Any suggestions on how to catch zebra finches?

[vokeeca]

I have 7 zebra finches (4 males, 3 females) and I need to separate the males because they are fighting all the time. I'll need to put either one or two male birds into a different cage. I have a basic question: How do I catch them? I'm a first-time, brand-new bird owner and don't have a tactic for grabbing them out of their cage. They're so fast! I welcome any suggestions.

Thank you!
Switchbackgirl

Big Agnes, Whitey Bulger, Scout FInch, Atticus Finch, Maya Angelou, Nelson Mendela, John Doe #1

[Sally]

Some people are very quick with their hands and can grab them. If you do this, before removing them from the cage, hold them so that you have your index and middle fingers at the neck, with the head sticking out, so you can keep them from wiggling loose.

I am not quick, so I have a small 6" net that I can reach inside the cage and catch up the birds. If the door of the cage is large, I hold a large net in front of the door while I reach in around it with the small net. That way, if they slip past my hand, they fly right into the large net and I have them.

Welcome to the forum! There's lots of good reading at the Finch Information Center, linked at left, and the members are always ready to help. If you put your general location in your profile, it helps when answering locale-specific questions later on.

[wildbird]

If your cage isn't too big, you could move it to a room with no windows & turn out the lights. Use a pen light to locate the bird you want & you might be able to reach in & get it that way. A vet I used to go to would catch a wild bird that way, but there was only one in the cage. Not sure that will work with seven. It might frighten the others.

[lovezebs]

vokeeca
Hi.
I usually block cage door with my body and reach in and do what I call the Ninja grab. Sometimes you can just put your hand up and grab them as they fly by. Other times, you need to corner them and grab. If you can get them on the bottom of the cage, it is usually easier. Now this has to be done quickly and very gently. You need to close your hand around tiny bodies firmly but gently so that you don't squash them.
As Sally mentioned, you can always use a net. With that option, you can snag them in mid air, or bring them to the nearest wall where you can reach over and hold the net closed with your other hand .
The idea of a dark room has it's merits, however this may lead to a major panic, which may culminate in an injury to one ir more birds because they can't see where they are flying in the dark.

[MiaCarter]

I cannot do the mid-air ninja grab. I'm too afraid I'll hurt them and my reflexes are abysmally slow.

I have several who are hand-friendly, so they're no problem. But for the others, I use one of two methods: I'll wait until they're on the floor of the cage (I'll usually try right as I've put food and hay in). Then, toss a small lightweight piece of cotton fabric over the bird I want and gently pick him/her up.

The other way is using a net. I have large green fish catching net that I use for this.
I have a hard time catching them in the cage with the net. The perches get in the way, so I end up having to take everything apart. It's a pain.
Plus, it's difficult to control who you catch. They're all fluttering chaotically and when you're right up against the cage, it's hard to follow a particular bird and keep track of who's who.
It's just unnecessarily stressful for everyone sticking a net in the cage.

So I'll let them out for free fly time (I have a bird-proofed room where they live.) Then, I'll catch the one(s) I want and just let the others return to the cage on their own (usually within 2-4 hours.) Or you could just catch them and return them to the appropriate cage using the net.
Caged birds are not hard to catch once they're outside the cage. Even if they have a flight cage, they tend to be weak flyers and tire very quickly. I can always tell the difference between birds who've been caged (e.g. new birds and fosters) and my guys, who fly around on a daily basis.
Once they're outside the cage, you can also use the fabric toss method very easily. The key is to use a fairly large piece of fabric (mine is about 2x2 feet), so it's too large for them to fly off with.

If you use a net, be very careful of their feet. If their nails need clipping, their toes can get caught up in the net. So just beware of that.

[mayble]

Loads of good tips here!
I use a small net ("butterfly net" from the dollar store with the handle cut down), or a handkerchief or small lightweight dish towel. If you get them under the cloth or net on the floor of the cage, you can reach under and grab them or just scoop them up, net and all, and move them to the new cage. One thing I've found is that if they can't see, they don't struggle - cup your free hand over their head for extra security while you move them. If I'm wearing a hoodie or something similar, I'll put the hand holding the bird into my pocket.
It's scary the first few times, but soon you'll be a pro! The birds are much sturdier than you might think.

[Sally]

One last tip I forgot to mention--if you can't catch them any other way, you can use a spray/misting bottle of water, spray them until they are literally soaking wet, and then they can't fly as well, making it easier to catch them with your hand. It doesn't hurt them at all, just getting them wet, and they will then preen themselves till dry.

[MiaCarter]

.....One thing I've found is that if they can't see, they don't struggle - cup your free hand over their head for extra security while you move them.....

Yes yes!
That's what I love about the cloth toss method.
I usually only catch them for nail trims, so I'll keep the head and body loosely wrapped in the cloth and only expose the legs. They stay totally still (excellent for clipping tiny toenails, where one false move can mean lopping off a toe instead of a nail!!)

@Sally -- genius idea on getting them wet! That's so swift!

[CommaHolly]

One last tip I forgot to mention--if you can't catch them any other way, you can use a spray/misting bottle of water, spray them until they are literally soaking wet, and then they can't fly as well, making it easier to catch them with your hand. It doesn't hurt them at all, just getting them wet, and they will then preen themselves till dry.

ooooooooooo you are brilliant!

[Sunbay]

If you have nests in the cage, and they go in them - wait till evening when they go in for the night. Put a net or clamp your hand over the opening. Voila!

Lauren

[CommaHolly]

If you have nests in the cage, and they go in them - wait till evening when they go in for the night. Put a net or clamp your hand over the opening. Voila!

Lauren

provided the ones you want aren't in the nest with those you don't want LOL

however, good advice, and this is how I plan to move mine from the smaller cage to the larger cage,

[Finchtastic]

Just take the perches out and you will catch them easy. Always scary at first but you are much better off learning to catch and handle birds now. What if you have no net or water on hand to catch them if they get loose in your house will be twice as hard then. You will get so good you will be plucking them.out of the air. Best of luck with your move.

[CommaHolly]

when I bought mine and brought them home, they were in a cardboard box,,,,,,,,

not the easiest thing to empty into the cage,,,,

one of mine got loose,,,,it was a mad scramble, I tell you,,,,,first to turn off the ceiling fan,,,,,,,

then to catch the little devil

my daughter finally caught him by tossing a light washcloth over him and picking him up, washcloth and all,,,,,,,,

[sgolds]

One last tip I forgot to mention--if you can't catch them any other way, you can use a spray/misting bottle of water, spray them until they are literally soaking wet, and then they can't fly as well, making it easier to catch them with your hand. It doesn't hurt them at all, just getting them wet, and they will then preen themselves till dry.

Yes! Thank you! I will definitely try this next time I need to catch one!! This is very helpful advise.

[Chris103]

Great methods everyone!
I've used the soak method on a few Parrots that have escaped outside a few times, it works if you can get them wet enough!
I had to borrrow every neighbors hose down the block to get an African Gray down once!

I'll second the dark room method for your Finches. I find it less stressful on my birds. I'm usually a ninja grab kinda guy lol, but if I'm getting birds out of a shipping box or am trying to catch very high strung birds, I'll just flip the lights. I Use a small flashlight and quickly turn it on and off so I can see what bird to grab. Usually with the lights off, the other birds won't even fly around when you catch one. If the other birds do start to panic, quickly flip on the lights and they'll settle back down.

Another thing you may be able to try, depending on what type of cages you have.....
Fasten both cage doors open with a small clip or something, and match up the cages so that the Finches are able to go into the new cage via the open doors. Be sure to get the two cages close enough so there isnt a large enough gap that any could escape through! Zebras are very curious, a nest hung in the new cage, or a head of millet should be enough to get them hopping into the new cage. Once the one(s) you want are in the new cage, simply close the doors, and move on to the next one. This may take a little more time, but would be pretty stress free on you and the birds.
I Do the reverse when moving birds into a new cage or flight.

Are you trying to breed your Zebras? If not, and you have anything in the cage that could be a possible nest site, that could be causing the agro birds. Though some Zebras will just bully one another for no reason!