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Post by heatherg on Feb 6, 2024 3:04:23 GMT -5
Many years ago, I tried to put a harness and lead on my first Quaker. She hated it. Today I saw an easier-to put on harness and 6’ leash and wonder if I want to try it on Willow. These are sold on eBay and have all different colors, including sea foam green for blue Quaker parakeets.
Has anyone successfully used one of these on their adult Quaker? Willow is ten and he allows me to close my hand around him. But he’s also a big chicken in general.
It would sure be nice to be able to take him outside without a carrier.
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Post by cnyguy on Feb 6, 2024 20:27:41 GMT -5
I've never tried a harness with any of my parrots. George wouldn't have tolerated one and I would have come close to losing some fingers if I'd tried one on him. Scooter was far too nervous to even attempt such a thing. And I know that Ralph would want nothing to do with a harness. He doesn't really enjoy going places anyway. So I can't offer any advice about trying one with Willow. If you do try, let us know how it goes.
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Post by Caseysmom on Feb 6, 2024 22:44:25 GMT -5
I can hold Casey in a closed hand but years ago when we tried a harness. I think it was the feather tether he wasn’t really a fan so we didn’t keep on it. He had one walk outside with it on. That’s it
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Post by heatherg on Feb 7, 2024 12:39:24 GMT -5
My Gonzo almost hung herself from a feather tether but Willow loves going places like farmers market as did Lucy. Unfortunately Lucy couldn’t fly and Willow although clipped potentially could fly.
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Post by heatherg on Mar 3, 2024 17:27:08 GMT -5
Well, I just got paid so I bought the “EZ Quaker parrot harness” and 6 foot leash from ebay, in the shimmering blue color. You can look up the phrase in quotation marks on ebay to see it.
I hope it works so I can take Willow outside without worrying. I really wish i could take him to the library. Maybe if he’s on a leash they’ll allow him in.
Lucy used to go for many outings to state street and Willy st among other places. But she couldn’t fly, so she rode in a scarf or basket. I have taken willow out on calm days knowing that he’s clipped and that I’ve got my eye close on him. But I’d hate myself if anything happened to him so I hope the harness and leash works.
It is made out of a little pleather tank top split down the sides and cinched around the middle. I hope Willow decides it’s ok if it gets him to go on an adventure. Because he really enjoys meeting people and being admired, even though he SEEMS shy sometimes. Willow has met some nice farm kids at the farmers market and gotten little treats, too.
Right now he’s on his basket handle right under my nose, beginning to growl because he wants a pet. Willow had pizza on Fri night so it’s been a good weekend and it is actually probably warm enough to take him outside today. But it’s very windy so definitely not until the harness arrives.
Then MAYBE we see about one for Jasper.
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Post by cnyguy on Mar 3, 2024 20:15:24 GMT -5
Good luck with the new harness and leash. Hope they work for you and Willow.
It can be risky taking even a clipped parrot outside loose, since clipped parrots can usually gain some altitude, or in an attempt to fly, can fall and be injured. The harness and leash would offer protection against that.
I know that Ralph wouldn't tolerate a harness so it has to be a transport cage for him.
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Post by heatherg on Mar 4, 2024 17:49:51 GMT -5
Indeed, that’s why I want the leash. Lucy couldNOT fly due to injury. But Willow has no injury to his wings.
Here’s hoping the harness is tolerated.
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Post by heatherg on Mar 7, 2024 13:02:48 GMT -5
I received the avianweb harness AND my Harrison’s bird food with free high potency pepper (treat).
The harness appears neatly made and is lighter weight than the woven six point harness I had for Gonzo 25 yrs ago. I have the harness out of the box, sitting on my knee, while I hand feed Willow his pepper “treats”. I’m hoping that a few sessions of this and the easier “putting on” of this harness will make it more OK to Willow.
It’s not quite warm enough to have a bird outside so we’ve got some flex time. W just wagged his tail so he’s pretty ok right now, the harness about 8” away. I’m hoping I can take him into the library if he’s on his leash on my shoulder. It would make me less anxious about going out.
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Post by heatherg on Mar 8, 2024 14:20:13 GMT -5
I tried putting the AvianWeb harness on Willow. It didn’t go well. First off, I think it’s too long in the torso for him. The belt around the middle crosses at his thighs and he doesn’t like that. Now, I did accidentally put it on latching the belt in front. So maybe it would work better latched in back. I’ll try that.
Second, I had been feeding Willow good treats for a couple days near the harness. That was ok. But he struggled when I put it on and he was very quiet after I closed the belt. I think he was really upset. I gave him an avicake and he wouldn’t eat it. Then he picked it up but the belt was touching the tops of his legs and I could tell that bothered him.
I gave him lots of kisses and he just seemed really indrawn and depressed. So I took off the harness and let him rest a bit and gave back the avicake. Now he’s on his basket on my lap, eating his avicake. I don’t know what I’ll do. I may try the harness again with belt closing in the back. But I think it’s a bit big. I’m going to get a weight on him to find out if he’s a big or small Quaker. And maybe I will return the harness and ask for a cockatiel harness. Maybe I will design my own and make it smaller. And maybe this just won’t work for Willow.
I don’t want to be scaring him and I’m not going to mistreat my bird. If he freezes when I put this on then it’s not right for him to wear it.
Going to apologize to Willow now. (I’ve been forgiven.)
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Post by cnyguy on Mar 8, 2024 20:26:13 GMT -5
I guess the first attempt didn't go very well. You could try doing things differently, but there is a chance that Willow still won't want anything to do with the harness. No doubt it would be a disappointment for you if Willow can't or won't accept the harness, but you will certainly do whatever is best for him and chalk it up to experience.
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Post by heatherg on Mar 9, 2024 1:20:21 GMT -5
Yup.
I may try again, now knowing how to put it on and fasten it quickly, and see if he will tolerate it. Because I can’t just throw out $30 and, more so, I really would like to take him out on walks and know he digs the attention.
If that doesn’t work, I now have a nice pattern and could easily make a better fitting harness (after this style) from thin suede, thin leather, doubled denim, or corduroy. The torso of the “shirt” is too long. Maybe I have a small Quaker.
Either way, my blue boy will have as low key as an experience as I can make it. We’ll take a break for a while. I have been keeping the harness nearby while I hand feed him treats, but am not going to push it.
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Post by cnyguy on Mar 9, 2024 20:10:44 GMT -5
You're taking the right approach. I suspect that if you tried to rush things it could make Willow more determined to reject the harness. I don't need to tell you how stubborn parrots can be when you want them to do something they would rather not do. Maybe a homemade harness would be more comfortable for Willow and would undoubtedly fit better since you could tailor it to his size.
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Post by heatherg on Mar 10, 2024 18:33:29 GMT -5
It would not be hard to make one but I still think I should try the one I bought with the fastener on the back as it’s intended to be. I was so worried about it that I fumbled a lot. I would really like to take him outside safely.
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Post by cnyguy on Mar 10, 2024 19:12:08 GMT -5
Certainly try fastening it the other way before giving up on the harness you have. If a harness absolutely won't work, maybe you could consider something like a Pak-o-Bird. I'm not sure if that could work for you and Willow, but it would be less cumbersome than hauling around a transport cage and would still allow you to take Willow out. That's another thing I'm sure that Ralph wouldn't tolerate, but one of my neighbors at the apartment complex has a conure that he takes out regularly in a Pak-o-Bird in good weather. Usually when he walks his dog, Rio the conure comes along.
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