How to Use Flight Suits for Birds

Flight suits for birds are specially designed fabric garments that serve two purposes: Holding a diaper and holding a lanyard or leash. The suit has a pocket for a diaper to keep bird feces from getting on furniture, floors and clothing when the bird is free to roam the house. The suit also can hold a leash to give the bird owner control of flight when outside. Flight suits are made to cover the lower half of the bird's breast and have straps that go around the wings, leaving them free for flight. The suit tapers to an area covering the vent of the bird, and that's where the diaper goes. The suit is fastened on the bird's back. A form of leash, lanyards for smaller birds and anchor straps for larger parrots, can be attached to the suit.

Things You'll Need

• Flight suit of the right size for the bird
• Anchor line or lanyard
• Disposable diaper pads

Instructions

Conditioning the Bird

1. Condition the bird before trying to put on the flight suit by placing the suit near the cage in full view. Becoming familiar with a foreign object will ease the bird's natural wariness. Leave the suit around the bird for several days and allow the bird to play with it under supervision. Do the same with the anchor strap or lanyard.

2. Place a disposable diaper pad inside the suit. Pads are available where you purchased the suit or you can use a round pad designed to take off make-up.

3. Place the open flight suit on a secure surface and place the bird over it . Slide the straps up over the wings and then gently pull the wings out until the straps fit next to the body. Secure the suit with the Velcro fastener. If you are going to use a lanyard or anchor line place it between the fastener before closing it.

Tips & Warnings

• The pet bird must be hand-fed and finger-tamed or it won't tolerate the handling necessary to put the flight suit on and may bite. The younger the bird, the quicker the success. Older birds reject new ideas but can be trained, with patience, to step into the suit.