Eager to take your feathered pal outside with you? Hold on, there's some steps you should follow in order to get them familiar with a harness before just attempting to pop it on them and hope for the best. In most cases, you'll end up frustrated with a bird flailing at the end of the lead, tangling themselves into a fit.
Step 1: Place the harness near your bird and ignore it. Reward then with a treat if or when they don't react to it's presence.
Step 2: While playing with your bird, pick up the harness, bring it near them, then take it away. Praise and reward for no reaction.
Step 3: Hold the harness in front of them. Reward for no reaction.
Step 4: While holding the harness in front of them with one hand, use your other hand to hold a favorite treat. Place the treat through the neck hole of the harness and allow your bird to take it. Praise.
Step 5: While doing step 4, move the treat back a little each time so that your bird is eventually sticking their head through the neck hole to get the treat. Once they're confident here, move on.
Step 6: Once your bird has their head through the neck hole, gently let go of the harness for a moment, then remove and reward them for no negative reaction.
Step 7: Once your bird is comfortable with step 6, leave the harness draped over them for slightly longer periods of time before you remove it and reward them.
Step 8: Once your bird is comfortable with step 7: With the harness draped over them, lift one wing and then the other. Remove the harness and reward. Move on to step 9 when comfortable with this.
Step 9: Drape the harness over bird, lift one wing and put through the wing hole. Repeat the other side. Pause. Remove and reward. Once confident here, move to the final step.
Step 10: With the harness draped and both wings in the wing holes, tighten the strap to adjust, ensure a snug but not tight fit, and IMMEDIATELY take your bird outside. The reason we do this is to get their mind off the "thing" that is now around them. The new environment, new sights, sounds and smells will offer immediate distraction and a positive reinforcement.
Once back inside, take the harness off, lots of praise and reward! Now your bird can safely go outside with you!
*Please note: Even a clipped bird can fly! Never take a bird outside unless they are wearing a harness or are safely secured in a cage or carrier.*
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