Talk Cockatiels Forum banner

What sort of perches?

1.1K views 4 replies 3 participants last post by  GL22  
#1 ·
H...Sam has round wooden perches in his cage but I did buy a flat manzanita for him but when I went to vet recently vet thought one of his feet looked just a little sore, so I took out the flat manzanita perch and put the wooden ones in. He also had a edible rough one to keep his nails in order which I took out in case that was the one that made his feet sore.
He did seem to like the flat one he sat on it most of the time. He also sits on a multicoloured rope type spring that hangs from top of cage to bottom and does sit on wooden ones. I want him to be very comfy as he is old.
Which perches are best for him.
Thanks GL22
 
#3 ·
Hi Roxy yes the wood round ones are different sizes. He went to a different vet when we first found him to make sure he was ok, he was, it was the 1st vet that said to get the flat wooden perches and he had them in cage for 4 years. New vet said they were ok but the edible one would make his feet sore. We took the flat ones out in case it he was sitting in his poo at night and then drying on him and thus maybe giving him a mucky bum. His pooey bum seems to be getting better on the meds (Samylin) only had to give a little wash once this week. He would always choose the flat perch to sit and sleep on, on the round one he seems to keep correcting his balance. Are the flat ones good or bad for him?
Thanks GL22
 
#4 · (Edited)
A few things you might like to consider about plain doweling perches.

Many cockatiel owners do not realise that their little feathered friends natural environment contains perches (branches) of many different sizes, and textures (different tress different barks and different hardness of the timber. The type perch does not make a lot of difference to we humans but it sure does to the parrot family.

The birds don't just perch, they sleep,preen and eat from perches.

The birds chew the perches and other materials to keep their beak growth in check. While round dowel perches certainly serve a single purpose,they do not offer the other advantages of a natural perch. It is not good for a birds feet to have with the same diameter perches through out a cage.

If you observe birds like I have you will notice that foot problems derive from the perching on the same shape diameter and thickness perch for extended periods. The abrasive nature of a natural branch aids in keeping their feet free from fecal matter..,wears it off and prevents infection.

Yes it requires some research and effort but small branches - from "safe" tress can be installed. You will eventually notice the bird tear off the branch bark.

In short, the type, varying size, and texture of the perch goes a long way in keeping the bird healthy.

oz