Has anyone tried making a perch that helps long toenails?

[Cece4]

Like those expensive perches?

I was just wondering how a dowel covered with plaster of paris mixed with sand would work?
Maybe add some vegetable dye to make it pretty?

[Monica]

There's the grip tape that they use on boats to make your footing more stable... I've heard of people using those on perches.... I actually don't know what it is, but it gives you an idea... and I saw two PVC playstands with this stuff at my local bird store... I don't really know if it helps with the nails or not (I wouldn't assume so....)

[guest1717171]

you can also put grip tape for skateboards on there
its pretty rough

[mmr]

I saw on here how to make a concrete one. You take pvc pipe size depends on your fid's foot size. Then take a dremel or something that you can cut the pive long ways. Mask tape one end off. Then mix concrete and sand mixture. Fill tube up. Get a carrage bolt and insert "flat" end into the concrete while still wet. Let concrete set up (over 24 hours to 48 hours). Then take your dremel and cut long ways again to remove pvc pipe. Then get your washer and wing nut to hook onto the cage. You can also take your dremel and roughen the surface a little more if you wish!

[guest1717171]

hey thats a good idea
wonder if you need to stick something in the middle of the concrete to reinforce it...

[mmr]

Originally Posted by geekasaurus

hey thats a good idea
wonder if you need to stick something in the middle of the concrete to reinforce it...

No stick needed. You just need to make sure you put the bolt in far enough to hold the birds weight without breaking the cement!

[xafsmom]

I've always been leary of perches that are meant to hone down nails by way of an abrasive surface. I'd worry about the foot pad. Natural perches that aren't the rock hard manzanita work for me, they can grip it and it roughs the tip enough.

[Cece4]

Those are great ideas.I never would have thought of the skateboard or boat tape.
I like the concrete idea but sounds complicated (I dont have a working dremel right now).

I just want to give the birdies the opportunity to stand on a different kind of perch with the bonus of nail trimming.I mostly use rope perches and branches..

[kalani]

I use "Skateboard Grip." It works GREAT! It also has a self-adhesive.

[ThreeX]

Originally Posted by xafsmom

I've always been leary of perches that are meant to hone down nails by way of an abrasive surface. I'd worry about the foot pad. Natural perches that aren't the rock hard manzanita work for me, they can grip it and it roughs the tip enough.

+1 on that. After all it isn't the foot that's supposed to be honed.
A natural branch, bark intact with a diameter so large that the front and rear claws go about halfways round beats any man-made contraption IMO.