How to Grab a Parakeet

Grabbing a parakeet requires a great deal of care.

If you have a pet parakeet that is being overly stubborn and you are unable to get it back into its cage, or if you find a lost parakeet outside, you may have to grab it. This takes a lot of concentration and care as parakeets are tiny and delicate birds and you don't want to injure it.

Things You'll Need

• Birdcage
• Flashlight
• CD player
• Parakeet sound tape/CD

Instructions

1. Approach the parakeet slowly. Be tentative so that you don't frighten the bird, and put out your forefinger. If the parakeet is trained, it may simply step up on your finger and allow you to take it back to its cage. If the bird is not finger trained, try to grab it carefully, taking care not to hurt it.

2. Take your parakeet's cage to the area where it is. Keep the door opened with a string, wire or a metal clasp to try to coax it into the cage. Make sure to put your bird's favorite foods and toys in the cage to make it appear more inviting. This tactic is also recommended for grabbing a parakeet that has escaped outdoors.

3. Retrieve a flashlight, then dim or turn off the lights in the room where your parakeet has escaped. Turn the flashlight on and move it back and forth to determine where your bird is. Birds cannot see in the dark, so your parakeet will most likely be frozen in its spot. You can then grab it more easily.

4. Place your parakeet's cage outside if it escaped outdoors. Play a tape or CD of parakeet sounds. Chances are that your bird will hear them and fly over, which will make it easier to get it back into its cage.

Tips & Warnings

• When you grab a parakeet, always be gentle, and try to avoid putting pressure on the bird's chest area. The proper way to hold a parakeet is with its back against the palm of your hand, with your thumb and forefinger looped loosely around the bird's neck area.

• If you do not want to let your bird fly freely in your house, take it to a vet to have the flight feathers on its wings clipped. A bird cannot fly with these feathers trimmed.

• Always keep the screens in place on your windows so that your bird cannot escape outside. A lost parakeet can easily die outdoors, even if adopted by sparrows or other wild birds.

References

• Daily Puppy: How to Capture an Escaped Parakeet