Taking your parrot for a walk?

Hello Jenwade! Maya regularly comes for walks with me, either in her harness (we use the fredbird Kaylor collar and a loosely elasticated leash) or in her birdie backpack. Mine is not a pak-o-bird, but it is a pretty similar design. It took me MONTHS (like, eight or nine) to train Maya into wearing her harness. It is a big undertaking and the tiniest error can set you back by quite some way. Read Rebecca O'Connor's 'The Perfectly Trained Parrot' and get the harness training DVD from the parrot wizard. Read and watch both before you even bother to buy the harness so you know what you are doing. I started taking Maya outside in a carry cage whilst simultaneously training her to take the harness in the evenings. I have to admit, she still takes A LOT of persuading to get the harness over her head, but once that's done, she's fine. She does chew on it a little and we need to replace the harnesses maybe every 6-8 months. But you'd need to replace a dog lead or dog collar through wear and tear, so it's a case of just checking the integrity of the harness before you go outside. The Fred Bird harness is good, but doesn't come with an elasticated leash, and is probably not quite as escape proof as the aviator harness.

If your bird is younger, so much the better as training will be easier, but the Parrot Wizard's video shows training on a 14 year old macaw, so it is possible to train an older bird, it might just take longer. I would say, start clicker and target training straight away (advice for both these things can be found in Rebecca O'connor's book and on the parrot wizard's website). Once you've achieved a good training routine, say 10 minutes a night for five nights a week, then you can start gradually introducing the harness. It will take a long time, so be patient. But it's really worth it. Maya loves going outside. It's a good way of getting rid of some energy, giving her an alternative environment, getting her well socialised with people and providing her with a good dose of Vitamin D!

Maya still does get quite bored of the harness after about half an hour, so if we are going for long-haul travels (on the train or anything), I take her birdie backpack too so she can pop in there and have a rest and a bite to eat away from prying eyes. We also have Red Kites and some sparrowhawks around here. Kites tend to be carrion feeders, but the sparrowhawks could be a worry. I have to be quite vigilant. Just because they are on/with you, doesn't mean they are 100% safe, but birds of prey will think twice before diving for a bird on a human. If you've got Red Tails around, that may be more of an issue, but I expect Mynah birds will leave off a little if you're about. I've only ever had one bird come at Maya in all our times out and it was a magpie. Maya was quite unnerved, but I just made myself as big as possible and squawked in its face. It left off quite quick and we haven't had another problem. That was before the new year. It's certainly not without its risks, but then nothing worthwhile is. If we were to completely secure our birds from all hazards, they would have very boring lives. It has to be about taking calculated risks, being vigilant, taking precautions and planning ahead. It's worth it though!

Also, regarding people wanting to touch and be near Maya, most people have never been near a bird so they tend not to approach them like a dog. Most ask politely about stroking her. When going outside was quite new, I used to say no, but Maya will now tolerate people stroking her wings. The only time anyone ever tried to touch Maya without my asking, he got a pretty clear warning from her that it was not a good idea. Generally, I think I just have to be quite clear about the boundaries. She is an animal under my protection, I know her best and if people want to be near her, they have to abide by the rules I set. Most people, though, are happy just to look and admire her, as it is very unusual to be so close to a bird.

What a little smarty pants she is.

I have a new flightsuit (Avian Fashions 'bird-diaper') still in the wrapper, but its leash attaches to the body of the suit by velcro. Maybe you could velcro your leash?

Yes, they're scarily smart little demons! Maya rightly recognises that the nail varnish bottle takes attention away from her, therefore it's evil...EVIL!

Fair enough, you know her best - you have done a TERRIFIC job of accustomising her to the range. Pat on the back for you!