FINCHforum

I caught him eventually. I decided to switch from newspaper on the bottom of the cage to walnut shell litter (with no wire bars on the bottom), and to do that I had to take the boys out of the cage since I had to work with pliers and bend a few bits. I have two male zebras who I rarely bother by reaching in, and who get really upset when I do have to reach into the cage. I was trying to round them up to put them in the carrier and Firecracker got out past my arm and went straight for my couch. He was already rather tired from running away from me for a few minutes in the cage and he just stayed there, and I quickly turned off the ceiling fan and covered the windows. I tried to grab him on the couch and he went into the kitchen, then the dining room, and then back into the living room... where I eventually got him by the TV. Thank goodness he didn't discover my high vaulted ceilings... that would have sucked. They were both pretty spooked the rest of the day yesterday but are acting normal again today. And they like to kick around in the litter and make a mess. Since everything turned out just fine I find it pretty amusing. Just thought I'd share.

This is why I have found it is important to purchase a net! Finches can be extremely hard to just catch by hand.

I had never considered that. I told my neighbor about chasing him around and she said I should get a net, too. Hopefully I won't have to try to nab them again, at least for a long time. If I do, I will have to think seriously about picking up a net.

Make sure to get a large one, and never swing it at them.... they are only like ten bucks at petsmart... and you can order them online too.

Good to know, thanks!

hi
if you can get one with padded edges also ,as it will not hurt the birds if you accidentaly hit them with the edge of the net

ken

next time close the curtains turn off the lights except in the bathroom. let him find his way there then close the door with him in a small room it is easyer. I had a juvinal orange cheek excape talk about fast and he was so small.

If you are in a room where it is possible, kill the lights *while the bird is airborne* and listen for the flutter of wings to earth. Leave enough light for you to see or have a flashlight handy. Easy catch.

Or better still go 'European' and provide a cage with a central divider.So much easier to maintain and clean the cage when you can keep the birds in one side while you work on the other.
Paul.