How to Safely Catch a Parakeet in Its Cage

No matter how tame your parakeet is, there are times you will need to "catch" it in its cage, such as when you are trimming its wings or nails. Catching a parakeet will stress it at first, at least until it realizes that it is not in extreme danger, so avoid doing this if you recently brought your parakeet home.

Things You'll Need

  • Hand towel
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Instructions

    • 1

      Gather anything you will need once you have your parakeet captured. This might include nail clippers, scissors (for wing clipping) or a travel carrier.

    • 2

      Move the cage into a small room and close the door. This will ensure that, should your parakeet escape, you are not chasing it around the house.

    • 3

      Remove any toys, perches and similar items from the cage. This will ensure that you have a straight path to your bird, reducing the chance of its being injured.

    • 4

      Drape a medium (hand) towel over your hand like a mitt. The towel can be old, but it should be clean.

    • 5

      Place your towel-covered hand into the cage through the cage door. If the cage door is small, you may want to release the roof of the cage (if possible), but leave it on.

    • 6

      Wait for the bird to settle down, preferably into a corner. If the bird is not in the corner, attempt to move it there with your hand.

    • 7

      Gently wrap your hand around the parakeet, with its wings against its body. Don't apply too much pressure.

    • 8

      Carefully pull your hand with the parakeet out of the cage. If you cannot fit your hand through the cage door, lift the roof of the cage off. Transfer the parakeet from one hand to the other.