FINCHforum

So I was out the other day and I get a call from the boyfriend that Terminator escaped. She slipped past him when he was changing the millet. She had flown across the room at first and eventually perched on top of the curtains. I got home and she was still sitting there. I know there was no way I would coax her or easily grab her so I got a small spray bottle and spritzed her and of course she flew. She was flying along the ceiling and tried grabbing onto the blinds of another window and fluttered down to the sill behind a sheer curtain so I was able to cover her and eventually get her in my hand. Afterwards when she was back in the cage I noticed a bald spot on top of her head. I don't know if maybe she singed her head on one of the recessed lights because she was flying along the ceiling even though we turned all the lights off. I feel so bad for her and hope she will be ok! I'm glad she didn't fall behind anything either. Poor little girl looks a little weird having a bald spot. I was a little afraid because when I put her back in the cage for a minute she wouldn't move from my hand and I was afraid her foot was hurt, but she seems ok other than the bald spot. No blood or any other issues other than being more skittish now.

Hi fhgwgads,

as long as you get your little bird, thats OK! Her tail feathers will grow back. If they get outside, their chances of survival are NIL. My star finch Merl almost got outside when my sister was minding him. Luckily he wasn't smart enough to work out how to get through the slats of an open window, Good luck with yours.

Glad you got her back to her cage. That is always scary when they get out!

So glad you were able to get your hands on her. I'm sure the feathers will grow back in time. Always a good idea to have a butterfly net handy so you have a longer reach when they escape. I like the butterfly nets because they get a lot of speed flying free and when they go into the net it's long enough that they slow down before they hit the end of the net.

So glad The Terminator is back safe and sound.
Escapes are inevitable.
While I was watering the av potted plant a few days ago, an Owl finch escaped. MAN - THOSE GUYS CAN FLY!!

First things to do:

Close up all doors you can, obviously ones that are open to the outside.
TURN OFF CEILING FANS!
Stow away cats and dogs.
Close toilet lids, bathroom doors.
I use 2 nets - one with a real long handle, one shorter.
Have something lightweight, a scarf or tablecloth you can throw over the bird if on the ground.
WATCH WHERE YOU STEP!
If you are blessed with someone else in the house, use them solely as a 'spotter'.

Changing some plants out, and doing a cleaning today in my 4 aviaries - will have my "Escape Kit" at the ready.

Thank you, everyone! I am so happy I was able to get her relatively quickly.. unfortunately they slip past so easily and they don't exactly listen when you tell them you are just trying to keep them safe!!! Thankfully I usually never have windows open, I live in a second floor studio and have a curtain hanging in front of the stairway, and the bathroom door is usually always closed as well as the toilet seat. I am just so afraid of then falling behind furniture. Every time one of them gets out my heart literally stops until they are back and then once they are safe back in the cage I just feel guilty!! But she seems ok now even though she looks a little weird with feathers missing and clearly hates me now and thinks I am trying to kill her.

Wow!!! So glad you got her home and safe!!!

I wouldn't know what to do...... We have high ceilings and I wouldn't know what to do but towel catch them in the ground!!

Are all the babies all girls? No singing yet? (Off topic I know ;) )

chirpy they are all girls so all they do is go, "MAHHH MAHH MAHHH MAHHH!" all day long. Lol!!

fhgwgads WHEW! I was seriously holding my breath as I read that! I was so afraid you were going to say it got out! I was reliving my episode with my poor Charlie...

They are really fast and sneaky ! If you do happen to have one go behind the furniture, stay calm, get a long cloth, like a towel or sheet and dangle it behind the furniture. I caught my teeny little OCWB by leaving a cage propped open with a heat lamp and millet spray... And it was UNDER and BEHIND a 3OO pound dining room hutch! talk about stressful

Glad all is ok!

Nanajennie thanks! My heart literally stopped and I thought of your ordeal! I would have given her time to go back but the cage she is in has spring loaded doors and because she beats up her sister she is currently alone and hates it so she would never go back, lol. But thank you again! I am glad she is ok as well!

fhgwgads I literally LMAO with the mehhh mehhhhhhh

So was it a clutch of four and one passed ( RIP)? That's..... Such a fluke to have all girls!!!!! I think mine are 2/3 girls. Socs and our inability to sex them til pbvious lol.