Rope perches vs natural wood perches

[Missi]

I'm so inqusitive today, aren't I

I am wondering people opinions on the rope comfort perches versus the natural wood/branch perches (not the dowels).

I have my eye on a couple Natural wood perches that have a couple branches to them each. I would have to take out the rope perches because I wouldn't have room for all.

What do you personally think is better for an Ekkie. I have my own opinion but I would love to hear other's!!

[Valo's Moirana]

don't have an ekki, but both our conures have both... i kind of like the rope perches since you can "bend them through the cage". they also like both types of perches... sorry i can't be of much help (if i'd have to choose, i'd rotate... one week rope, other week perch)

[Tullysmom]

I don't have an Ekkie either, but personally I like the natural perches because...well, they're natural. My TAG LOVES the rope perches though. He likes to shred them. So he actually uses them more as a toy. He will sleep on the natural perch though. I don't know, JMO but I think maybe as Tully ages he'll like to sleep on the rope ones more. They seem like they'd be more comfortable on the tootsies. Maybe. Or maybe not. But for now he just likes to destroy them. Sorry. That probably didn't help you much...

[GreetingCardReligion]

I don't have an ekkie either but Schroeder has both kinds of perches and I think they both have their value, especially because variety is good for their little feetsies.

At the moment he seems to prefer his rope perches, probably because their easy for him to grip onto with his baby feet and nice and comfy. They are also neat because, like Moirana said, you can bend them across the cage or into little circles depending on your cage design of the moment.

Natural wood perches are nice to clean beaks on and have variety as well, since it's not going to be the same shape everywhere. He has a really knarly bumpy wood perch that he seems to like better than the more even manzita perches, although it could be because it's placed near the top of the cage.

[corralup]

I second that. Get both Why not. I posted this on another post but here is a picture of my bungee cord with a couple of toys on it.

http://s23.photobucket.com/albums/b3...IMG_0067_2.jpg

I have a mixture of a couple of each... to give my birds a variety... He loves the rope perches when he is active, but prefers wood to kick back on when sleeping and hanging out.

[homebird]

Poor you - no Ekkie owners replying!

We have a Budgie!
We have the rope perch in the cage for the same reasons mentioned. Our budgie also likes a wooden bridge [manufactured with wooden dowel] that really tests his balance.

We made a natural wood gym over the holidays & he loves to hang there all day. He likes to do is imitate a woodpecker & also he 'worries' the rough ends of the branches. He twitters if we fuss with it - because he already thinks of it as his territory!

So i also say mix it up. The rope perches are also fun on the outside of the cage - making the cage more of a gym.

[Buteo]

I've changed the number & position of perches in our Grace's cage a few times in an attempt to make it as easy as possible for her to get around.
Grace has more rope perches than anything else, but as we know, different diameters & materials are important for a bird's good foot health. I tried to keep things as they would be in a real tree; the thinner the perches, the higher they are in the cage. Where ya see Gracie sitting in the first 2 pics is her sleeping roost.


I have 2 other Manzanita branches that I could use, but I settled for just one in her cage. The one I finally decided on had an excellent shape with several natural "depressions" that would act as a craddle for her club foot.
Due to Manzanita's extremely smooth bark however, I had to modify the branch. Grace had a really hard time maintaining a good grip on it with her good foot.
As you can see in pics 1-4, I solved that problem by dragging a handsaw blade down the length of the branch a few times, creating grooves her claws could easily grab.

[Buteo]

In shot 6, ya can see the 2 perches at the food dishes.
I put a shaped concrete perch between the 2 bowls (to facilitate beak cleaning) & set one of the larger diameter rope perches in a semicircle for more comfortable perching & ease of movement.

The last 2 shots show the ladders & the other perch on the outside.
I did have another wood branch perch on the outside up further by the top of the top of the upper ladder. Unfortunately, Max banged against my leg as I was walking by the one time knockin me off balance. I caught the tip of the perch with the front of my arm & shoulder, jamming the cage against the wall & snapping off the perch at the mounting bolt.
*Oh how I laughed - did that ever tickle.
(*Original dialog edited for a general audience. )

[LauraKGN]

Ava likes both also but I think her favorite is her big natural perch. Buteo had a good idea about putting one on the outside.