Is there a safe, low-stress way to catch and towel a budgie in a large cage or aviary?

[rosemary]

My personal mini hell is also trying to get them in their travel cage. I dont want to catch and put them in it either. The last time we went, I tried to trick them into it with some millet, but being their smart selves, they knew what millet next to the travel cage meant and ended up flying away.

I had to chase them in their flight cage, it makes me so uncomfortable, but I'd rather have a slightly stressful vet visit, then none .

Wish you and your birdies the best

 

[Kassiani]

Thank you @rosemary. It’s what had to be done. Now I’ve got 8 months until their next well visit to work on this!

 

[rosemary]

I need to pick up travel cage-training again, as well I wish us both good luck

 

[Kassiani]

They have finished their Nutri-Berries, worked on some sprouted seed mix, and now they are singing the song of their people. And staying as far away from me as they can, lol!

 

[KIWICHERIE]

You are not supposed to chase your birds it makes them lose trust from you.

 

[Kassiani]

@Conurefan I don’t chase them at all on a regular basis, but if I have to get them to the vet, I have no choice. They are not yet tame enough for me to ask them to step up onto my finger and then step onto the perch of their travel carrier. I wish! And it is something I’m working toward. At the moment, they are doing well with recall training, and I can get them to step onto my finger. But as soon as they realize I’m moving them to their carrier, they fly back to their flight cage.

 

[KIWICHERIE]

@Conurefan I don’t chase them at all on a regular basis, but if I have to get them to the vet, I have no choice. They are not yet tame enough for me to ask them to step up onto my finger and then step onto the perch of their travel carrier. I wish! And it is something I’m working toward. At the moment, they are doing well with recall training, and I can get them to step onto my finger. But as soon as they realize I’m moving them to their carrier, they fly back to their flight cage.
[/QUOTE ok if you need help to tame your bird here’s the video I watched to tame my birds I hope this helps!

 

[Fergus Mom]

Well, that was the usual rodeo. I’m sitting in my car at the vets while the boys have their psittacosis test. I can’t catch them using my hands when they are in the flight cage. They are too fast, and there is too much room. So, I have to net them when they are holding on to the side of the cage. I hate doing it. Hate, hate, hate it!!! But, it gets the job done. And they were given plenty of treats once in their travel cage.

We have a lot of work to do, and trust to be regained so that they will voluntarily go where I ask them.

I asked that question a LOT when I first got to AA (if there was a stress free way to catch them in an emergency). I know what you mean about hating catching them. I hate it too, and have only had to really handle mine if they were in danger (Fi got her foot stuck in a ball with holes in it once, and Ferg got his toenail trapped in a tennis shoe shoestring)!
I tried to be calm, not to panic them, so I was at least talking very monotonously and slowly. It didn't seem to change their demeanor by the next day - I don't think they actually 'forgot'... just that they were not thinking about it, if that makes sense.

 

[KIWICHERIE]

I asked that question a LOT when I first got to AA (if there was a stress free way to catch them in an emergency). I know what you mean about hating catching them. I hate it too, and have only had to really handle mine if they were in danger (Fi got her foot stuck in a ball with holes in it once, and Ferg got his toenail trapped in a tennis shoe shoestring)!
I tried to be calm, not to panic them, so I was at least talking very monotonously and slowly. It didn't seem to change their demeanor by the next day - I don't think they actually 'forgot'... just that they were not thinking about it, if that makes sense.

Same my parrot once got stuck in my hair it looked like he didn’t remember but he just wasn’t thinking about it

 

[Kassiani]

Yes, I get what you guys mean. I'm hopeful that our training can advance ahead of their next 'event' so that it won't be so stressful for all of us!

 

[ParrotNuts]

Yes, I get what you guys mean. I'm hopeful that our training can advance ahead of their next 'event' so that it won't be so stressful for all of us!

I've been watching this thread (stalking?) for a while, and have just one thing to say:

 

[Kassiani]

Thank you! I'm sure I'll need it!