Good Perches for Pet Parrots
Cage Birds Perch for Comfort, Exercise, and Entertainment
The first thing most people buy for a pet parrot is a cage, but this will only keep the bird contained and safe from outside dangers. In the wild, birds move about and spend a lot of time foraging for food. Their activities keep them busy and provide natural wear for beaks and toenails. In captivity, food is provided and birds have less incentive to fly, even if they have the space—to keep a pet bird happy and healthy, provide lots of comfortable places to perch and things to climb around on.
Perches for Pet Parrots
Parrots need comfortable safe perches inside and outside the cage. Commercial perches are available, and they can also be handmade from natural materials. The right thickness depends on the size of the bird and varies from one to five centimeters (3/8 inch to 2 inches). Try to provide perches with varying diameter that does not allow the bird’s front and back toes to meet or cross over each other—having the foot wrap around about two thirds of the perch is ideal. There are other general things to keep in mind when choosing perches for pet parrots.
Do:
- Choose perches made from safe materials—untreated nontoxic wood, cotton rope, cement, mineral, nontoxic plastic. Natural wood branches are better than smooth dowels.
- Provide at least one perch for the bird to groom and trim its beak and toenails on (cement, mineral).
- Provide several different perches inside the cage at various levels. Parrots like to climb from one perch to another, which provides good exercise. Even a chain hanging vertically provides something to cling to and climb on.
- Try to provide a ladder or tree-like perch system outside the cage for the bird to climb around on.
- Provide safe perches outside the cage where the bird can watch what's going on around it.
- Inspect perches regularly and replace them when they become worn or damaged. Frayed ends of rope can wrap around a bird’s toes.
Don’t:
- Use perches made from toxic wood, chemically treated leather, toxic dyes, synthetic rope, or anything that may contain lead or zinc.
- Place perches directly above one another or above food and water containers (to avoid having these things soiled by droppings).
- Put so many perches in the cage that the bird is unable to fly.
- Introduce a handmade wooden perch without making sure that it is free of insects, molds, wild bird diseases etc. (sterilize by baking, boiling, or soaking in disinfectant).
You don't have to spend a lot of money providing perches for your pet bird. Visit pet stores and internet sites that sell perches to get some ideas, then gather natural materials and design your own, keeping in mind the guidelines given above.
Sources:
"Birds: Perches for Caged Birds" PetEducation.com
Parrots as a New Pet. Wentworth, William. Neptune NJ: T. F. H. Publications, 1992.
The Grey Parrot. De Grahl, Wolfgang. Neptune NJ: T. F. H. Publications, 1987.
The New Parrot Handbook. Lantermann, Werner. Woodbury: Barron’s, 1986.
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