Demonstration of the AVIATOR harness with macaws

www.theparrotun...

[@SantaCruzJackRegist]

A lot of people disliking this video are ignorant naturalists that don't even understand the reason we have birds in the first place. We don't own them, we're protecting them, generally abused birds that were owned by cruel people. It's risky to free fly birds of any size, especially in america, with hawks willing to attack even macaws and even common birds like crows and seagulls will harass a much larger macaw, just because they know they're strangers in their territory. Harnessed flight and walks are meant to safely allow our birds to enjoy the outside world as much as possible.

[@lightningshireable]

These harness's are more dangerous than free flight.

[@pukamaroo]

@@lightningshireable they're definitely unnatural for a bird, but so is a collar and leash for a dog in a sense. Just as leashes allow us go safely walk our dogs without worrying about them straying and getting lost, a leashed harness is also providing safety for a pet bird. It's incredibly easy for a bird to feel like they're having fun or becoming frightened outside, flying too far and then it becomes difficult to get them back or they get lost. Remember although they are birds and of course they have a strong instinct to fly, they are also tamed pets! So in a circumstance that your feathered friend strays too far, it will most likely be in a dangerous situation. They're not in their natural wild habitat so they most likely wouldn't be able to care for themselves even if they understood how. Also, a harness shouldn't be causing any pain for a bird unless it isn't secured properly or the bird is trying desperately hard to escape. In which case, they should be trained more before continuing to be flighted with a harness. Nothing against free flighting- I think it's awesome! But I think free flighting should only be done in familiar and safe areas for both owner and bird by someone who absolutely knows what they're doing.

[@gabriellehall]

Gabby has one of Steve's Aviator harnesses. There's no doubt it's the best design, easiest to put on and the safest. Gabby is a Hartman bird and she visited Steve's birds just yesterday. ;-)

[@mysteryperson3609]

It kinda looked like they were flying a magical kite :0

[@psychoticdaizyproductions569]

My 20 year old double yellow head will be getting this soon haha. I've been prepping him in the mean time by getting him comfortable with a simple string over his head

[@MultiSupernathan]

i love macaws sooner or later ill problely get a hyacinth macaw and this idea fixed my problem about playing outside with it

[@Pikadono]

This looks like a great alternative to clipping, but it's too bad there isn't a size small enough for a budgie!

[@whynot_Shea]

@Jessicar: There is now! It’s call Petite! I have one for my cockatiel!

[@Megan21527]

I love those macaws they are so cute😃💗💓

[@litledevel15]

yea when you go to the website that is in the info, the have sizes for small bird like cockatiels conures (green cheek and brown throated only) and other small birds

[@cantworkitout]

i bet with enough training you can train these birds to fly without a harness right? my local zoo (the Adelaide Zoo in South Australia) has two Blue and Gold Macaws that they do a public flight show with daily where they let them out the enclosure and give a speech and let them fly around the audience and such, usually to a food bowl, it's pretty awesome, i wish i had a blue and gold macaw... one day soon hopefully, i love them!

[@whynot_Shea]

@Baz Doppleganger: Yes! The only issue for small birds is they might get blown away without a harness, my grandma had a bird that got blown away in very little wind.

[@jmstudios457]

her little sounds are so cute!

[@Rainygirl3100]

For those who are attacking this video unaware of what they're talking about: Flight harnesses allow a parrot to get necessary flight exercise as an alternative to wing clipping while reducing the chances of the bird flying out of calling range if it becomes startled or chased/attacked by other avians such as hawks, eagles, and crows. The other choices are purely indoor flight, free flight (which poses the risks mentioned above), and wing clipping (which can psychologically impact a bird and endanger them perhaps more than a flighted bird). Free flight can be done safely, but it is pretty risky and ultimately depends on the bird's and trainer's abilities/personality.

[@cindyandjoey]

I think these harnesses are a great idea, but what you need to understand is that, unless your bird is a baby, it takes a lot of work to acclimate a bird to wear a harness. And that's if your bird is used to you touching/petting it under the wings, etc. If you have an older bird that doesn't like to be touched, you'll have a HUGE task ahead of you. And just to clear up a misunderstanding among non bird owners in some of these posts, clipping the wings is NOT a medical procedure, nor is it torture! It merely involves cutting off the flight feathers (the ten or so outermost feathers on the wing, which provide the lift). If done properly, the bird will be able to glide down, as opposed to plummeting like a stone. The feathers DO grow back at the next molt, in about six months, so this is not a permanent procedure. (You do, however, need to be careful not to cut any blood feathers, so novices need training.) There are risks to having a fully-flighted bird in your house. They can fly out the door at an inopportune moment (I actually saw this happen in a pet store once, someone startled the birds just as a customer was coming in, and one bird flew out the door! And once a bird starts flying, it will often fly for miles, then not know how to return.) The bird can be injured by a ceiling fan, or drown in a bucket of water or the toilet. I think the risks are greater for small, cockatiel- and parakeet-sized birds.

[@sammymunir]

@sk8ia lol if you didnt get ur macaw you can always get a budgie there parrot just a bit smaller and they can talk and be trained as well :) and tthere only 20 bucks

[@bario46cityhights]

@greengrendel ya seem thing here i have a question i want to get the selphur crested cockatoo to they sell those types of harness for them 2 cuaz there about the same size aren't they

[@unicornwizhez4115]

How does the harness effect them with a full crop 🤔

[@nohrianne1391]

I don't want the troubles of wing clipping (difficulty molting, health problems, or the bird having trouble saving its dear life), and I do see that a flight harness is a greatly suggested and (mostly) harmless alternative. Before I consider at all, I have three questions. 1. Does having your bird wear this effect trust? Some of the birds shown putting this harness on look pretty upset! 2. Is the sudden jolt from the leash running out of slack scare the bird at all? 3. Are these only available for larger birds? Or do they come in sizes for the likes of Conures and Budgies?

[@canne5660]

+Frost Fursona I can't answer your first two questions- but there are definitely smaller sizes in the Aviator line of harnesses! including, supposedly, budgie sized, or parrotlet sized.

[@darbyburnham2248]

I want to no that too. I just don't want it hurting them

[@existentialcrisis5169]

This is so late it’s probably of no use but. . . 1. If you give a few weeks to train your bird to wear the harness the bird will not mind and even enjoy wearing it. 2. The sudden jolt shouldn’t affect the bird very much after its used to it. It might be a bit of a shock at first but they’re smart and will learn not to fly at high speeds. 3. There are a lot of different sizes. I’ve gotten one for my sun conure.

[@jenniferstackell]

Hello Marah Would this type of harnes work on a U2 Umbrella Cockatoo ? And woule you have a link as where to get one Appreciate your help Jen

[@felecionjones]

you can adopt one or go to ebay classifieds im getting one hopefully next month

[@BartCoppens]

I am planning to get a raven somewhere in the future. Would this flight harness fit on a raven?

[@whynot_Shea]

@Bart Coppens: There are many sizes, so yes.

[@BIRDANGAL]

@clubedospapagaios no harness are good for birds i have one for my goffon cockatoo and for my macaw

[@xxJonnyCxx]

does it not hurt when it runs out of leech? That pull when the lead ends surely?

[@torokublue2366]

xxJonnyCxx aviator harness has an elastic shock cord so there's no jolt

[@bario46cityhights]

i really like this video cuaz it help me out alot but the trainer knows wat his doing but the red macaw that bit him maybe u should try to coax him or train not to get the frighten cuaz the bite could have been more serious but i liked the video and helped me out but i think i shouldn't be talking but im just thinking

[@darbyburnham2248]

I have two cockatiels.Do you kno if these harnesses come in sizes that small?

[@hediyekacmaz6860]

they doo☺☺☺

[@wowobam]

Hediye Kacmaz sorry if I replied late and you already know maybe but on Amazon if you want an AVIATOR harness you need xxs(extra extra small) With prime its around £35 or £28 without prime So yw if this helped :)

[@xmikisanimationsx3241]

So leash for your bird Nice

[@TheSisma95]

@Pikadono There is

[@WackoKillerDan]

@sk8ia So you posted this in 2008. Did you get one yet?! :)

[@jrmno1]

Hi this John and Carrie (Inara) parents. It's a small world....

[@litledevel15]

Wait they said the leash was elastic, what were to happen if the bird stretched the elasted and it broke bye bye bird

[@whynot_Shea]

@litledevel15: It is great quality, it doesn’t break

[@yaritzabazan3660]

What size? Large?

[@NaviGoesHeyListen]

Troll =/= sarcasm. If you can't see the difference, you should not be calling anyone a troll. In addition, not all birds are the same. While my lovebird and I may be attached at the hip and he can be easily trained for free flying, my conure is a stubborn one. Especially with birds that size, a strong wind could easily take them a lot farther than they want to be. You may feel comfortable with your macaw being outside, some people may not for their own valid reasons.

[@Tsubakiee]

she (or he) was complaining the entire time you were putting the harness on lol.

[@JAD3N]

I flew my macaw inside the house. Then I flew him in an indoor basket court. Now I fly him outside every Tuesday, Thursday, and Sunday. I've never strapped a harness on my bird. Teach your bird to fly at a very young age. Establish a good relationship with your bird. When you take them outside for their first free flight. They won't ever want to leave your side. Most of the time my bird just chills and not want to fly, I have to force him to for a work out. Troll fail... Take a seat \__

[@caileyhebden2844]

I'm getting my baby dried one but smaller obviously 😂

[@JAD3N]

So you're saying you're a bird strapper then? Kites are cheaper and don't poop as much. Might want to consider that option.

[@collinchorba4818]

fuck you, and do your research before commenting on something you know nothing about

[@pukamaroo]

Copy and paste from my previous comment- they're definitely unnatural for a bird, but so is a collar and leash for a dog in a sense. Just as leashes allow us go safely walk our dogs without worrying about them straying and getting lost, a leashed harness is also providing safety for a pet bird. It's incredibly easy for a bird to feel like they're having fun or becoming frightened outside, flying too far and then it becomes difficult to get them back or they get lost. Remember although they are birds and of course they have a strong instinct to fly, they are also tamed pets! So in a circumstance that your feathered friend strays too far, it will most likely be in a dangerous situation. They're not in their natural wild habitat so they most likely wouldn't be able to care for themselves even if they understood how. Also, a harness shouldn't be causing any pain for a bird unless it isn't secured properly or the bird is trying desperately hard to escape. In which case, they should be trained more before continuing to be flighted with a harness. Nothing against free flighting- I think it's awesome! But I think free flighting should only be done in familiar and safe areas for both owner and bird by someone who absolutely knows what they're doing.

[@WojciechP915]

This would be so much better for the parrot if there was a bungee at the end so it wasn't jerked so harshly.

[@torokublue2366]

Bill T the aviator harness does have an elastic shock cord so there's no jolt! 😄

[@musicislife6951]

christ those things are scary lool

[@hediyekacmaz6860]

😲😲😲😲😲rllyyy i saw one of those in a petshop and i wanted it sooooo baaaddd i love them sooooo muuchh especially mollucan cockatoos white cockatoos and sulphur crested cockatoos😕😕☺☺☺🐦🐦🐦🐦🐦🐦🐦🐦🐦🐦🐦🐦🐦🐦🐦🐦🐦

[@CJCroen1393]

The harness or the birds?

[@SNUGGLEPUFFI]

I know what you mean, to me it looks a little... out of place

[@NaviGoesHeyListen]

Better yet, we should keep our birds inside all day long. Nature isn't for birds.

[@michaelcatlan9525]

imbicile

[@kiwisadopted3388]

Demonstration of a video made with a Nokia

[@NaviGoesHeyListen]

I'm actually a supporter of free flight. I don't even own harnesses for my birds. Your reading comprehension is quite abysmal as you are zero for two on correct assumptions about me. I was merely mocking your unnecessary belligerence and stating that harnesses are not a sign that owners do not care for their birds. I value my birds regardless of their ability to fly. Mine have free roam around the house and make great mobile alarm clocks.

[@fleckihund988]

poor parrot :(

[@whynot_Shea]

@fleckihund988: No, this is good for them.

[@benashford8404]

never clip wings unless you have to the parrot wont be able to fly

[@rewards5679]

Torture.

[@Blue_Anzu]

Yeah, because keeping them from flying away and getting mauled by hawks and harassed by crows is torture shut up and do more research

[@gojida2207]

Daniel Kauffman it's definetly torture, keeping birds from getting mauled is most definetly torture.

[@dantehoyos428]

Watr you dumbass

[@CJCroen1393]

+Watr It's literally just a leash for birds, calm down.