Bird folk - any experience with "flight suits" or bird harness/leashes?

In My Humble Opinion
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There’s a new baby in our house, a cinnamon-pearled cockatiel girly-bird of great charm and adorableness, named Maggie. She’s already sort of friendly with us (albeit rather bashful and diffident), and we’re working with her to make sure she becomes tame, confident, and people-happy.

We are planning on keeping her wings clipped so she can accompany us on excursions outside our apartment. I know that this won’t necessarily prevent a 'tiel’s absconding in a moment of fright or over-excitement; however, I’ve recently found out about “flight suits” or halter and leash arrangements which some people who have companion parrots will trick the birds out with in order to take them strolling or even allow them controlled free flight.

If these gadgets are as useful as they’d seem to be, one would be just the ticket for Maggie; she could safely accompany her two papas be-bopping around town on a friendly shoulder with a physical connection between us so we don’t get separated and lost.:frowning:

I just wonder if they’re really safe for the bird, effective in lessening accidental escapes, and practical – like, how easy is it to convince one’s pet to let one put the harness on?

The problem is, I’ve only found two sort of views about flight harnesses online – the one that the manufacturers and sellers put out (of course) is that they’re safe, effective, and as necessary for proper pet bird keeping as newspaper and spray millet:cool:; the anti-harness side is mainly represented by the sort of people who think wing-clipping is tantamount to animal abuse and mutilation.

So I’m requesting that any Birdie Dopers who’ve used flight harnesses with cockateil-sized birds please post their experiences, good or bad, and your recommendations as to whether or not they’re a good idea. Me, Maggie, and Racer thank you in advance.

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Moderator Action

Since this is looking for personal experiences and recommendations, let’s move it to IMHO (fromGQ).

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I can tell ya about my experience(s) with an Umbrella Cockatoo, a fair bit bigger of course, but similar in need for a suit at times.

My U2 started picking at his central breastbone, to point of it not healing and slowly just becoming a larger and larger scab. Vet tried various stuff, but what absolutely stopped was getting a suit for him from here. I’d HIGHLY recommend this place to anyone looking for such - and to call 'em before ya order, etc. I have no connection with 'em, but can say quality was as well-done as a loving owner would want.

Louie (the U2) did not protest much at it being put on, though it was a learning process. He was already very accustomed to being ‘handled’ and having his wings stretched gently out for me to clip them, etc. After about a week of putting it on/off a few times a day, he would actually help put his wings into the holes and move his head to let us velcro it closed comfortably. I imagine a 'tiel, when it becomes used to being handled, would act somewhat similar as I know they have a decent level of intelligence at learning things. However, I have NO experience with the leash aspect, and I would recommend you check out a bird forum for parrotlets/'tiels for better info.

I fall into the wing-clipping camp for bigger birds as I did not want my U2 getting scared and hurting themselves flying into something in a small room or whatever. Currently, I have a conure and quaker, both on smaller side of parrot/parrotlets. Their wings are not clipped and I let them fly from cages to me or even sink if they want a bath. If I were to ever need to put a suit/leash on them, like for being outdoors or whatever, I’d have a headstart on process as I regularly run my fingers under their wings and say “wings” to condition them to being ‘manipulated’, but careful not to make bird think I am giving it 'loving carresses and stimulate 'em, so to speak. Always stay above their sholulders with rubbing/massaging/affection. I’d bet that after two or three times of smooth-going suit-up sessions, bird would let it happen without much fuss at all. YMMV, as always.

You HAVE to have the bird’s trust to do it easily, and that is where you start with getting suits/leashes to work as purposed, in essence. And, IME, birds LOVE getting outdoors and interacting with things. I am not sure how fast a 'tiel can run, but the U2 could just about be impossible to catch on ground when he wanted to play, like a chicken-chase, LOL. IMO, a leash might be necessary at first, but eventually the bird will stick close to a loved person. But ya never know…

Sorry its kinda rambling, but hope it helps. Get the best suit you can and work with bird to accept it as part of itself. Then bird can go just about anywhere with you :slight_smile: I gotta throw this in - a <minute you-tube of a ‘tiel whistling the Addams’ Family theme-song. Enjoy your friend, DLuxN8R-13!