FINCHforum

Two of my Zebra Finches escaped today.

Like an idiot I was cleaning the cage and I didn't realize that one of my sliding glass doors open. I opened the door to put something in it and two of them just flew out.

I've left the door open with the cage next to it hoping to attract them back but so far no luck.

Sorry to hear about you mishap. It can happen so quickly.
Do you only have one cage for all 6 birds? If so, why don't you put that cage right into the open sliding door (basically on the tracks) or just outside the door. Then put a second cage right on top with food, water, millet and their favorite treats inside and clearly visible. With hope the calls of your remaining birds will lure the two escapees back and once they get hungry and thirsty, they might just go into the extra cage. I would attach a string to the open door of that cage so you can close it from inside the house once they are in the cage.
Hope that helps. Maybe other members have better ideas, but this setup once worked for me. Good luck,
Iso

I have also had some escape. One was a zebra who flew over the top of my house into the trees on the opposite side of my house!!! I left the cage outside where the mate of this zebra "honked" his little heart out until she came back! I was able to capture her with a net.

I also had a Black & White Mannikin escape. I kept the caged birds outside where the escapee kept coming back close to the cage but every time he saw me he'd fly off. So I kept moving the cage closer and closer to the front door of my house, letting the little escapee fly up to the cage. I eventually moved the cage just "inside" the door of my house, then hid outside and when the escapee flew up to the cage (right inside my house) I jumped up and scared him and he flew INSIDE my house...got 'em!!!

Good luck!!! Don't give up!

So sorry to hear about your finches!

I'm so sorry to hear about this.

Agreed with the others above! Great advice!

If you don't have an outdoor bird feeder, now is a nice time to get one.
These birds generally don't venture too far. Especially if they have an easy food source nearby.
Most caged birds are relatively weak flyers too.

I wouldn't give up hope, as it is possible to capture them once they've escaped.
Using your other birds' vocalizations to attract them to the general vicinity is perhaps the most effective method. Finches are flock birds; they live in groups. So they're naturally attracted to others who speak their language.
Once they're in the area, offering food is the best way to keep them in the vicinity.

Just don't give up! I've heard many, many cases of birds who were found days, weeks, even months after they disappeared.

Also, put a note up on Craigslist.
A bird person is apt to notice them at a feeder. And if they're anything like me, they'll try to catch them and/or they'll browse Craigslist to see if anyone's looking for them.
And you'd be surprised how well it can work posting on Craigslist! I noticed an injured cat in my neighborhood the other day and I happened to posted a note on Craigslist. I successfully connected with the kitty's owner who'd lost him over a month prior! So while it seems like a longshot, you really never know!

If you have any neighbors with bird feeders, talk to them too!

@Sam007 --- I can envision you hiding in the bushes, looking like a nutter! So funny! But a clever method! Smart Jen! Happy to hear you got 'im!

HeyItsRaymond

I hope you manage to get them back. Leave food and water out for them, just in case.

Good luck.

~Elana~

It's going to be near freezing tonight.

I lured one close by. Unfortunately, I have all males. So no females to lure him back. I'll put out some seed and water for them. One was on the wall when I went on my patio but then disappeared.

The other one went to a large tree about 100yards away. Haven't seen or heard him since.

I"ll put the cage in the door again tomorrow. Also need to go buy a net.

I'm sorry this happened.

I lost a pair of Java Sparrows early this summer when they slipped through a loose corner of the cage. One stuck around all day hopping through the trees and once even coming and landing on the sidewalk, but after nightfall she went high into the trees and was gone in the morning.

HeyItsRaymond - Were you able to get one or both of your birds back? If not, do you still see them occasionally in your neighborhood? I so hope they returned home.
Iso

Sorry about your escapees. Just last Sunday I forgot to close the door on one of my breeding cages and two zebra fledgelings escaped. Fortunately or unfortunately I captured just one of them a few hours later when I fed them.
I don't know how many zebras got away from me over the years but the single greatest escape was when one of my German Shepherds destroyed one of the flight cages and more than 40 zebras (with a few societies mixed in) escaped never to be seen again.

I'm so sorry for your loss. I hope that you get them back, obviously I hope for both, but even one. I'll keep you in my thoughts. I live in NE, so as much as my birds look outside and "think" they want to go out there, if mine ever got out they wouldn't make it....so again, i'm think of you hope the best for you.