Harness Up!

Whether your bird is clipped or fully flighted, they should never be taken outdoors without proper safety measures in place. That means either a secure harness or a well-ventilated travel carrier.

“They’ve never flown away from me!”, “They always come back”, “It’s never happened to me!”, “I’m not careless, I know my bird won’t fly away.” “Their wings are clipped they can’t go anywhere”

These are all real things I’ve heard from people over the years of working here, alongside witnessing with my own eyes birds being brought in for grooming without a harness, they realize where they’re going and fly into the field or the trees around the building (hence our harness or carrier only rule).

It. Can. Happen. To. Anyone. No one is an exception to this rule.

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So let's talk about it:

We know how tempting it is to let your feathered friend perch on your shoulder or explore in the fresh air; in the wild they do it 24/7 365. But the outdoors is unpredictable, and even the most bonded, well-trained bird can be startled into flight because, let's face it, these are not birds that have lived in the wilderness or were brought up with survival instincts. A sudden gust of wind, an unexpected noise, or a nearby predator can trigger their flight instinct and once they’re in the air, it’s incredibly difficult to get them back safely.

It’s also important to note that even birds who have been free flight trained since they were babies, with strong recall and consistent training, can and do have moments where they don’t come back when called. Sometimes they get spooked. Sometimes they’re overstimulated. And sometimes, they simply choose not to come down. These scenarios can turn into hours or even days of trying to locate and retrieve a bird that wasn’t intending to leave in the first place. So even the professional flyers have their moments.

And for clipped birds, please don’t assume they’re safe outdoors just because their wings are trimmed. They can still catch the wind, glide, and end up somewhere unsafe in a matter of seconds. Once grounded, they’re even more vulnerable because now they don’t have the wind to take them to safety and they’re stuck alongside predators. Hawks, crows, dogs, cats, and even raccoons can pose deadly threats.

So please, I am quite literally begging that no matter your bird’s training level or wing status: use a harness or a carrier. Every time. You are not an exception to the rule. Accidents happen because you don’t expect them to happen.

If you need a carrier or harness they are 15% off this month because we know that with the weather warming up the urge is strong to let your birds enjoy the sunshine, which they should have access to, but safely. Come see us today 10-5pm and we will help you find the right choice for you and your bird.