There are several types of traps designed to capture birds but the easiest to build and operate are rectangular or rounded wire cages fitted with funnel-shaped door openings. The wide part of the funnel is an easy-to-find opening for the birds–they pass through the small part of the funnel and into cage. Once the birds are inside, they tend to search for an escape route around the perimeter of the enclosure and seldom find the funnel opening from the inside.
The easiest material from which to construct the trap is either a wire mesh known as welded wire or poultry netting. The wire used to make welded wire is a much heavier gauge than poultry wire. It’s self-supporting, more durable and available in mesh sizes from as small as 1/4-inch by a 1/4-inch to 4-inches square. Poultry netting is available in only a few mesh sizes and is generally affixed to a wooden or metal frame. Either will work. It’s up to you to determine which will work best for your application, the expense and the ease of fabrication.
Choose a mesh size depending on the size of bird you plan to trap. Remember, a small mesh will hold birds of all sizes, while a large mesh can permit small birds to escape. That’s not all bad. If you want to catch large birds, like pigeons, a large mesh wire will hold the pigeons while letting sparrows or other small birds go free.
Consider the size of the bird and the number of birds you hope to capture at once when building the trap. Make the trap about 1 ½ times taller than the height of the bird when standing upright. You want to pen them in, without making them hesitant about being penned in. Make the capture pen large enough to hold all the birds you expect to catch and more. A bird is unlikely to enter a trap already filled with birds. Two or three birds in a large trap serve as decoys; 20 birds in a small trap are deterrents.
Though birds can be caught in single-door traps, if you plan to trap birds which are attracted to bait–usually seeds or grain–install more than one funnel door on the perimeter of the cage to up the odds of the birds finding their way inside. Put a lot of bait inside the trap, sprinkling a few samples around the perimeter and in front of the doors. Pre-baiting a site for a few days before installing the trap can boost the catch.
Birds that spend most of their time on the ground and don’t rely on readily available food, such as grain, can be caught in non-baited traps. Make a pair of wire cages as you would when constructing a baited trap, but with only one funnel door. Position the cages 10 to 20 yards apart in a suitable habitat. Then install a short, wire mesh fence between the traps with each end of the fence terminating just inside the funnel doors of one of the traps. The birds–accustomed to walking around obstructions–often follow along the fence looking for a way around it and walk right on into the catch enclosure.
Mike Schoonveld has been writing since 1989 with magazine credits including “Outdoor Life,” “Fur-Fish-Game,” “The Rotarian” and numerous regional publications. Schoonveld earned a Master Captain License from the Coast Guard. He holds a Bachelor of Science in wildlife science from Purdue University.
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To begin creating a bird trap, first buy a conventional mousetrap that is spring-loaded. Next, make a tiny hole in the middle of a cardboard box, insert a string through it, and secure the string’s end into the ground. Using the other end of the string, make a small loop. Then, load the mousetrap and tie the loop around the spring. When the bird lands on the trap, the box will fall and trap the bird underneath. To use the mousetrap, bait it with bread or birdseed and wait for a hit! Continue reading for advice on how to handle birds that you catch in your trap!
When constructing the trap, take into account the size of the bird and the quantity of birds you hope to catch at once. When the bird is standing straight up, make the trap about one and a half times taller than its height. Without making them feel uncomfortable, you want to write them in. Make the capture pen big enough to accommodate every bird you hope to catch, plus a little extra. A bird is not likely to fly into a trap that is already occupied by birds. A small trap with 20 birds serves as a deterrent, while a large trap with two or three birds serves as a decoy.
Poultry netting or welded wire mesh are the most convenient materials to build the trap out of. Compared to poultry wire, the wire used to make welded wire has a substantially larger gauge. It has greater durability, self-supporting capabilities, and mesh sizes ranging from 1/4 inch by 1/4 inch to 4 inches square. There are only a few mesh sizes for poultry netting, and it is typically attached to a wooden or metal frame. Either will work. You have to decide which is most appropriate for your application, cost, and fabrication ease.
Since 1989, Mike Schoonveld has written for a number of regional magazines as well as magazines like “Outdoor Life,” “Fur-Fish-Game,” and “The Rotarian.” Schoonveld earned a Master Captain License from the Coast Guard. He graduated from Purdue University with a Bachelor of Science in wildlife science.
Depending on the size of bird you intend to trap, select a mesh size. Recall that while a large mesh may allow small birds to escape, a small mesh will hold birds of all sizes. That’s not all bad. A large mesh wire will contain large birds, such as pigeons, while allowing sparrows or other small birds to fly free.
Non-baited traps can catch birds that are primarily terrestrial and do not depend on easily accessible food sources like grain. Just like you would when building a baited trap, create a pair of wire cages with a single funnel door. Place the cages in an appropriate habitat 10 to 20 yards apart. Next, place a brief fence made of wire mesh between each trap, ending at the funnel doors of one of the traps on each end. The birds, who are used to navigating around obstacles, frequently follow the fence in an attempt to find a way past it and enter the catch enclosure directly.
StepsMethod
- Community Answer: No, since the first trap could easily kill the bird, it is not safe to use it to catch a dove and keep it as a pet. Also, please dont keep wild animals as pets. Find a local breeder if you’re interested in purchasing a dove.
- Community Answer: There is no guarantee that a snare will kill a bird, but it is possible for them to all do so.
- Question What should I do if I’m in a survival situation? Community Response The first one should be used because it will make the bird tireder.
- When you spot the bird you want to catch in your yard, set up your trap outside. Thanks Helpful 2 Not Helpful 0 .
Submit a Tip All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published
- Before setting out traps, confirm that it is legal for you to trap birds. Fines can be steep. Thanks Helpful 11 Not Helpful 6 .
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