What do I do if the clasp on my harness is broken?
The Aviator Harness is escape proof but not damage proof. The design of the aviator keeps birds from being able to remove it the way we would remove it. Most birds like to chew on things and can get airborne quickly.
It is necessary to train your bird not to chew on the harness. We know this is not difficult because most birds have been trained not to chew on our clothes. Normally birds do not pay attention to shock cord connection because it is hanging down below them. For each size Aviator there is a specific distance away from the body where the shock cord attaches to the belt. This keeps a bird from being able to get to this part of the harness and cause damage.
For the shock cord connection we use a double barrel clasp with a multi strand shock cord. This combination keeps the leash intact even when damaged, and allows the owner more time to observe their bird paying attention to this area.
One issue we do have with the clasp is the seam down the middle. A parrotβs main job in life is to figure out how to open anything with a grove like found on a nut or seed. This is a means of survival for them. Larger birds have much stronger beaks and could damage the clasp so all sizes Large and above have epoxy applied to the seam so they do not try to open it. The epoxy does not make the clasp much stronger but simply hides the groove and removes the challenge.
I am sure you have experienced the ability of a birdβs beak to do damage to almost anything. Our challenge in designing The Aviator is to balance the weight and strength of the materials with the safety of the harness. So, we can see the problem is not actually the strength of the clasp as we can understand most parrots can more easily chew through the strap material or the shock cord. If you Aviator Harness becomes damaged, please contact us so we can help determine if it needs replaced.