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Choosing the Proper Perches for Pet Parrots, Finches, Canaries and Other Birds

Posted by: Frank Indiviglio in General Bird Care June 6, 2008 Comments Off on Choosing the Proper Perches for Pet Parrots, Finches, Canaries and Other Birds 4311 Views

Most commonly kept pet birds will spend the great majority of their time on a perch of some sort. The materials of which your pet’s perches are made, and the width of the perches, are vital considerations when outfitting a cage. Poor choices can rather quickly lead to painful foot injuries, arthritis and muscle atrophy.

The perch most often utilized by your pet, i.e. the one upon which it roosts for the night, should be of a width that allows the bird’s toes to go about ¾ of the way around. A variety of perches of other widths should also be included in the cage, and these should be made of differing materials. Following are some perch characteristics, along with suggested products:

Natural wood perches provide both a variety of grip widths and a chewable surface.

Variable-width perches constructed of a variety of materials will help to maintain foot health and are easily cleaned.
Insite T & U Perches
Treetop Perches

Cement perches are valuable in keeping nails trimmed but should not be used as your pets “main” perch. A good place for these is near the food bowl, so that they are used daily but not exclusively.
Trimmer Perches

Rope and cable perches provide a unique surface upon which to grip and perch and encourage birds to exercise the muscles in their feet (especially if placed at varying slanted angles).
Comfy Perches

 

About Frank Indiviglio

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I believe that I was born with an intense interest in animals, as neither I nor any of my family can recall a time when I was not fascinated by creatures large and small. One might imagine this to be an unfortunate set of circumstances for a person born and raised in the Bronx, but, in actuality, quite the opposite was true. Most importantly, my family encouraged both my interest and the extensive menagerie that sprung from it. My mother and grandmother somehow found ways to cope with the skunks, flying squirrels, octopus, caimans and countless other odd creatures that routinely arrived un-announced at our front door. Assisting in hand-feeding hatchling praying mantises and in eradicating hoards of mosquitoes (I once thought I had discovered “fresh-water brine shrimp” and stocked my tanks with thousands of mosquito larvae!) became second nature to them. My mother went on to become a serious naturalist, and has helped thousands learn about wildlife in her 16 years as a volunteer at the Bronx Zoo. My grandfather actively conspired in my zoo-buildings efforts, regularly appearing with chipmunks, boa constrictors, turtles rescued from the Fulton Fish Market and, especially, unusual marine creatures. It was his passion for seahorses that led me to write a book about them years later. Thank you very much, for a complete biography of my experience click here.
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