MaraWentz
Walking the driveway
So after many tries to get Erin used to the harness or flight suit we were defeated. She can easily eat through a harness in 10 minutes and a flight suit in a day and a half. She has never flown in either because she is way to busy stressing out and rolling on her back trying to escape from the suit and harness.
So after my vets recommendation (and after removing Erin's band) I looked into falconry anklets. Went to Mikesfalconry.com and called up and got plenty of advice. He says he has had many parrot owners come to him before and look into anklets and experiment with great results. So I finally ordered. He walked me through the process of ordering and sizes to order (and off business hours too) and within 3 business days my order for the strongest anklets available were at my front door (biothane is the strongest, and of course my hubby had to try them out first and thus his teeth suffered- they are unstretchable, untearable, unbreakable!). We then called up Mike and he walked us through the process of how to put them on her. It took 3 minutes total. I restrained her while my hubby measured the length and used the grommets to put them on. She immediately rolled on her back when released, pried at it for 3 seconds tops and then walked around then flew to her stand.
Best decision by far. I love how she isn't stressed by it the least. Had that been the harness or suit she'd had eaten through it or still be rolling around on her back trying to get it off. This has been stress free. I also love that it's permanent. I only put the anklets on once, and there they shall stay until I am ready to cut them off (with any old pair of scissors, btw). I don't have to fight her to take it on and off everytime we get ready for flight- just clip a leash through the grommet hole and ta-da!
We haven't flown her outside with it yet, but at Petco she took a 3 ft flight and and at home she took a 6 ft flight- took off an landed with ease (and that's with the leash on- she still flies all over our room with just the anklet on). it seems the only thing she is hesitant of is having a leash attached when stepping up- she does slow gradual step ups (maybe she is afraid she will trip on it?) However the anklet doesn't phase her the least
So after my vets recommendation (and after removing Erin's band) I looked into falconry anklets. Went to Mikesfalconry.com and called up and got plenty of advice. He says he has had many parrot owners come to him before and look into anklets and experiment with great results. So I finally ordered. He walked me through the process of ordering and sizes to order (and off business hours too) and within 3 business days my order for the strongest anklets available were at my front door (biothane is the strongest, and of course my hubby had to try them out first and thus his teeth suffered- they are unstretchable, untearable, unbreakable!). We then called up Mike and he walked us through the process of how to put them on her. It took 3 minutes total. I restrained her while my hubby measured the length and used the grommets to put them on. She immediately rolled on her back when released, pried at it for 3 seconds tops and then walked around then flew to her stand.
Best decision by far. I love how she isn't stressed by it the least. Had that been the harness or suit she'd had eaten through it or still be rolling around on her back trying to get it off. This has been stress free. I also love that it's permanent. I only put the anklets on once, and there they shall stay until I am ready to cut them off (with any old pair of scissors, btw). I don't have to fight her to take it on and off everytime we get ready for flight- just clip a leash through the grommet hole and ta-da!
We haven't flown her outside with it yet, but at Petco she took a 3 ft flight and and at home she took a 6 ft flight- took off an landed with ease (and that's with the leash on- she still flies all over our room with just the anklet on). it seems the only thing she is hesitant of is having a leash attached when stepping up- she does slow gradual step ups (maybe she is afraid she will trip on it?) However the anklet doesn't phase her the least