Yesterday I had an extremely scary incident happen with my finches. I have 5 finches in an outside aviary. The aviary is 6' x 4' x 2'. They are society finches, two parents and their three babies. Yesterday, i went out to feed them and found everyone hysterical. The three babies were outside the aviary flying loose around my backyard They were upset, their parents were upset, it was not good. I freaked and thought, how will I ever help them. It took about 2 hours, but I was able to get all three of them back!
The aviary has an enclosure so that the large main door opens to this enclosed area so I can feed, water, clean safely. I pulled up the door to the enclosure (which is like a bamboo screen shade that just hangs down) and I waited for them to fly into that enclosure. One at a time, they did and I was able to sneak over and close the shade and get them back in. The last one though, got out before I could get him inside. So, I had to wait again for him to go in, it took forever, but he did. My husband helped me get in there, again, he escaped! He went out in 4 times before I was able to close the shade drop and get him into the aviary. Each time he went in faster, so he had learned, I think that was the way back in. At one point he was across the street (the aviary is in the backyard) and I could see him in trees in the neighborhood. I had to encourage his family to make noise. I also went out front and called to him and went back into the backyard hoping he would see me over there and know to come back in that direction. I felt horrible and so helpless. Finally, we came back and went back inside and we got him in safely.
I found a crack on the side of the feeder door, that they had to have gotten out from. It was really small, but they were able to get out. I of course secured the door and then added a cover of the mesh that the enclosure is made out of.
I am so relieved that they are ok. But, I keep on checking on them now
The aviary has an enclosure so that the large main door opens to this enclosed area so I can feed, water, clean safely. I pulled up the door to the enclosure (which is like a bamboo screen shade that just hangs down) and I waited for them to fly into that enclosure. One at a time, they did and I was able to sneak over and close the shade and get them back in. The last one though, got out before I could get him inside. So, I had to wait again for him to go in, it took forever, but he did. My husband helped me get in there, again, he escaped! He went out in 4 times before I was able to close the shade drop and get him into the aviary. Each time he went in faster, so he had learned, I think that was the way back in. At one point he was across the street (the aviary is in the backyard) and I could see him in trees in the neighborhood. I had to encourage his family to make noise. I also went out front and called to him and went back into the backyard hoping he would see me over there and know to come back in that direction. I felt horrible and so helpless. Finally, we came back and went back inside and we got him in safely.
I found a crack on the side of the feeder door, that they had to have gotten out from. It was really small, but they were able to get out. I of course secured the door and then added a cover of the mesh that the enclosure is made out of.
I am so relieved that they are ok. But, I keep on checking on them now