Aviator harness?

[Steph]

Hi, I was just wondering what your thoughts on aviator harness's are? Just found them on ebay, the petite size is suitable for cockatiels, green cheeked conures etc so I immagine it would fit a lovebird. I was thinking it would be good for in the summer, she could come out into the garden and have a fly around. I dont know anything about it really - if this idea is ludicrous please feel free to tell me so! Has anyone else used one? I would be worried about her getting tangled in the line though - and hawks! Although the hawk that used to fly around here hasn't been back for a long time - it came into the garden to catch a mouse and the dog almost got it, if I hadn't been there he would have.

Thank you! x:happy:

[bird-brain]

I have never known anyone that used one honestly but I would think anything that would fit a tiel or a gcc would be too large for a lovie. There is quite a size difference. Also, I am just not one to take my birds outside unless they are caged. We do a hawk that frequents the area as well as many crows. There have been more than one account of hawks taking companion birds off of the shoulders of their owners and remember just because you don't see them it doesn't mean they aren't near by.

While I was in VA the past several weeks we had a new visitor. My husband took the dogs out and an owl attacked one of my GERMAN SHEPHERDS!:omg::omg::omg: Wayne said it was roosting in the oak in the front yard and he did not notice it until it swooped down and grabbed the dog. We have been here 6 years. I have never even HEARD an owl. It stayed for several days in that tree then left after one more particularly aggressive encounter with the dogs. (went after the wrong dog the second go around)

I never took them out in the open before but this definitely made a true believer out of me!

[Z28Taxman]

I have never known anyone that used one honestly but I would think anything that would fit a tiel or a gcc would be too large for a lovie. There is quite a size difference. Also, I am just not one to take my birds outside unless they are caged. We do a hawk that frequents the area as well as many crows. There have been more than one account of hawks taking companion birds off of the shoulders of their owners and remember just because you don't see them it doesn't mean they aren't near by.

While I was in VA the past several weeks we had a new visitor. My husband took the dogs out and an owl attacked one of my GERMAN SHEPHERDS!:omg::omg::omg: Wayne said it was roosting in the oak in the front yard and he did not notice it until it swooped down and grabbed the dog. We have been here 6 years. I have never even HEARD an owl. It stayed for several days in that tree then left after one more particularly aggressive encounter with the dogs. (went after the wrong dog the second go around)

I never took them out in the open before but this definitely made a true believer out of me!

The house where we lived had a Great Horned Owl living in the area. He'd sit in the trees that lined our lane and hunt critters. That thing would attack cars and darned near killed me when I came home on my motorcycle one night. And heaven help you if you walked into the area where he was hunting. We learned real quick what the deep "Whooooo" meant and stayed clear of the area the sound came from or he'd take your head off. Those things are huge! :omg:

To the OP, I think my sweet snugly little velcro bird would try and tear me to peices if I attempted to put a harness on him. And I certainly woudln't trust hawks.

[maya_exquisite]

The Aviator is too big for lovebirds. The minimum weight requirement for the smallest size is 75g, if I remember correctly. My GCC is only 68g so I can't even get it for him - though I really want to!!

Luckily we don't have most birds of prey here in Hawaii. I think all we have is the owl.

[linda040899]

Predator birds go after prey at speeds of up to 100 mph. :omg: They approach swiftly and silently. If happen to have your bird on your shoulder in a harness, the force of the attack could easily tear your bird apart as it's ripped away from you. I don't take any birds outside that are not safely secured in either a carrier or small, manageable cage. One of our members that we've not seen here in a while actually had a hawk go after her newly acquired young chihuahua! Hey, predator birds need to eat, too. However, the next meal is not going to be one of MY birds!!

I've never had it happen to me and I'm perfectly content learn the lesson from others.

[Steph]

Well that pretty much knocks that in the head! Now I think about it, a hawk grabbed one of my dads birds through the aviary mesh and he ran at it and it couldn't have cared less - his bird survived believe it or not.

Thanks x