How to Make a Cage for a Baby Owl

Owls are predatory birds that keep mice, rats and other rodents under control. Owls are not good nest-makers, hastily combining twigs, leaves and branches. Fledgling baby owls are at risk if they fall out of a poorly built nest. To rescue baby owls, you need to know what kind of cage to make to confine the babies. Barn owls are the most common owls in North America, and are used as a sample in this article.

Things You'll Need

  • Cardboard box or small plastic cat kennel
  • Towels
  • Birdcage
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Instructions

    • 1
      This baby barn owl is too young to survive on its own.

      Determine if the baby owl is injured. If there is nesting material around it, it probably fell out of a tree, and it's likely there will be more babies on the ground. If the babies have injuries or are featherless, they require immediate help to survive. Owls can have as many as eight babies in their nests at various stages of maturity.

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    • 2
      Once a barn owl has its feathers and can fly, there is no need to worry about it.

      If a baby owl has feathers and is able to leap high using them, it is a fledgling and the parents may still be caring for it. Look in nearby trees and the sky for the parents.

    • 3
      These baby barn owls are ready to leave the care of a professional.

      Line a cardboard box or a small cat carrier with towels to protect the baby owl. This is the only cage needed to rescue the baby owls. Make sure it is not so large that the baby owls will bounce around, but not so confined that they will hurt each other. They will need proper care from a wild bird authority or animal-care facility.

    • 4
      A small birdcage is appropriate for the baby if you are going to take care of it yourself.

      Look for an old birdcage for a medium-size bird if you plan to keep the owl and rehabilitate it yourself. Animal-care professionals are often glad to demonstrate what to do to keep them alive with as little human interaction as possible. When keeping the baby owl in the cage, throwing a towel over it has a calming effect.

    • 5
      If you are fostering the owl yourself, human contact must be kept to a minimum.

      Use a towel to pick up the babies. They will fight, but if they are grabbed from behind and their wings are pinned to their sides, they are easy to put in the cardboard box or cat carrier.

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