FINCHforum

I posted this solution in someone else's thread, "How to Catch Birds without Giving Them a Heart Attack!"
I wanted to share it so others might relax catching their birds, not get stressed and cause stress.
I really struggled trying to catch my birds to trim their nails or apply Scat in my 8' x8'x8' aviary.

I finally found a solution that works for me.

I went Old School with the "Box Trap" method. (Box-Stick-String).

You have to be patient but it works great.

I placed a small travel cage inside my aviary and used a small perch from the cage to prop the spring loaded door open. Then I ran a thin fishing line out of the aviary, pulled up a chair and waited. When the birds hopped in to eat the meal worms I placed in the travel cage I pulled the string and the door shut, trapping them.

Thanks for sharing!
That's quite clever!

Did this work with multiple birds in a row?
Or did you have to wait a little while for them to "forget" before trying again?

I ask because I tried a similar tactic with a dog crate, tuna and feral kittens. It worked with one kitten; then the others realized it was a trap and wouldn't go anywhere near it! LOL

Not sure if finches are that smart?

ETA -- Your babies are gorgeous, by the way! Lots of wonderful color!

Good idea thanks

It worked pretty fast. Initially I was using this to catch the mama and papa parrot finches so I could put them in a separate cage with their fledglings.

At first the husband was caught and I placed him in the smaller cage with the two fledgling inside the shared aviary. The wife at first kept hanging on the outside of the cage that held the husband and her babies. Within about 8-10 minutes, she went to have some meal worms and I caught her too.

Take a 30" divided breeder and close one door. Take and add a weight (2 washers a screw and a wingnut) to the other do so that it will still close. Tie string to the top of the door and run it up through a circle screw and run the other end out the flight the spot you sit. Start feeding all of your or most of your food inside the cage and then wait till the birds you want are in there and just let the string loss and the weight on the door will pull it down.

Once you get birds caught you can use the divider to separate out the bird(s) you want to catch on one side and open up the door on the other side to let out the other birds. Now just reach on and catch whatever birds you want or need to catch.

I often put in soft food or something they really like and it brings them all in and they are easy to catch.

Rob

Very smart idea, Sitting Duck, and beautiful birds! Thanks for sharing!