FINCHforum

Hi Everyone~

Just wondering what you all feel is the best way to catch a bird in a flight? net? by hand? what do you recommend is the least stressful way to catch an individual?

If you are talking flight cage, I usually use a small net, as I am not fast with my hands. A friend of mine can catch them in seconds with her hand, but not me! If it is an aviary, some use a catch cage--a cage where they will leave the door open all the time and feed treats, etc., inside. When they see the bird they want inside, they close the door. Others use a net, but you have to be good with the net or you will cause a lot of commotion.

If you're able to reach in easily, if you spot where the bird you want is sitting, and have the door already open and ready (the noise will ruin it otherwise). While standing there, flick the light switch (or have someone across the room count to 3 and do it), then immediately reach in and grab the bird you want. It's very easy this way - they don't panic at all in the dark because they are just stunned for a minute. Even when your hand touches and/or reaches around them, they still sit still. The biggest obstacle will be the turning the light off while you're right there, ready with the door already open. If you move or walk or undo the lock on the cage, you will spook them and it won't work properly.

About the only other thing I can suggest is somehow divide the cage into smaller sections and try to shoo as many of the other birds out of that section as possible so you don't create too much of a commotion. Removing perches and/or branches can help too as they're easier to catch if they land on the walls or floor.

I have a very big aviary and I use clothes / washing pegs to put a sheet up in the aviary to get the birds in a particular area. I make sure that there is a clear area where I can catch birds against the side of the mesh. I use my son and daughter as chasers and catch them while they are sitting against the mesh. I would not catch birds by hand in a aviary. The impact caused by their flying speed and the speed of your hands while catching could hurt them. I seen birds killed that way. Don't catch birds in the heat of the day. I don't catch birds when it is 30 Celsius. As soon as I leave the aviary, the birds are ok again and go on with their business.

In my aviary I use a butterfly net that is deep so they slow down before hitting the end of the pocket.

I use a net, and usually another person as a "chaser" to keep driving them back to my end of the flight, as my arms are not long enough when working in the 5' cage. (If I really want to do it myself, I use a long-handled net in my other arm OUTSIDE the cage to shoo them back to my end.)

The trick I've found is NOT to actively, frantically, keep chasing with the net. Sure, as the birds go back and forth, if you see a chance towards the bird you want, take it, but otherwise just keep the net a little lower than the perches, and still, waiting for a good shot. The birds get less panicky about the net being there. They start flying back and forth a little bit more slowly, a little bit more calmly, and then you get your best opportunities. I have even had the birds land on the net at times (which is no help at all, kind of funny, but lets you know you'll be successful soon).

I get good catches by holding the net horizontal, just in front of and below a favorite perch, and then when the target bird has landed there, waiting until they start to take off again, then flipping/twisting the net up so that they fly right into it before they know what's happened. If you are swatting and scooping and flinging the net all around, it just makes everyone frantic and faster.

Last time, I also bent the net from a circle to a square shape so that I could get it right up against the side of the cage without leaving that little space in the corner that they could squeeze through.

I catch mine with my hand but only when it is pitch dark and I use a flashlight to locate the bird, switch it off, grab the bird and then switch back on the light.

One way to slow down the birds is to have a spray bottle of clean water handy. When you spray the birds enough to really wet the feathers, they can't fly as well and are easier to catch. I don't like this method just before lights out, as they don't have time to preen and dry themselves off before dark, but it can work well during the day.

We each have our own ways to catch birds.The size of the flight or aviary restricts many of the different ways that are suitable.

A small flight where the corners can be reached is the easiest of course.Catching in a large aviary is a different ball game...but at least you are able physically to enter the space.

Me?...I prefer the built in catching cage over all other methods. Patience needed to wait until the desired birds enter the trap maybe...but far less traumatic for the owner and birds.And if you can drag yourself out of bed at the crack of dawn...that's the best time, when all the birds in turn will enter a catching cage for their first meal of the day.

I think most of you on here will know I never make cages of any size without built in dividers.
Over the years on here and other forums I've seen the proud owners of newly built flights picturing the handiwork they've put into building them.
And time after time I've thought 'how the heck are they ever going to catch the birds' Especially on those just too big to catch by hand and too small to be able to walk in.

Those new to the hobby really need to study all the pitfalls before designing their birds new homes.Properly thought out designs can make the job of bird catching and cleaning so much easier.

I have a long flight cage. I bought some of those old fashioned hangers for drapes - they have a sharp "fish hook" end that goes through the fabric and a hook on the other that would hang over a rod. I use them to hang a bath towel from the top of the cage, partitioning off about a foot width at the easiest end for me to catch from, and remove perches from that area.

I gently herd the one I want into that area alone while holding up the towel and then drop it. Sometimes this is quick, sometimes, uh, not so quick. Then I hold a soft, very light weight cloth and either catch the bird with it on the side of the cage, or, better, just drop it over the bird on the cage floor. Usually, this only takes a moment. Occasionally if the bird is especially quick, after several tries I go away for a few minutes to let it calm down a bit before attempting it again.

This is what has worked best for me.