FINCHforum

I did have a pair of Star finches in my outdoor aviary but today when I tried to catch them and bring them in for winter, my female escaped and flew away. I now have my star finch inside in its cage by itself. I know it shouldn't be alone so can I keep it with a zebra of society finch for company? Or should I just get another star? Also, how long can it be alone before I can buy another bird.

Thanks

harry
Sorry your hen escaped. For future reference, many people have had escapees and they put a cage with the mate outside and sit nearby with a net to catch the bird. Sometimes, it works. One member tried for several days, with food and treats outside and eventually caught the poor finch. Otherwise, she'll die in winter. I spray my birds with water before trying to catch them. That helps too if they escape because they can't fly very well.
Regarding the Star, I would not put him with the zebra finch. A Society finch would be fine. He can wait for you to get a hen, so you don't need to hurry.

I may be able to get a star within the net few days but if not I could get a society finch. I don't see the bird coming back though, it flew well out of sight within seconds but thanks anyway

If the bird escaped just today, not all hope is lost yet!

2 days ago a female crimson finch of mine escaped through a door not closed properly. As there are no inviting plants around my city house, it must have flown so far that even putting her calling mate out couldn't attract her back. She was nowhere to be seen.
Yet 2 days later she returned, sitting on a cable under my porch, despite her cage and mate being invisible indoors! Must have been attracted back by the familiar morning noises from my munia-filled aviary.
Reunion has now taken place.

So it may not be too late for you either to try and recapture the lost star.

w.l.
Great News! How did you catch her?

harry

I would still try to catch her or drawn her back, so she doesn't die from the weather, lack of food and/or predators. If possible, you can put our a small cage with food and water in the bottom and leave the top open. Then, keep it by the door and go around to try and catch her if she shows up. If she doesn't come back within four to five days, then you can assume she is lost.

If that happens, then if you can get another star, great! Just remember it has to stay in quarantine for 3-4 weeks before introducing her to the male, to maek sure she is not sick.

Good Luck!

I'll put a cage out with food and water but tonight its going to be 11 Celsius and I've read they can't really tolerate temps lower than 15c. Hopefully she'll be back soon!

finchmix22 -- Agreed!
I'd also try to lure her back.

The familiar sounds of a mate's vocalizations (or other birds they're familiar with), combined with food and water often draw them back.

Pet birds are loathe to actually work for their food, so they're going to stay close to any reliable food source that they find. So I'd put a feeder out there and I'd put out a cage with the mate and/or other birds that she's used to hearing. She'll go toward what's familiar, even if she flew off. Birds have very good hearing and social birds like finches are drawn towards the vocalizations of others that they know.

If you can lure her back with a food source, she'll stay nearby. Then, it's just a matter of time before you catch her.

If it's getting cold, you could even put some food inside a cage with the cage left open and a heat lamp.
I've known a couple people who did this and the bird came back for the food, warmth and the familiar cage.

Deborah,

She had already sat on a cable close to the open door of the room where my cages are, and with a little push in the right direction, flew straight inside.
Then I just closed the door and captured her (after some chasing) inside.

Since harry's birds lived in an outside aviary, things should be easier.
Birds kept like that are already familiar with their sourroundings and can return more easily.
I'd just put the male in a small cage within the aviary and leave the aviary door open.
Of course the sooner this is done, the better!

I have a canary that constantly sings in the aviary so hopefully that should help too. Thanks everyone for the replies!