How to Restrain a Bird
As a bird owner, you know that it is necessary to restrain your bird upon occasion. This can be for numerous reasons such as clipping its wing or transferring your pet into a travel carrier. Because you don't want to injure your bird, you will need to understand how to properly restrain it. In addition, you will also minimize injury and damage to yourself and your home.
What You'll Need:
- Bath towel or hand towel
Instructions:
- Close all windows and doors in your house to ensue that the bird does not fly out before you can get it properly restrained.
- Turn off anything that the bird can injure itself with if it should get loose and fly around the room, such as a ceiling fan.
- Dim the lighting in the room to help calm the bird before opening its cage or approaching it.
- Select the appropriate towel for the type and size of bird you'll be handling. Larger birds will require a bath towel or sheet while smaller birds can successfully be wrapped in a hand towel. The towel should be slightly larger than your bird.
- Hold the towel open, one end in each hand.
- Slowly approach the bird without making any fast or threatening movements. Gently talk to your bird as you approach it with the towel in hand.
- Gently drape the towel around the birds body, holding the back of its head and neck between your thumb and forefinger to prevent biting. Wrap the towel around the birds body, gently restraining the wings. The towel should be loose enough to allow the bird to breath without restriction. Never wrap your bird up tightly as their chest must be allowed to expand in order to breath.
TIP
- Let your bird become accustomed to the towel. Use it to play games with your pet so that it is not frightened by the sight of it when it comes time to use for restraining.