Harness vs diapers

[Kam123]

Hi
I have considered getting my 3 month fischer lovebird rio A bird harness or a bird diaper, what are people's views in these what are the positives and negitives of each and where do you recommend I buy it from over the Internet

[linda040899]

If you are thinking about a harness so you can take him outside, it's not something that I, personally, recommend. A harness/leash is not a deterrent when a predator bird sees your pet as its next meal. Predator birds approach the target at roughly 100 mph and if that prospective prey is sitting on the shoulder of a human makes no difference. The attack is over/done before you even realize what's happened. I would use a small cage or carrier for outdoor excursions.

Getting Rio to wear a diaper may be a bit of a challenge. It's not a natural thing and you could find yourself with a full scale revolt on your hands. I usually keep a small hand towel where I am or they can also be trained to eliminate into, say, a small container kept near where ever you are. There are capes that can be worn to keep the shoulder area of your clothing clean.

It will be interesting to hear how other members here handle this.

[Mary in Florida]

If you are thinking about a harness so you can take him outside, it's not something that I, personally, recommend. A harness/leash is not a deterrent when a predator bird sees your pet as its next meal. Predator birds approach the target at roughly 100 mph and if that prospective prey is sitting on the shoulder of a human makes no difference. The attack is over/done before you even realize what's happened. I would use a small cage or carrier for outdoor excursions.

Getting Rio to wear a diaper may be a bit of a challenge. It's not a natural thing and you could find yourself with a full scale revolt on your hands. I usually keep a small hand towel where I am or they can also be trained to eliminate into, say, a small container kept near where ever you are. There are capes that can be worn to keep the shoulder area of your clothing clean.



It will be interesting to hear how other members here handle this.

We just keep lots of Kleenex, paper towels and napkins around, and wipe as they ( our three birds) drop.

Our Sweetpea used to hang her butt over the edge of a table, cage, or counter ( wherever she was) and let loose, so we could often catch it in a waste basket or something as she maneuvered into position. But none of our current birds ( Loki lovebird, Pixie parrotlet, or Coconut cockatiel) seem inclined to do this, so we wipe, wipe, and more wipe. I figure it's the birds' nature, and I'd never put anything like a diaper on them to catch poops.

[Kam123]

It not him pooing I am worried about, I am quite happy wiping it up, I was just wondering what one is not comfortable for the bird as I wanted to take him out side, ( because I live in New Zealand we dont have many birds that would come down and eat him)

[starwynde]

I tried a harness once one my first lovebird, who was by far the most passive one I've ever had... once on he would roll over onto his back in protest. If you stood him up, he would drop down again and keep this up until I took it off him. I didn't bother trying it on any of the others after that, but I have seen successful use on a Macaw and a Crested Cockatoo.

When I take my birds outside, they either tuck inside my hoodie and are virtually invisible, or I cage them... depending on where we're going and what we're doing.

[Jally]

I did not know that they made harnesses small enough for a lovie. Hmm... I did try to use a diaper on my first lovebird. Like Starwynde's lovie, he was the most passive lovie. I could do anything with him. But, also like Starwynde's lovie he would drop down as soon as I got it on him. He resembled a cat that had a sweater on!

No more diapers for us! We go outside in a cage.

[Daiqattack10]

When I fist got my lovebird I tried him out with the bird flight suit/diaper (it's basically a harness with a built in diaper). Honestly, he was miserable in it. Whatever benefits it may have had were not worth it, i'd rather walk into publix with bird poop in my hair or smeared on the back of my shirt without knowing it than put any of my little ones through the stress of one of those things. My lovie ended up destroying his within a week. Maybe it's ok for bigger (more intelligent?) birds, but these little guys are really fragile and the struggle they put up (and just trying to get the suit on them) causes a lot of stress and could potentially lead to injury. Like the other members, my lovie also would drop down and roll over while he tried to bite and grab at the suit with his beak and feet. <3 lovies are so opinionated lol