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I found the following guidelines very helpful when I began training my macaw for her harness.  It took a week of everyday practicing before I could get it on to her at all and two weeks before she would let me put it onto her without my needing help to hold and control her.  How fast your bird will adjust will depend on the age of your bird and your relationship with it.  I had only had Missy for a few weeks at the time that I started and she was about 6 months old.

I started the first couple of days with a red piece of ribbon (her harness is red), letting her play with it and stretching it across her neck and back so she would be accustomed to it.  Then I introduced her to the texture of the leash.  I would do this several times a day, for no longer than 15 minutes at a time.  Parrots learn more using short intermittent lessons.  The time and effort involved was well worth it.  I've attended many bird shows and it seems like at every one of them, at least one of the birds flies to freedom to the dismay of the owner.  A large bird like a Macaw can still gain lift, even with the wings clipped. 

The second advantage of having the parrot restrained is your ability to establish dominance.  Missy will readily respond to commands when tethered to my arm rather than just balancing on her own.

The last bit of advice I can give to help secure your feathered friend is to have him/her micro chipped.  The procedure is quick, painless and inexpensive and should your bird get loose because of a flyaway or a disaster or be stolen, it can be easily identified as yours when recovered.

The following tips were provided by Premier Products, the maker of the Feather Tether.

Helpful Tips

The Feather Tether® Bird Harness allows you and your bird to enjoy the outdoors
without the danger of fly-aways. The more your bird has been handled, the easier it
will be to put the harness on, and the more quickly he will accept it. Young birds are
especially easy to work with. If you are working with an older or difficult bird, here
are a few tips:
• Have another person help you during the fitting and for the first few times
you put the harness on.
• Fit the harness at a time when your bird is hungry and use its favorite treats for
distraction and reward.
• For very agitated birds you might try covering the head.
• Once the harness is on and properly fitted, immediately take your bird outside as a
reward. Your bird will soon learn to associate the harness with the fun of going outside,
and many birds become visibly excited with anticipation when they see their harness.
Perching vs. Walking
If your bird will be primarily perching on your shoulder or another object, you’ll want the
leash to fall from the chest. If your bird will be walking, you’ll want the leash to extend
from the back.

How to fit the MEDIUM and LARGE harness: WALKING

Step 1 (fig. 1)

Attach leash to D-ring and unsnap all 3 buckles.

Step 2 (fig. 2)

With bird facing away from you position the cross of harness on the bird’s
back so the leash is hanging down towards the bird’s tail. Take the strap
(A) from the bird’s back and place over the bird’s left shoulder and
around the neck—continue around with the rest of strap (A) over the
right shoulder and buckle to the O-ring at the top of the cross.

Step 3 (fig. 3)

Pull the two remaining straps in front of the bird (straps B and C) back
and under each of the bird’s wings. Attach the straps to the O-rings on
the cross at the bird’s back.

Step 4

Adjust the nylon through the metal slides for a correct fit. You may need
to unsnap the strap while you are adjusting it then re-snap it when you
have a proper adjustment. The harness should fit snugly, high on the
body, but not so tight that it rubs or interferes with the bird’s movement
of wings. It is very important that the wing straps are not so loose that
the bird can catch their foot in the strap. Getting the proper fit may take
a few minutes depending on the temperament of your bird.

How to fit the MEDIUM and LARGE harness: PERCHING

Step 1 (fig. 1)

Attach leash to D-ring and unsnap all 3 buckles.

Step 2 (fig. 4)

With the bird facing you, position the cross of harness on the bird’s front
so the leash is hanging down towards the bird’s feet. Take the strap (A)
from the bird’s front and place over the bird’s right shoulder and around
the neck—continue around and over the left shoulder with the rest of
strap (A) and buckle to the O-ring at the top of the cross.

Step 3 (fig. 5)

Pull the two remaining straps at the back of the bird (straps B and C)
forward and under each of the bird’s wings. Attach the straps to the Orings
on the cross at the bird’s front.

Step 4

See Step 4 for WALKING instructions.

Figures for Medium and Large harness

How to fit the SMALL and PETITE harness: WALKING

*Note: The petite and small harnesses are both figure-8 style harnesses. The
only difference in their construction is that the petite harness uses a
black quick-snap and the small harness uses a metal snap. (fig. 1)

Step 1 (fig. 1)

Attach leash to D-ring; unsnap black quick-release (for the petite) or the
metal snap (for the small); slide nylon to make loop of harness large
enough to place over bird’s head.

Step 2 (fig. 2)

With bird facing away from you, place loop over the head with the leash
hanging down the bird’s back. Gently shorten neck loop until it is small
enough to prevent the head from backing out.

Step 3 (fig. 3)

Bring the loose strap (A) under the bird’s left wing, across the chest,
under the right wing, and snap closed.

Step 4

Adjust the nylon through the metal slide for a correct fit. You may need
to unsnap the strap while you are adjusting it then re-snap it when you
have a proper adjustment. The harness should fit snugly, high on the
body, but not so tight that it rubs or interferes with the bird’s movement
of wings. It is very important that the wing straps are not so loose that
the bird can catch its foot in the strap. Getting the proper fit may take
a few minutes depending on the temperament of your bird.

How to fit the SMALL and PETITE harness: PERCHING

Step 1 (fig. 1)

Attach leash to D-ring; unsnap black quick-release snap (for the petite)
or the metal snap (for the small); slide nylon to make loop of harness
large enough to place over bird’s head.

Step 2 (fig. 4)

With bird facing you, place loop over the head with the leash hanging
down in front of chest. Gentle shorten neck loop until it is small enough
to prevent the head from backing out.
 

Step 3 (fig. 5)

Bring the loose strap under the bird’s right wing, across the back, under
the left wing, and snap closed.

Step 4 See Step 4 for WALKING instructions.

Figures for Small and Petite harness

Illustrations by Animania ©2002