FINCHforum

My little OCWB escaped at night... I was changing the food and water. I was trying to catch her to clip her toenails, and she freaked out and fled right through the door and flew away. Luckily the cage was in the house, so I caught her after an hour or so and popped her back in there.
Right now, I am wondering how to catch them without the risk of them flying out. The cage door was only high enough for my arm to go through, but it was too wide and left a gap, which the bird flew out from.
Well, she had a nice time hiding in the house plants...

I use to clothes pin a large towel or sheet over the front and get under it when I opened the large door for the flight. You can also make a mesh sheet with a "X" cut into it. Secure the mesh sheet to the door and put your hand through the "X" to catch the bird.

Or take an old long sleeve shirt or sweat shirt and clip that over the doorway with the sleeve projecting inside, so you put your arm into the sleeve to reach inside. Once you know how big the piece of the shirt you need to securely clip around & over the doorway, you can cut the rest away to make it less bulky.

I usually clip a bandanna over the door hole with some small binder clips, then slip my arm under that, just making sure to keep it bunched up and filling any loose space around my arm. When cleaning inside the big cage, I usually use the sleeve trick, less worry about the bandana shifting and leaving a space.

Great ideas! My BC cross beak girl escaped today when I was cleaning the cage, Luckily she is old and couldn't get far.

Thanks for the tips! You guys are always really helpful!

I had similar incident yesterday , my strawberry boy got around my hand and escaped. Luckily , birds are in enclosed pool patio. 40ftx20ft. Took me an hour until I came up with an idea . I used garden hose to mist the bird until I slowed him down. Then just throwed a towel at him . Now , I notice Cubans in Miami use a women stocking clipped around cage doors. It expands around your hand when inserted into the cage. Works magic.

That's interesting, I have an extra spray bottle I suppose I could use to mist them down if they escape.

These are fantastic ideas!


Or take an old long sleeve shirt or sweat shirt and clip that over the doorway with the sleeve projecting inside, so you put your arm into the sleeve to reach inside. Once you know how big the piece of the shirt you need to securely clip around & over the doorway, you can cut the rest away to make it less bulky.

OMG can I just ad... My two OCWB's escaped last Saturday and holy cow are they fast and crafty! They got UNDER the hutch, UNDER the couch, BEHIND the TV. IN the bread basket. and on and on and on... they are so small and dark , you can hardly see them! It took me hours and hours in 80 degree hot sweaty awfulness to catch them. One actually made it's way back in the cage I left by the hutch with the door propped open and tons of millet spray around. the other took forever. I am extra careful with these little buggers.

It is amazing how they just shoot by your arm thru the smallest space you leave.

Yes, these tiny birds can be the biggest nuisance when they escape...

When I first got them, two of my OCWBs got out of the carrying box, and it took 2 hours of chasing them around in a tiny room before I got them in the cage. They are so small and blend in so well, I was actually looking for where they were most of the time (not that chasing them is any easier). I promise, I must have cornered my sneaky female 10 times, and she escaped 9 times.

Does anyone use bird nets (look like a butterfly net)? See them in pet stores but didn't know if it was a good idea to use one if I have a Society escape.

I do! They are great for in the aviary where birds really get up speed. Being so deep the bird slows down before hitting the end of the net.

I was advised to get a net, and as soon as I find one,(that I don't have to pay shipping and handling for) I will get one. I got my grandson one last year at Kinney Drugs, and we actually use it catch dragonflies etc... But they aren't carrying them this year. But YES It is suggested to have one. My only concern is hitting the bird with the rim and hurting it.