Cross-cage perch (FYI)

Noodles had a dowel perch in her cage (it came with the cage) and for a long time, I have been looking for a more natural/irregularly-shaped, cross-cage replacement. I knew that a smooth perch like the one she had could cause bumble-foot, but it wasn't until recently that I found anything long enough to replace it. She is very weird about perches, so I couldn't do anything too extreme....

About a week ago, I ordered a Nu-Perch from The Parrot Wizard (https://parrotwizard.com/Custom_Perch/) and I am very pleased! It arrived yesterday and it fits perfectly! I also was really happy with their customer-service (I emailed because I didn't know what size to get and he got back to me on a Saturday right away-- plus, he was even able to customize the perch diameter so that it was somewhere between a medium and large---even though the website only lists: small 3/4", medium 1", large 1-1/4", XL 2")

It is very sturdy and the texture will be much healthier for Noodles. Another bonus-- the website emphasizes the fact that these are dishwasher safe!

When I put it in her cage, Noodles was hesitant at first, but she stepped on within a few hours and she has taken to it completely as of this afternoon!

Due to its size, the perch wasn't cheap, but it was a worthwhile investment, as bumble-foot is no joke! Smaller customized-perches cost a lot less---also, he advised me that 2 perches could be butted up against each other (the cheaper option). Nevertheless, I went with the full length customized perch, as she is a creature of habit....Shipping included, it was $48, but again, it was large...I am very happy with it and so is Noodles!

I just wanted to share.

I didn’t know these came in custom lengths for cages. I have had these perches on my tall T-stands for years and the birds love them. I will have to order a couple for inside the cages because they really do hold up well and are easy to clean. Bindi is a terrible chewer on rope perches and I have not been able to find a custom long wood perch that isn’t a dowel (so she has a variety of branches but nothing running the width of her cage). Thanks for this - I would never have seen it!

Jen5200 said:

I didn’t know these came in custom lengths for cages. Thanks for this - I would never have seen it!

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I wonder how long this has been an option as well! I have Googled custom perches for ages (finding nothing aside from dowels or products from European companies that didn't ship to the US). The only reason I found this was because I went to the actual website and I happened to see that (among other standard perches) the customized perch was an option...no clue how long it has been there, but it didn't pop up in Google searches.

PS: When you measure, just measure interior bars. He will account for the hardware, so don't include that in your length. The wood part will be exactly the length that you request.

Just so you know, they are pretty easy and cheap to make yourself if tools are available. Hardwood dowel and any kind of rotary grinder or sander or belt sander, either hand held or stationary.

bill_e said:

Just so you know, they are pretty easy and cheap to make yourself if tools are available. Hardwood dowel and any kind of rotary grinder or sander or belt sander, either hand held or stationary.

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I figured as much, but I don't have those tools, and finding appropriate wood that hasn't been treated with chemicals/pressure-blasting etc is a challenge at my hardware stores. Thanks though!

That’s cool to be able to get custom sized perches! Might have ordered one of those had I known about it a few months ago. Rope perches are now all crap quality it seems and hardly anywhere sells long perches or much in the way of perches for larger parrots either.

I had such a hard time when the cross cage rope perch Kiwi had became too gross and just couldn’t be cleaned any longer (lasted almost 10 years!). I ended up finding the deal of the century at the local bird store- a 31” exotic wood perch that’s over 8” diameter for $20 (it was at the very bottom of the perch pile and very dusty, I think it had been there for years lol). Kiwis cage is 32” so I used some acrylic disks I had to fill in the gap. He seems to like it.

Just made my own for frankies cage. Left the other 2 dowel perches in as he usually on the dragonwood perch I cut for him as no one that would fit a cage that large available. It easy enough to do it yourself. Now the dowel perches I left in is a different size diameter. May take it to the sander and grinder one of these days to it and make it uneven and rough.

Nice link as may use down the road.

Here one of the reason why I am hesitant to buy custom perches from them. With my U2's they destroy them in a couple of days, even with wood toys in the cage. Only take them a few minutes in the morning as they are usually not in cage during the day.

I just put this in a day ago. I literally have to keep a drawer of them to keep up with them and get costly.



Cooper already shredding it, lucky I was able to get a picture as he usually stop when he see me and pretends he didn't do it. He been copying Baby my female U2 lately as she usually the one that destroys them.





The old perches I custom did for them 6 months to a year ago. They are holding up well.





Then the full length one I did for Frankie a couple months ago.



Tape around it only so I can mark the angle to cut at.

With a bunch of cockatoos, why not just buy 2x2s or 2x4s and just make your own branches? Stainless hardware could be used over and over and I’m sure it would be a lot cheaper with the demolition crew you have!

Kiwibird said:

With a bunch of cockatoos, why not just buy 2x2s or 2x4s and just make your own branches? Stainless hardware could be used over and over and I’m sure it would be a lot cheaper with the demolition crew you have!

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Yep they love wood. I stick wood blocks in cage I cut hank it on stainless steel hardware and let them have at it.

ParrotGenie said:

Kiwibird said:

With a bunch of cockatoos, why not just buy 2x2s or 2x4s and just make your own branches? Stainless hardware could be used over and over and I’m sure it would be a lot cheaper with the demolition crew you have!

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Yep they love wood. I stick wood blocks in cage I cut hank it on stainless steel hardware and let them have at it.

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My issue is that hardware store lumber isn't really safe, and "wild branches" are a giant pain due to the fact that they have to be baked and I have to know the tree-type/chemical /pesticide history.

My Too is super weird about sticks and she HATES them...So, I needed a fairly traditional looking perch that filled the exact same space as her old one, but with better texture -That is why this works for me. I will say, while she hasn't chewed it much, there are many puncture marks all over from her claws lol.

It works for her better than anything natural I could have found, so I am just happy I found SOMETHING lol!

noodles123 said:

My issue is that hardware store lumber isn't really safe, and "wild branches" are a giant pain due to the fact that they have to be baked and I have to know the tree-type/chemical /pesticide history

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This has been my concern too. But Cairo doesn't really chew his perches - he just wipes his beak. So do you think it might be safe to go with hardware store lumber if he's not a perch chewer?

charmedbyekkie said:

noodles123 said:

My issue is that hardware store lumber isn't really safe, and "wild branches" are a giant pain due to the fact that they have to be baked and I have to know the tree-type/chemical /pesticide history

Click to expand...

This has been my concern too. But Cairo doesn't really chew his perches - he just wipes his beak. So do you think it might be safe to go with hardware store lumber if he's not a perch chewer?

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If you buy clean untreated lumber from a hardware store it will be safe to use. Look up for safe wood types but Kiln dried fir 2x4's are safe as an example or for something harder ash, maple etc. You can get hardwood dowels that are safe and shape them or use as is.

Of course nothing is 100% guaranteed to be safe as you don't know what may have come in contact with the wood....no matter whether you buy hardware store wood or Bird Store wood...it all comes from the same place, gets cut by the same sawmill which squirts a lubricating solution on the blades, gets stored in the same warehouses, gets transported on the same trucks, gets further processed into something else and then gets sold to us..

Seems like I always give plugs for Walmart, but since I am a bird man, cheep, cheep! No, not bird food! Selection of perches is great!
https://www.walmart.com/ip/2-Pack-W...or-Cockatiels-Parakeets-Caged-Birds/370577096
https://www.walmart.com/browse/5440...product_type:Bird+Perches#searchProductResult

FYI, the stores have a core stock, but from that point on, each store differs in what they carry! If the manager is into birds, you will see a selection 3x the size of the previous sore!

From my experience, don’t use their store app! It thinks it is smarter than you!