- Have you ever wondered what options are available to take your parrot outside without a cage?
- Has the idea of fastening a leash on your parrot’s ring popped to mind?
Let’s look at the basics of tethering, the dangers thereof, as well as safer alternatives.
Firstly, a very brief introduction to the world of Falconry:

Falconry is the art (and sport) of training and hunting with birds of prey. If you’ve ever seen such an event or even watched a movie featuring a tame bird of prey, you might have noticed the straps attached to said birds’ legs. These straps are made from leather and are called ‘Anklets’ and ‘Jesses.’
Falcons (including other birds of prey) get removable leather anklets that are secured just above the bird’s ankle – these anklets each have a hole on the tab where the Jesses are threaded through. The Jesses are strips of leather that tethers a bird to a falconer on a glove, or in other cases, perches.
This is done with extensive training and it’s not necessarily to prevent a bird from getting away, since their birds do get to fly freely, but rather to prevent said bird from trying to take off and chase something that it’s not supposed to.
The basic concept of Jesses and Anklets are commonly known as ‘tethering’.
Why is Tethering considered safe in the world of Falconry?

The main reason is the anatomy of birds of prey; these birds are built to hunt and survive by using their legs and feet extensively. You might have seen some footage or heard of Hawks snatching animals off the ground, killing and carrying them to take to a spot to eat.
These birds have extremely well-developed muscles in their legs and feet and they are built to do some heavy lifting and work. Because of the strength in these birds’ legs, tethering them can rarely cause any damage or be harmful – especially with proper training.
Why is Tethering not considered safe for Parrots?
Long story short: Parrots are not Falcons.
Although parrots do have strong legs and grip relative to the rest of their bodies, their muscles are different from a bird that literally hunts for a living. Their bones are fragile compared to birds of prey.
Parrots are strong and they can climb, hold on to branches or your hand, and even play whilst hanging upside-down, but that still does not take nearly as much effort to accomplish compared to diving at full speed to catch a heavy animal that’s running for its life and ultimately killing and eating it.
Oftentimes it is also seen that people tend to just tie a chain/leash to a bird’s identification ring. This is a big problem for a few reasons. A chain or leash on a metal ring attached to a parrot’s leg is not the same as a leather strap on a Falcon’s leg. As soon as some weight pulls on the metal band or frequent movement occurs, chances are that you’ll be dealing with some nasty wounds of metal-against-skin, amongst other issues.
That being said; whether you have a Falconry setup, or a leash and band setup on your parrot, if the bird tries to fly or gets startled and launches itself away from you, the possibility of the leash tightening up and forcefully pulling the bird back becomes very real. This can lead to your bird taking an uncontrolled nosedive and some serious injuries.
By assuming Falconry practices are safe for parrots, a lot of people run the risk of some very serious injuries especially if done with little thought into the matter:
- Fractured legs (and other bones)
- Dislocated legs
- Amputations
- Death
Tethering an Eagle or similar bird compared to a parrot is essentially tying a leash to a sturdy post, and tying a leash to a twig.
Disclaimer: There are exceptions to most rules; there are a few cases where, if approached the right way, tethers can be safe for some parrots, and some individuals think these are secure, while others think they are risky. These are viewed as an alternative to standard harnesses for birds that are resistant to them.
If you are still considering it – using a bungee-type leash can be an option to aid in softer landings and less force tugging at your bird’s leg if needed. Please first consult with a trusted avian vet specifically about your bird and this method and take great care into discussing other options and finding the best method.
What other options do I have?
Assuming you want a ‘freer’ approach compared to just bringing your parrot outside in a cage, you can consider the following methods:
1. Harnesses: Taking your bird outside in a harness (even if they’re clipped) is probably the safest way that you can offer them a bit more freedom and keep them safe.
There are various harnesses available specifically for parrots. These harnesses are designed with safety and comfort in mind and allows for safe flights and landings with even distribution of ‘force’ if a bird takes off or reaches the end of the leash.
We recommend that you use a bungee-type leash along with the harnesses that will allow a bit more play on movement should a bird reach the full leash length. This method also requires proper training, but is by far one of the safest ways of offering your companion a taste of freedom.
2. Free Flight Training: Not for the faint of heart. This method involves extensive training eventually leading to your parrot flying free in open outdoor spaces and returning to you on command. Recall training forms the basis of this method.
This can be extremely rewarding, but has its own dangers. Keep in mind that this method includes many factors beyond your control - never attempt Free Flight without the necessary training.
If you're interested in exploring this option for your own bird, You can look at the following resources:
- Parrot behaviorist, Jezenia Ali has a freeflight course available and hosts weekly freeflight sessions in Centurion, Gauteng. https://www.naturallycaptive.com
- Chase Dean Watkin-Jones, has released an online course and you can check it out on his website, www.gonefreeflying.com.
3. Pet backpack: This mention might seem a bit strange, but it can prove to be an option for those with smaller birds whose focus is rather on a shared outing than ‘more freedom’.
This might be useful for disabled birds or birds that are scared easily and that might prefer the safety of an enclosure on an outing.
Keep in mind that a pet backpack should have adequate ventilation and space for your bird. You should also keep in mind that this might not be a good idea if you have a parrot that likes chewing on things.
Ultimately you should make a choice that benefits your parrot before it does you. Talk to your vet, ask questions, look at examples and the experiences of others. Take the time to do training and don’t just pick the option that seems like the fastest one. Set your bird (and yourself) up for the best chance at success.
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