Please help! My escaped partridge wants to come home ! How do I safely catch him ?

[KrissyroxNJ]

My chukar partridge flew out of my coop last week as I was showing them how to go upstairs into the roost house in the evening. I saw him this morning on our bird camera trying to get back into the coop by his buddies ! Problem is I can’t leave the coop door open or else I will lose my other babies ! I locked the roost house door that the inside partridges have access to and left the upstairs roost house door open with some yummy food for him. My question is what are the chances I will get him back without trying to physically catch him? He’s super flighty cause he’s a game bird and he came from a meat market 2 weeks ago so he doesn’t know me that well. Any tips ? Is there something I can buy to catch him ? Thanks again !!!

 

[chickens really]

Get a long poled net. That's how my friend catches Birds. Works great with little stress.

 

[Cryss]

Are you saying your birds are in the run and you closed the henhouse pop door so they can't get in? AND that the henhouse clean out type door is open with food to entice the runaway inside? That sounds like a reasonable method for daytime. I'd switch it around at night if your birds are going in the henhouse to sleep. Either way make sure the pop door is somehow locked so critters can't open it. Raccoons are notoriously dexterous and can open even bolt type locks. I suggest a carribiner through loop type hooks if that makes sense.
If you are able to follow the wayward bird and find where it sleeps maybe, like chickens, it will be so deeply asleep you can pick it up and return it to the coop. Bedtime is always the easiest time to pick up chickens for things like close physical inspections.
Good luck!

 

[Ridgerunner]

Since you just got him and he is pretty wild I'd try to trap him. My first thought is a live trap appropriately sized where he was trying to get back with his buddies. Bait it with food and good luck.

Another thought though I haven't done it myself is to use a large box, probably cardboard if wind isn't a problem, and one of those figure 4 triggers and a trip wire to see if you can catch him underneath. Probably my last resort.

Another thought. Build a reasonably large pen where he was seen and rig a long string so you can close the door rapidly from far away if you see him in it. Or try what you are but can you close the door quickly enough without him flying away. As wild as you say he is he will probably try to escape as soon as he sees you and they can be really quick.

 

[KrissyroxNJ]

Get a long poled net. That's how my friend catches Birds. Works great with little stress.

that is a great idea!

 

[KrissyroxNJ]

Since you just got him and he is pretty wild I'd try to trap him. My first thought is a live trap appropriately sized where he was trying to get back with his buddies. Bait it with food and good luck.

Another thought though I haven't done it myself is to use a large box, probably cardboard if wind isn't a problem, and one of those figure 4 triggers and a trip wire to see if you can catch him underneath. Probably my last resort.

Another thought. Build a reasonably large pen where he was seen and rig a long string so you can close the door rapidly from far away if you see him in it. Or try what you are but can you close the door quickly enough without him flying away. As wild as you say he is he will probably try to escape as soon as he sees you and they can be really quick.

Yes, out of the four he is the most flighty and nervous! I looked all over my back yard and haven't seen him in a few days. I hope he comes home soon. I am going to order a pole and try some tricks you have mentioned

 

[KrissyroxNJ]

Are you saying your birds are in the run and you closed the henhouse pop door so they can't get in? AND that the henhouse clean out type door is open with food to entice the runaway inside? That sounds like a reasonable method for daytime. I'd switch it around at night if your birds are going in the henhouse to sleep. Either way make sure the pop door is somehow locked so critters can't open it. Raccoons are notoriously dexterous and can open even bolt type locks. I suggest a carribiner through loop type hooks if that makes sense.
If you are able to follow the wayward bird and find where it sleeps maybe, like chickens, it will be so deeply asleep you can pick it up and return it to the coop. Bedtime is always the easiest time to pick up chickens for things like close physical inspections.
Good luck!

Ok so I leave the bottom part the run open.... I like your idea with the carabiner cause i had no clue that raccoons could open locks! Thank You

 

[sourland]

@Ridgerunner has given the best suggestion. A live trap set alongside the run so that he goes in as he paces back and forth may work. One pass with the net, and if missed he is gone.

 

[KrissyroxNJ]

@Ridgerunner has given the best suggestion. A live trap set alongside the run so that he goes in as he paces back and forth may work. One pass with the net, and if missed he is gone.

I have the havehart small animal trap set to super sensitive right by the coop .... so far nothing and it’s been like 3-4 days.... I wonder do I need a quail or gamebird trap? I can’t find any locally so I would have to purchase it online.

 

[007Sean]

A recovery trap would work better than anything else. You can build one pretty easily or buy one.
The other alternative is to pen the remaining birds an area of their pen so they can't escape and leave the coop door open. The escapee will try to get back in with it's buddies. Best of luck in getting your bird back.