As a kid my first trap were bobs made from wire coat
hangers. Next purchased bobs that went across the entrance. After
I saw a stall trap the bobs were used in the first one I built. Because
the birds seemed to always hesitate before pushing bobs or dropping into
a stall trap I changed to the design I make now. The birds no longer hesitate
they just drop in the loft to the floor for feed and water where it's little
problem pick them up. E Clocks are not allowed in Quebec to date. One day
when they are most trapping problems will end.
The trap is six feet off the floor. Because birds need
their wings open to fly they can't exit when the trap is down as in the
first picture. The trap is hinged and raised for the birds to exit. The
little twist latch you see in the picture holds it in place. A larger twist
latch is used to keep the trap closed. This one was made with the curves
in the tubing. That is so an acrobatic bird can't catch the lower piece
of 1 X 2 with it's feet and get out. At first I had straight pieces of
tubing and once in a while one would manage it. Straight tubing would work
fine if the trap is longer so that the installed angle is increased to
45 deg. or more.
The following sketch of the bent tubing is what works
for my application. Your dimensions could be different. The sketch will
give you the basic idea. The important thing is that the two ends are in
line.
It does take the birds a few days to become accustom
to the arrangement. Don't be surprised if at first you find one or two
cradled between the tubes. They can easily be picked up and freed. Some
seem to want to look through one opening and try to enter the loft through
the next.
I haven't tried this but is should work well. A separator made of 1/4"
plywood instead of the bent tubing.
In the trap frame 1/4" slots would be made instead of drilling the holes.
Then the separators glued in place. The 3-1/2" and 10" dimensions are what
works for my application. Yours could require something different.
The end and front view of the trap it would look something like this. The
idea is that if the birds can not touch with their feet before closing
their wings to land they will not have the forward inertia to exit through
the trap. The seperators prevent them from setting their feet.
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