because it is clipped
3
15%
No don't take it outside (or use carrier/cage)
1
5%
 
Total votes : 20

Re: How many of you harness your parrot?

Postby Margaret » Mon May 09, 2011 1:46 am

Michael wrote: How often do you do this?

I just started recently, when harness came. I try to do it every day(if there is a nice weather)at least for couple of minutes to make her get used to. Plus I like this walks too. On weekends and holidays we almost most of the times walk bf's dog, so now we'll have too animals on leash ;)

Michael wrote:Are there people who take their parrot outside unharnessed because it is clipped?

I did it once. Chico was glued to my shoulder, but curious, what's going on around. It was first time she was outside and I realized then, that next time she will be less shame and afraid and more curious and she may jump out and hurt herself. I waited for harness.
I'm sure if I have home with yard, she'll be outside every day even without harness. It will not happened, because even in the future we decide to buy some small place for us, her wings will grow back :lol:
Enough about Chico. Lately more often I think about bigger birds. Since I was very opposite to clipped wings, I think that if I have some big bird(cockatoo, grey, amazon, etc)I may change my opinion and keep bird that size clipped- for his own good.
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Margaret
Conure
 
Gender: This parrot forum member is female
Posts: 214
Location: Chicago
Number of Birds Owned: 5
Types of Birds Owned: Budgies, Cockatiel
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Re: How many of you harness your parrot?

Postby Natacha » Mon May 09, 2011 7:36 pm

I won an Aviator harness over a year ago.

Shade was beyond terrified of it, even though I would just let it around so she could get used to it without even trying it on. So I didn't want to push the issue.

I'm not yet comfortable enough with Joey or Zuri, although I do see Zuri's potential in being able to be properly trained, to try with them. I can not yet handle them fully like I would Shade and would probably end up hurt.

Petey - I'm not going to do it, I would have mangled hands for sure.

I recently figured that Pixel might be a good candidate because I can do whatever I want with her, handle her any which way. But..apparently I've misplaced the harness. Actually looked around for it this past week-end and couldn't find it. Contemplating buying a new one.

Finally Cape egg. If I get a baby girl amongst those three eggs, the breeder will train her to wear the harness - something they usually do - and baby will come home with it's harness. :)
My blog http://poiworld.blogspot.com/
Videos of my birds http://www.youtube.com/user/poicephaluslady
Piper ~ Lovebird
Shade ~ Senegal
Joey & Pixel ~ Red-bellied parrots
Petey & Zuri ~ Meyer's parrots
Léa ~ Cape parrot
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Natacha
African Grey
 
Gender: This parrot forum member is female
Posts: 1277
Location: Ontario, Canada
Number of Birds Owned: 7
Types of Birds Owned: PF Lovebird, Senegal Parrot, Red-bellied Parrots, Meyer's Parrot, Cape Parrot
Flight: Yes

Re: How many of you harness your parrot?

Postby Michael » Mon May 09, 2011 9:19 pm

Natacha wrote:Finally Cape egg. If I get a baby girl amongst those three eggs, the breeder will train her to wear the harness - something they usually do - and baby will come home with it's harness. :)


Just keep in mind that this will only last until the baby gets old enough to realize that it has a big beak and wings and doesn't have to tolerate you putting it on. I don't think they link the experience of being outside with the necessity to put on a harness (just lets them tolerate wearing it while outside). So it's not a bad idea to start positively reinforcing harness donning with treats from the moment the bird realizes it likes certain foods and to continue practicing the harness at least once a week/two so you don't ever get a discontinuity in the harness tameness like I did. But if you do, no worries, you can retame the parrot to wear a harness again fairly easily just using positive/negative reinforcement.
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Michael
Macaw
 
Gender: This parrot forum member is male
Posts: 6284
Location: New York
Number of Birds Owned: 3
Types of Birds Owned: Senegal Parrot, Cape Parrot, Green-Winged Macaw
Flight: Yes

Re: How many of you harness your parrot?

Postby Natacha » Tue May 10, 2011 11:37 am

While I agree that this is a long as the parrot wants to tolerate it, I think there is a big advantage of having it being used to the harness as a baby and to have it used to having it passed over it's head. Those baby days are great for stuff like this.

And of course, continuing to positively reinforcing everytime I put the harness on was always in the plan :)
My blog http://poiworld.blogspot.com/
Videos of my birds http://www.youtube.com/user/poicephaluslady
Piper ~ Lovebird
Shade ~ Senegal
Joey & Pixel ~ Red-bellied parrots
Petey & Zuri ~ Meyer's parrots
Léa ~ Cape parrot
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Natacha
African Grey
 
Gender: This parrot forum member is female
Posts: 1277
Location: Ontario, Canada
Number of Birds Owned: 7
Types of Birds Owned: PF Lovebird, Senegal Parrot, Red-bellied Parrots, Meyer's Parrot, Cape Parrot
Flight: Yes

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