Ellen K. Cook, D. V. M. Harnesses Moluccan Cockatoo

[JewelConure]

Merlin is gorgeous and he loves you



[galanie]

I'm thinking of using a Flight Suit instead. They seem much easier to get on the bird. Mine will not let me freely touch her wings and while I will have to work on that even with the flight suit, there at least is nothing around the neck to deal with as well.

[morganvideo]

@galanie I like the Flight Suit, too -

[notoriginals]

Merlin's so sweet...

Have same feather teather one snap, would prefer a harness with a leash clip on back and breast, easier for walks...(until we fly)

[teckmate]

acuttaly my harness dosent have lots of snaps or anything just one that come out under the wing and bird is coferterbal its just he likes to walk rather then sit on my shoulder so if he walks it get stuck i just need help putting it for the walkng position

[morganvideo]

That doesn't sound like a Feather Tether...

There are a couple good brands, Fred's Bird being one of them, that allow the lead to be attached to the top or the bottom. Our Rose-breasted loves to walk, and he uses the Aviator, which has the lead coming out from his breast.

[teckmate]

i just got a small harness called the feather teather and i have a question about it. When i put iton my bird the place the leache is attached to the harness run downe the belly so if my bird walks it gets stuck any advice

[morganvideo]

I would never recommend that particular brand harness to anyone. It is very complicated to use, has lots of snaps, and is heavy and difficult for a bird to wear. There are a few that I like for parrots, and the Aviator Harness is the ones birds like best. Fred's Bird Harness works pretty well, too. I would discard the Feather Tether rather than try to make it work.

[morganvideo]

We've been asked a couple of times if it is OK to tie yarn or string around a bird's leg because the bird is afraid of the harness. ABSOLUTELY NOT. That will harm your bird seriously! Thank you for asking - and please teach your bird with patience and positive reinforcement, and if you cannot do that, then do not use a harness, or any other sort of restraint. No aversives, nothing the bird does not agree with.

[nonfictionstory]

ugh. i want to get a harness for my lovebird so i can take her out with me in the summer but im nervous about the training - shes a little feisty. i want a harness - i live in the city and what if she jumped into the street!

[morganvideo]

In response to your questions:

Dr. Ellen K. Cook's latest DVD, "Happily Ever After with Parrots ... A Learning Game" will be released December 14, 2007. You can order it from this site:

companionparrotmedia c o m

Teaching your parrot to wear a harness is done in small incremental steps - with no biting, and no punishment or negative reinforcement - you can do this, too! Behavior IS a science, and she explains this on her DVD.

Happy Teaching!

[ilovecodyandzack]

if i did that to my bird it would kill me and eat me alive 0_0

[morganvideo]

If we "did" a lot of things "to" our birds, they would "eat us alive"... :)

However, nothing is "done to" the bird when teaching using the science of behavior -

Dr. Ellen K. Cook's latest DVD, "Happily Ever After with Parrots ... A Learning Game" will be released December 14, 2007. You can order it here:

companionparrotmedia c o m - you can teach your bird new behaviors, too! Behavior IS a science, and she explains this on her DVD.

Happy Teaching!

[babetteq]

Dr. Morgan, I just love watching your videos. They are refreshing and a fabulous visual alternative to the 'bird whisperer'. I only hope more people follow your lead with their cockatoos.

[Rilaayy]

whats the point of that?

[morganvideo]

The point is many benefits -- with clicker training, or any positive reinforcement training, your bird is receptive to medical exams, administration of medical treatment, harnessing so he can safely travel outside with you, and so on.

[babetteq]

sorry, dr. cook! oops

[messyparrot]

Nice job with that harness!