We got our harness!

[mrgoogls]

just starting a thread to show my progress with cooper and his new harness! I have an x-small aviator harness. I just received it today. the video it comes with is VERY informational. it helps a lot. so far cooper is not afraid of the harness at all, which surprised me haha. but he is thinking of it as a toy and wants to keep chewing on it. and I don't need him chewing it off while we are outside! that wouldn't end well. when I get it on him ill post a pic of him wearing it and then some of him outside exploring!


PS: if you have any ideas on how to get him to stop chewing, they are all welcome.

[Honesty]

Look forward to seeing the video's Kenny:)

[mrgoogls]

i got it on cooper, with some definate resistance. he would not stop chewing at all though. i was afraid he would damage it so i took it off. how can i stop him from chewing on it??????!!!!!!!

[mrgoogls]

okay after a bit more time things only have gotten worse. he is getting more afraid the more he is near it. i dont know why. i read for 5 hours total about how to harness train and doing exactly what they say but nothing works. i mean NOTHING works. at this point im just ready to give up. i have no clue what else to do. nothing i have read over the past year about bird training has worked. if anything it is making it worse.... im at the end of my patience..

[josiesmom]

I'm still working on the chewing a little with Josie, so here is what I've come up with so far. The first thing to not is that if he does damage it, you can email the company and they will send you a new one for $18 (Josie's are xlarge so I'm not sure if the price will be different for the smaller one). After doing this twice, I knew where the problem areas were, so the company re-enforced another new harness for me for $18. Now, after all that, I read on a thread here about covering cotton perches with vet tape and now, I've got the re-enforced harness with vet tape over the bothersome areas for her. So far, so good. I think the best thing for her is distraction....food, toys, whatever. I will also, gently move her beak away from what she is trying to chew and tell her no. I hope some of this is helpful to you. Good luck with it...it really is worth it once they get into it.

[mrgoogls]

its not even like it just bothers him. he is chewing on it like its a toy. i put it near him to get used to it and he ran over and chewed on it.... i dont know how to get him to stop?!?!?

[JadeC]

Just be patient. Keep it near the cage, but don't let him chew on it. Also, this process might take weeks, so don't give up the first day. Maybe put it near him and offer a foot toy to play with and reward him with treats or whatever motivates him every time he chooses the toy instead of the harness. Do this until he can sit there with the harness next to him or even touching him without chewing it. It'll take time and patience, but I know you can do it!! Once he can do that, give it a few more days before you try to put it on him again.

[Turquoise]

Anita & JadeC have given you very good advice Kenny. I wished I had a solution for you as well. Roscoe let me put his on him with not a speck of trouble or chewing twice before he reached a year old. Then fall & winter set in & I didn't keep the training up. Now he will wear the wing parts,, no problem, but like Cooper, Roscoe tries to chew the head part up beforecI can get it past his busy beak.

l think if you keep up the training and go slowly like was suggested you will achieve your goal of Cooper wearing his harness. And I like the idea Anita had on wrapping it with vet tape in the vunerable chew areas.

[josiesmom]

I forgot to mention how I get the harness over her head which may be helpful. I lay the harness out on the floor and then put her on her back where I need her so that I can just slip it over her head. Goes so much easier that her being perched and me trying from in front of her. I hope this helps.

[Blancaej]

Try not to get discouraged Kenny. Just take your time and most of all be patient with Cooper. I think you may have done too much too soon. Start from the beginning like the video showed you and slowly get him used to it. I distract Savannah when she tries to chew it. Anyway, I hope you haven't given up and are still trying to get him adjusted. Good luck!

[mrgoogls]

thanks guys. I definatly am not giving up. I was just sort of in a bad mood from the start of the day(not becase of the harness, different reasons). I was just sort of being impatient. I agree I think I was just going abit to fast. ill keep you updated in the future. and he cant get distracted from this thing! when I had it part way on him he wouldn't stop! I tried food too, it ignores it. haha

[Blancaej]

I would imagine the harness would bother some birds more then others. I am slowly getting Quincy used to it. I put him in one years ago and he freaked and I gave up. I am not giving up this time even if it takes a year. LOL! You will just need to find out what works in getting Cooper to stop chewing. I am sure you will figure it out at some point. Could it be too small?

[mrgoogls]

I don't think it is to small. he fits in it nicely. I have to tighten it or else it is very loose. but it isn't to tight.

[Blancaej]

Well that's good. So I guess the only thing to do is find what will help him stop chewing it. Keep us posted on your progress.

[mrgoogls]

k. mini update. today, he doesn't seem very afraid. he doesn't even notice it until its right on top of him almost. but even then he still isn't afraid. he just ATTACKS IT. when it isn't on, he just chews like a toy. but, still not afraid, he sort of just try's to avoid getting it on a bit, like you would expect at first(and for some birds maybe a while), but once he gets it on, he doesn't stop chewing! its like he is going crazy! I don't know how to get him to stop that! it makes it INSANLY hard to get off, because he wont let go, and I have to pry his beak off of it and hold him so I can get it off and I feel bad :( and once its off, he seems a bit shaken up but then is fine after like a min or 2. I even tried taking him outside as soon as I got it on. it worked for all of 3 seconds while I was walking out the door. as soon as he hit the ground he started the chewing. he is already just barely starting to fray part of it. it is really nothing and might of even been there before but I just noticed. anyways, I think its getting slightly better but not much. bright side is I got him outside for all of 30 seconds! I got a few pics too!

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as you can see in the pictures he is non stop chewing.