perch advice

[volvobirds]

OK folks, Jasper(B&G) here is getting a new cage on Tues. we are looking at websites and in stores to see what is available in perches for the big guy.

the cage is 40x30x69, just need ideas for some good perches for him. the type he has now are 2 large dowel type and a manzanita branch, but we're interested in what others experiences with other kinds are.

Thanks for any help or tips you can send our way!

[bgmacaw]

We have the cotton rope, wood and a sand perch for each cage. The rope generally runs from the top portion of one side to the bottom portion, they spend a lot of time climbing on it. I don't know if it is due to the sand perch but we have never had to file any toe nails and don't deal with little pin pricks all over our arms.

[Chariclo]

I use many different perches and change them frequently - cholla, rope, and sandy, manzanita, etc. I prefer the sandy perches for a few reasons. Their irregular shapes and widths mostly - better for the feet therapeutically, helps with toe nails too. I also have experimentally tried a magnetic sandy perch for my old zon who suffers from arthritis. Don't know if it's hype advertising or not - but it is actually the perch that he prefers to be on a majority of the time.

I would remove the dowels that come with the cage and cut them up and use them for toys. I think they are boring and not beneficial. Birds need various heights and widths of perches within their space.

Here are a couple of links discussing perch choices...

www.birdsnways.com/wisdom/ww8e.htm
www.upatsix.com/faq/perches.htm

Let us know how you make out.

[cavinandhope]

I have one of those big weird looking perchs that is sandy that almost looks like it twist but it don't. It has those magnets in it. Plus I build my own out of Apple tree limbs. With various sizes for him to get on. He loves the Apple tree perches better cause he can chew on them and I guess it feels natural to him. I go to the bird fairs to get the hardware to make them but I guess you could get it at your local hardware store. Plus I use those comfy perches which he loves it too cause we twist it around in his cage.

[Rue]

...we cut our own poplar/aspen perches...I use washers and screws to attach them securely to the cage...all our birds love the rope perches...I have a SandyPerch table stand as well...

...I use the dowel that comes with the cage in front of the food bowl...so none of mine really perch on it except to eat...

[birdyland]

I have rope and manzanita perches. My vet most recently recommended a whole 2x4 for Tiki's cage. It's one of the best things I've ever done and I can't believe I didn't think of/ find/ do it sooner!!! You know how they're always chewing up the wood dowels??? Well, I just replaced them with 2x4s (untreated wood of course) with the skinny side up/down and she is very much enjoying ripping it to shreads!!!! The vet says that as long as she has the other perches, this perch is also good for her feet as it stretches them yet a different way. She can "eat" her perches to her hearts content, and they are cheap to replace.... an extra toy!

[birdyland]

Originally Posted by Jodi

I know someone that used the 2x4s for a large aviary, they were cheap and easy to replace. She has since stopped using them. I think that there were problems over time with the birds not being able to grip around them, it is more like they have to pinch the wood. My Scarlet had been using them for quite awhile before I got her and she had a habit of sitting on her "heals" on the perches when she first got here. I think the 2x4s caused stress in her legs and that was how she rested them.
I use manzinita, rope, pediperches, and other safe branches.

Wow, that's actually kind of odd. I know you and I have discussed the sitting on the heels thing before as Tiki has had problems with that too.... But the 2x4 seems to make her NOT do that. Tiki has a variety of perches, and only one 2x4, we'll see how it works in the long run. I guess this, as with anything , must be observed and tailored to the individual.

[volvobirds]

we have 3 different perches in Jaspers new cage. a tree branch perch, a calcium perch and one of those concrete like ones. he was all excited when we got the new cage and began putting it together. we told him he was getting a new "house" and he got all excited and started doing the bounce and bob all over the place! he went right into it with no hesitation, started crawling all over and put his claim to it.

he loves his new house.

[The Outlaw]

Dana:

Many breeders have used 2x4s for years. Its easier for larger baby birds to hold on to and of course it is a great chew toy. Its more important to provide a variety of many sizes and textures. I use a 2/4 on playtop cages and inside I use rope, natural limbs, sandy perches and even the original cage dowels. I keep the sandy perch at the highest level which is normally the sleeping perch for most of my guys. That way, it helps to keep their nails dull.

You do need to keep many different sizes of perches available to your birds so that they can stretch and use their feet in all kinds of different ways.

THE OUTLAW

[birdyland]

Originally Posted by The Outlaw

Dana:

Many breeders have used 2x4s for years. Its easier for larger baby birds to hold on to and of course it is a great chew toy. Its more important to provide a variety of many sizes and textures. I use a 2/4 on playtop cages and inside I use rope, natural limbs, sandy perches and even the original cage dowels. I keep the sandy perch at the highest level which is normally the sleeping perch for most of my guys. That way, it helps to keep their nails dull.

You do need to keep many different sizes of perches available to your birds so that they can stretch and use their feet in all kinds of different ways.

THE OUTLAW

Thanks - Like I said she does have a variety...and I always recommend a variety. Tiki has the one 2x4 (soon to be two when she breaks the other dowel that came with the cage). She also has a manzanita perch, two rope perches of different diameter, Dowels on her T stands, and I'm always setting her on the couch, or a chair or bench back, on the ground... etc. I've noticed the only place she doesn't tend to "set on her heels" is that new 2x4. I've had an ongoing battle the last year to keep her "ankles" from getting all pink and cracked up. I fixed the initial problem right away (a rope perch at an angle that she loved to sleep on but it evidently caused pressure points), but once they cracked open, that opened the door to feet problems it seems. I do have to say though, that I've had that 2x4 in there one week and her feet seem to look the best that they have looked in a year.

And Jodi says the 2x4 made feet problems worse. Like I said, just goes to show that we have to observe and learn find the appropriate things for each individual.