Perch dilemma

Williamsong

New member
Nov 19, 2014
152
0
South Beloit, Illinois
Parrots
Yellowsided Green Cheek Conure~ Baby/Blue Front Amazon~ Cookie/Timneh African Grey~ Dezi/Normal Green Cheek Conure~Petri
So we had a bit of an issue with the the skin on the bottoms of cookies feet peeling off some and we were told it might be because his skin is very dry and he is using his cement perch to much... So we have been toweling him and running neosporin into his feet really well so that he can't lick any off, and then running a humidifier in the bird room during the nights. So I think we need to get cookie some new softer perches because his foot bottoms have been getting a little pink in some spots, where the skin has peeled. So I recently bought a $50 dollar heated perch that is also rough and sandy, I would really like to keep the perch because I spent $50 dollars on it and I would like cookie to be able to warm up on it at night, i just need a way to make it a little easier on his feet. And also if anyone knows of any perch types that are soft and easy on the feet that would be a great help too. :green:
 

happy410

Member
Jul 23, 2015
393
3
ALABAMA
Parrots
Happy, DYH Amazon
Tesla, Blue & Gold Macaw
We used sandpaper to smooth our heated perch. It still has a small amount of texture to it but no where as rough as it was.
 

henpecked

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Dec 12, 2010
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Jake YNA 1970,Kia Panama amazon1975, both i removed from nest and left siblings, Forever Home to,Stacie (YN hen),Mickie (RLA male),Blinkie (YNA hen),Kong (Panama hen),Rescue Zons;Nitro,Echo,Rocky,Rub
Can you describe the perches he has now? What diameter , what are they made of, etc. Personally i have more foot issues with soft type perches. Does he have any natural wood perches?
 

JerseyWendy

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Jul 20, 2012
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I completely agree with our Captain (henpecked).

Let me use my B&G as an example: His sleeping perch is a thick rope perch. I have to remove it every other week for several days because he develops 'pink' spots on his feet from it. Once I remove it, and he uses a rather big chunk of dragonwood (with bark) to 'roost' on, the pink spots completely disappear within 2 days. :)

IMO various types of natural hard wood perches with different diameters are the best solution for 'pink' feet and even sharp nails. :)
 

Christinenc2000

New member
Oct 8, 2014
3,320
4
North Carolina
Parrots
Big Bird _ Blue & Gold Macaw
I completely agree with our Captain (henpecked).

Let me use my B&G as an example: His sleeping perch is a thick rope perch. I have to remove it every other week for several days because he develops 'pink' spots on his feet from it. Once I remove it, and he uses a rather big chunk of dragonwood (with bark) to 'roost' on, the pink spots completely disappear within 2 days. :)

IMO various types of natural hard wood perches with different diameters are the best solution for 'pink' feet and even sharp nails. :)

Same here. I have to swap perches around or he will get pink on the bottom.
 

Bundiibird

Active member
Mar 9, 2013
1,157
11
Rockhampton, Qld, Australia
Parrots
Bundiibird - Alex - hatched 31/08/09
& Millie - BFA - hatched 29/10/14 & Willow - CAG - hatched 30/10/19
Thanks for the information Richard, Wendy and Christine. I have noticed Millie has a small pink spot on the bottom of both her feet and was thinking that it was the Cement perch. But she loves to sit on boing and that could be the culprit. I will change out and see what happens. This boing is her roosting spot. :)
 
OP
Williamsong

Williamsong

New member
Nov 19, 2014
152
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South Beloit, Illinois
Parrots
Yellowsided Green Cheek Conure~ Baby/Blue Front Amazon~ Cookie/Timneh African Grey~ Dezi/Normal Green Cheek Conure~Petri
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I think it probably is the rope perch cause that is the only per he he uses most of the time, right now he has one 1" diameter rope perch, one 1 1/2" rope perch, I have another that I took out of his cage cause I thought it was too thick, it is probably a 3 inch diameter, he liked it but I thought it was to smooth and thick that it would just put pressure on the same spots of his feet.
 

henpecked

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Dec 12, 2010
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Jake YNA 1970,Kia Panama amazon1975, both i removed from nest and left siblings, Forever Home to,Stacie (YN hen),Mickie (RLA male),Blinkie (YNA hen),Kong (Panama hen),Rescue Zons;Nitro,Echo,Rocky,Rub
Sounds like you need some good natural perches.
 

mh434

New member
Oct 28, 2014
473
9
BC, Canada
Parrots
Yellow-naped Amazon "Sammy"
Love birds (4)
Green-cheeked Conure "Skittles" - now, sadly gone from my life
Blue-Crowned Conure "Tequila"
African Grey "Reno" - sadly, now gone from my life
My YNA has several perches that he uses, including one cement (to try to keep the talons down a little), rope, wood, etc., of different sizes. He seems to favor one or another of them for a day or two, then changes to a different one for a day or two. This allows him to pick whatever he wants, and whatever makes his feet comfortable. Seems to work fine...
 

MonicaMc

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Sep 12, 2012
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Mitred Conure - Charlie 1994;
Cockatiel - Casey 2001;
Wild Caught ARN - Sylphie 2013
I have heard of some people using coconut oil or red palm oil on the bottom of their feet to help moisten them. It's ok if the birds ingest it, too!


It's possible the dry feet could also be diet related... I've heard that both amazons and african greys benefit from additional vitamin A within their diet.
 

nalini

New member
Jan 18, 2016
8
0
I agree can't beat natural wooden perches. Had some incidents of red patches on my OW amazon from a cement perch. All the others are natural wood, I removed it and he's fine. Loves chewing on the wooden ones too so that's a bonus for him.
 

Mango7218

Banned
Banned
Jan 20, 2016
108
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Ireland,Dublin
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Cockatiels,Plum headed parakeet,African grey
You could try Platform perches and I second on the coconut oil im sure that will work its also great to use on the beak.
 

msdeb

Member
Dec 22, 2013
153
5
texas
Parrots
Charlie the birdie, yellow naped amazon and little bird, a monk parrot , and Polly -yellow crowned amazon
We use natural wood perches from our trees and replace them when Charlie whittles them down to nubs. Polly doesn't chew hers yet but she does clean and rub her beak against them. Her feet are much better since she isn't using dowel rods anymore.
 
OP
Williamsong

Williamsong

New member
Nov 19, 2014
152
0
South Beloit, Illinois
Parrots
Yellowsided Green Cheek Conure~ Baby/Blue Front Amazon~ Cookie/Timneh African Grey~ Dezi/Normal Green Cheek Conure~Petri
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once it warms up outside i will have to go get some good branches from outside, and pick up some hanger bolts, washers, and wing nuts from Menards and make some really nice natural perches.
 

henpecked

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Dec 12, 2010
4,858
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NC/FLA
Parrots
Jake YNA 1970,Kia Panama amazon1975, both i removed from nest and left siblings, Forever Home to,Stacie (YN hen),Mickie (RLA male),Blinkie (YNA hen),Kong (Panama hen),Rescue Zons;Nitro,Echo,Rocky,Rub
Let me know if you need any SS hardware. I have all that stuff in stainless.
 

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