perch types?

[uncle]

Are there any health reasons to go with Manzanita wood vs. concrete vs. rope perches? Darwin my macaw prefers the Rope perches almost exclusively.

[birdgirl]

I like to use rope and wood perchs more then the concrete ones I just don't trust them

[Mrs.Birdy]

I use rope, manzanita, concrete and regular wood perch.

Here's what I have heard:

The rope may hold bacteria and cause foot sores, etc. I wash mine frequently in a bleach/water solution and thoroughly rinse and dry before replacing.

Manzanita is very good because its different widths and bends are good for exercise and it feels natural.

Concrete is ok for keeping nails and beak trim, but it has been said the abrasive surface can cause foot sores.

Regular wood perch may be too slippery to get a good grip.

.....My birds haven't had any foot problems so far. They seem to like the Manzanita and rope best. Marcel uses the concrete perch for sleeping.

My budgies love the regular wood perch and they don't slip off.
Snickers (tiel) loves all her perches...Manz., rope, concrete with no problems.

[Redstorm1721]

My Keet and tiel have, rope and wood and also plastic ones. They pefere the plastic ones over all. My parrot has the rope and wood she also perfers the wood over all. I guess it depends what they were used to when buying them. I tried to keep their cage the exzact same as when I purchased them. This is what they got used to. Does anyone play a music box or simular to that when putting them to bed? I use a really old music box I had as a child. I do worry it will stop playing after a while. I doubt they have the same tune in the store? I really can't remember the name of the tune it wore off and it isen't something you hear everyday? LOL.

[dlaura]

Mostly our birds have wooden perches. The round ones that go end to end in the cage. Also, the individual ones which only go part way across cage.

We brought home Angel's new cage on Tuesday and all the birds got excited thinking it was for them. Angel was also excited but more cautious then other birds. Our green cheek conure went into it immediately with no problem, and went over to it on his own last night and went in again. He seems very put out that the cage is not for him. Of course, he is absolutely lost inside of it and Einstein looks silly in it.

GAIL:
I never really thought of playing a music box when getting birds ready for bed. Around the holidays the stores have so many more novelty (? spelling) items -such as music boxes you could be almost sure of find one with the same or similar music to the one you have now. Besides, birds like variety and probably won't mind a different tune.

[birdygirl]

Sophie has one big dowel rod perch in cage. She likes it but sleeps on her manzanita branch perch at night. She occasionally uses her manzanita branch perch at the bottom of her cage. She perches on the manzanita one that she sleeps on for naps and relaxing. She hasa concrete perch for the computer.

[JSimko]

Concrete can be good if you only have one perch like that. Manzanita is good, because it is impossible for your bird to chew through and varies in shape and thickness. The wooden perches are not only easy to chew through, but also do not vary in shape or size. So you would need more than one of different sizes.

[birdygirl]

Sophie also has her playgym that has varying sizes of dowel perches. So she spends her time on a whole bunch of different perches. Her fvorites are the bottom rungs of kitchen chairs.

[Mrs.Birdy]

LOL birdygirl....my birds love to hide under our dinette table along the chair rungs, too. Their bird room is next to our dinette and occasionally they get off their cages and run to the table and chairs for refuge.

Sooooo cute.

[birdygirl]

There was a sparrow in our yard during a rainstorm that hid under the chair rungs yesterday. So it isn't just indoor birds.

[jackie]

jake likes manzanita and rope. right now, sam likes carpet and towels. I used to use a music box and nightlight for the birds (they are afrsid of the dark), but now that they sre in my bedroom, i just set the radio for 10 minutes and they aren't afraid as long as they know i'm in the room with them.

[birdygirl]

What music d they like to listen to?

[jackie]

jake lkes pop or something lively and with a beat....sam prefers country or something calm and sootheing

[Redstorm1721]

Jackie that is so cute. I also have to use a night light as mine are afraid of the dark. I have a little routine we go through each night. First I shut off the lights, with the night already on. Then I tell them its nite nite time. before covering them, I wind up the music box and then cover them. They all go right to their perches they sleep on and get ready for bed.Sunni has a perch made of branches ( forgot what type of wood) and Pearl has also the same type of wood. Pretty girl has a plastic one that came with the cage and she sleeps on that. Up top of her cage. They sometimes pull this screaming act that they don't want to go to bed. Just like the kids. So funny.

[Mrs.Birdy]

Redstorm: Your bedtime routine is so precious. Your birds are really just like human kids!!!

I say nite nite and my flock goes back into their cages onto their favorite sleeping perches and wait for their covers.

It's amazing how conditioned birds can be and how they love their routines.

Sometimes, as I walk away from Marcel's cage after covering him, I hear him saying is a soft voice "nite nite" back to me.

[Redstorm1721]

Oh Roseanne how so cute. I do the same, I have to walk away right when I am done covering. If I hang around and talk to them, they all scream and want to play. Their last few minutes to beg if they can stay awak like my kids did. LOL. They are great, I love my flock like you do too. We are good mommys huh?

[Mrs.Birdy]

Yes, we are very very good birdie moms.

[JSimko]

My flock also says nite-nite to me.

[conureguy]

i use wood for pedro its not very good to use concrete. its rough on their feet

[Jenny]

For my birds I use rope, dowel, natural wood, and manzanita. My birds aren't so fond of manzanita as much as the others, I think because it's more slippery. Does anyone use "Sandy Perch"? I've heard that that brand doesn't cause foot sores yet will help with nail trimming since it's not actually concrete I guess. I don't have a problem with concrete unless the bird is spending most of the time on it. Usually my birds go to their cages when it starts getting dark, though not always their own! Many times the budgies decide to sleep in my sharp-tailed conure's cage (he doesn't mind at all), or my green-cheeked conure decides to sleep in the budgie's cage (they don't mind either). Or, the budgies will sleep in one of the conures' cages. And my lovebird, if given the choice, would sleep in our curtains at the very top! She loves it there. Anyway, at night if my green-cheek Kirby is in bed with the cover over his cage and then I get into bed right by him, he'll crawl down out of his tent and peek out from under the cage cover, look at me, and start saying "Hi Kirby, Hi Kirby!" in the sweetest, quietest little voice, until I of course let him out to "snuggle" for a few minutes! He loves playing under the covers with me at night, especially "peek-a-boo". Sometimes at night he gets an urge to play, so will get his ball out from his "toy box" and will sit on a perch rattling it around in the dark! He usually does that after he thinks I'm asleep, though. :)

[Mrs.Birdy]

Jenny: Kirby sounds absolutely darling....soooo cute.

Conureguy: What type of bird do you currently have? I don't recall reading about your bird/birds.

Talk to you soon.:)

[parrotboy]

Have you guys ever heard of sand perches they are the BEST kind of perches ive seen you can get!! also natural perches are brilliant! you can use any fruit trees as they are safe for the bird to eat! i mainly use apple branches! i just cut loads down make a few perches out of the straight parts and put the rest in th aviary for the lovebirds to shred it!!

[Jenny]

No, I've never heard of sand perches here. I agree with you about natural perches being great. They are chewable, nutritious, help keep nails trimmed, and are different textures and widths. We have a large fruit orchard, so whenever my dad prunes them I gather up lots of branches for perches. I think cherry is the only fruit tree that the wood is bad for birds. Does anyone know of others? I usually use apple, peach, or pear.