Hummingbird and Butterfly Gardening: A stranger came to visit, 1 by Sheila_FW

Sheila_FW wrote:
Fly, you need to release them after their wings have fully hardened. Just unzip your cage and give them a minute and they will take off. One thing, don't disturb them as long as they are still, but when they start fluttering it is time. They are ready within an hour after emerging. If they fall or are disturbed prematurely the wings will harden distorted and they won't be able to fly. In which case I usually pop them in the freezer or kill them quickly, rather than see them suffer. This Monarch had a crimpled wing on one side, not a good picture but you can see what I am saying.