What do you use to catch a finch???

Finch Fry · Post by **Finch Fry** » Tue Feb 17, 2009 10:33 am

I would like to ask everyone their method on catching finches. Irregardless of the purpose for catching them.

Please say what kind of living environment you use your method for. For instance....

I have a regular cage (not a flight or aviary) and I went out and bought a little petshop net for aquarium fish. It worked perfectly. Cost me 1.79 + tax. The net is about 6 inch by 6 inch.

L in Ontario · Post by **L in Ontario** » Tue Feb 17, 2009 10:36 am

I have breeding cages and use my hands only when catching inside the cages. But for when they escape their cages and into the birdroom - I have butterfly net I bought at the Dollar Store. I've yet to catch one with the net successfully as I'm too worried I'll squish the bird by moving the net too quick - I always catch the bird with my hands.

cntrymeadow · Post by **cntrymeadow** » Tue Feb 17, 2009 12:49 pm

To catch them in the cage..my hands.
If they escape then I use an aquarium net...since we have inside fish I decided no need to buy another net!

BirdCrazy · Post by **BirdCrazy** » Tue Feb 17, 2009 2:30 pm

I only use my hands for cage or out of the cage. I find if you wear them down a little by going after them before you do the actual catch it is much easier. I don't use nets as my friend was doing that once and accidently hit the bird with the rim of the net and killed it.

L in Ontario · Post by **L in Ontario** » Tue Feb 17, 2009 2:42 pm

That's exactly why I don't want to use my butterfly net to catch them!

atarasi · Post by **atarasi** » Tue Feb 17, 2009 3:48 pm

The same...hands inside a breeding cage. A bird net inside the flight cage. The nets specifically for catching birds is better than an aquarium net because the netting is longer and you can turn the handle so the opening is closed. Do the bird's nails get caught with the butterfly net?
The bird net is very fine and that doesn't happen.

gomer · Post by **gomer** » Tue Feb 17, 2009 7:11 pm

BirdCrazy wrote:I only use my hands for cage or out of the cage. I find if you wear them down a little by going after them before you do the actual catch it is much easier. I don't use nets as my friend was doing that once and accidently hit the bird with the rim of the net and killed it.

sew foam around the rim to stop injuring them,works well.I bought around five nets before i found one i liked.know i have four of the same ones.

Net for catching in avairys.hand in small cabinets.

Finch Fry · Post by **Finch Fry** » Tue Feb 17, 2009 7:26 pm

FANTASTIC idea. I am going to put some lightweight foam on my net this weekend!

dfcauley · Post by **dfcauley** » Tue Feb 17, 2009 7:43 pm

I never use a net.... I hurt a bird one time doing that so I am afraid to try again. Since I have an aviary, if I need to catch one up I just put a trap cage in there with some treats and when they go in.... viola. It just take some patience.

In a cage I use my hands. Can you believe that when I first started with finches I was afraid of their bite? I would make my husband catch them for me.

L in Ontario · Post by **L in Ontario** » Tue Feb 17, 2009 8:24 pm

dfcauley wrote:In a cage I use my hands. Can you believe that when I first started with finches I was afraid of their bite? I would make my husband catch them for me.

Awwwww!

BillD · Post by **BillD** » Tue Feb 17, 2009 10:16 pm

Thanks for posting this Chris..

I'm learning from others..

Finch Fry · Post by **Finch Fry** » Wed Feb 18, 2009 11:14 am

Np Bill.

The reason I posted this is because I wanted to remove my male because he was so darn aggressive to the female and juvs. Well, i have a cage, and the opening is only 6x6 inch. So with one hand, there isnt a chance for me to catch the bird, with both hands, i am so limited with range of motion and my hands being so darn big that he can always duck under or over my hands and get into a corner. Anyways, the net seems to do the job for me, I am quite patient though, i was afraid of hurting him so I just wiggled the net and let him tire out. When he was a bit more sluggish in response, i just slowly lowered the fish net down on him and he sorta just surrendered.

It was pretty funny.

DVBourassa · Post by **DVBourassa** » Wed Feb 18, 2009 11:51 am

I find they are much easier to catch if there is only enough light for me to see what I'm doing.

fincher · Post by **fincher** » Thu Feb 19, 2009 7:12 am

hi a good net i reckon should have a long enough bag section so you can twist the bag around and the bird is safely in the bag sectinon. as i work in a bird dealer i have to catch many birds each day so im pretty experienced at catching. in the 4 years there i have never ever injuried or killed a bird i an use any type of net but i prefer the one i have for my personel use at home i dont use foam around the rim but in cabinets i use my hands to catch them. thanks chris

gomer · Post by **gomer** » Fri Feb 20, 2009 5:59 am

A couple of more tips a finch net should be a light weight material aswell.so when the finch hits the back of the net.The birds weight drops the net straight away capturing the bird.
Also you should always try to catch them in flight,As catching them on the wire can damage them also.