FINCHforum

I have never yet needed to catch a finch from an aviary but may have to very soon, so I will need to buy a finch net. What should I get? Does anyone have recommendations, e.g. Make sure it's at least X size / X colour is better than Y colour, etc?

Tha aviary is about 3m x 2m x 2m.

Thanks

I make out very well with butterfly nets. They are long so that the bird has a chance to slow down before it hits the end.

debbie276 wrote:I make out very well with butterfly nets. They are long so that the bird has a chance to slow down before it hits the end.

Is there any reason that the colorful ones from the dollar store would not be okay to use?

I dont see why you wouldnt be able to use them from a dollar store.

Whenever possible, I always like to catch my finches with my hands. My kind of scared to use a net as you can't guage the force behind your using it as well and I'm worried I might hurt someone if they're caught on the edge of the net when I place it down over them.

That being said, I do have a net and I have used it in my six foot flight cage for birds that are hard to catch. Mine has maybe a foot long handle, but you'll want a longer one since it will be for use in an aviary, not a flight like mine. The net portion is maybe a foot in each direction and made up of fine mesh. I don't remember where I got it, but any such net that has fine mesh that the bird can't get tangled in and you feel comfortable with should be fine.

nelloyello11 wrote:

debbie276 wrote:I make out very well with butterfly nets. They are long so that the bird has a chance to slow down before it hits the end.

Is there any reason that the colorful ones from the dollar store would not be okay to use?

That's what I use, and they are great!

I have 2, one with a long handle and one with a short handle. I prefer the short handle as I have many perches and hanging food dishes, etc in my aviary.

Lately though I've been doing well by getting them by hand.

I did notice that at at a bird wholesaler near me, they catch birds by moving the net in the same direction the bird is flying. This is to prevent injuring the bird if the hoop of the net should hit the bird when doing a head on catch.

On rare occasions I use my net which is made for the purpose. It's made of black material which calms the captive bird...it also has a soft padded rim.

I use one of the netted food covers you use to cover food at a picnic....It pops up & down & makes it easy to get throught the doors on my flight...I don't have much luck with nets and use my hands in the smaller cages...

How interesting! So far I need a fine net, padded rim, short handle...

What diameter works well for finches?

I used net before, but broke a wing, or hurt it as the finch seemed to have one wing kind of drop down after. I switched to use water spray bottle and let the finch enjoy a heat lamp after. It is working so far.

A water spray bottle? How do you catch finches using that? Please explain...

If you wet the bird down with a fine spray of water, it cannot fly as well and is easier to catch. This is not as difficult to do in a cage, as the bird is right there in front of you to spray it, but a bit harder in an aviary.