Perch sizing question?

I have always followed the advice of varied perch sizes and purchased "medium" and "large" diameter natural, rope and cement perches for Kiwi's cage given his size. Perches in his cage range from about 1.5"-2.5" thick and none are just straight dowel type perches.

Since I got him his new swinging perch, he really seems to want to be on it ALL the time. It has about a 3/4" diameter stainless perch and then the frame is even thinner (which he climbs all over). I didn't think the straight perch was a big deal since he didn't spend *that* much time on his old t-perch (which this replaced, and also had a straight dowel). He's spending maybe 3 or 4 HOURS a day on that thing. It's positioned now so he can climb back and forth from his cage as he pleases, but I can move it so he can't reach it unless I put him on it. Is the thin diameter and non-varied surface ok for his feet? don't want him to hurt his feet!

Also, do you think he likes the way the metal feels maybe? Should I possibly get him a thicker stainless perch for his cage (the same site I bought the stainless swing on sells stainless perches too, in various sizes so maybe one more appropriate for his size bird)?

Close up of his foot on the perch:


And him climbing around on the frame, which is super-thin diameter:

I honestly think it's okay. I think some birds develop foot problems in extreme cases when they are in the cage constantly for years and have one or two same size dowel perches that they can never get away from. Would it be sort of like repetitive motion injury in people maybe... Or carpal tunnel from typing a ton in the same position day after day. Even then I bet not all of those sad cases get foot problems from it. Kiwi? No way. He gets enough variety as it is, and all sorts of physical movement. From an outside perspective, I would just have to say no. I wouldn't worry about it at all.

One thing that did strike me though, is that main perch (3/4") sure looks a bit small for his foot, so I'm surprised he loves it so much!

RavensGryf said:

One thing that did strike me though, is that main perch (3/4") sure looks a bit small for his foot, so I'm surprised he loves it so much!

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That's what struck me as odd. It is a small perch for a big amazon. I know him spending a little time on it isn't an issue, but you would THINK it would hurt his foot after a while. Apparently not. I finished up dishes about 8:45ish last night, came out to put him to bed and he was fast asleep on the swing. Didn't seem to want to go in his cage either. It almost makes me wonder if he lived on something like this at some point... Knowing his past, it wouldn't shock me if he spent some time living on a old-school metal stand or swing like parrots "traditionally" did.

...and that little hook on the top! I've already seen him in enough pics standing there. That looks really uncomfortable, but he really likes it! Makes you wonder with a rehome, what were the details of their previous life.

RavensGryf said:

...and that little hook on the top! I've already seen him in enough pics standing there. That looks really uncomfortable, but he really likes it! Makes you wonder with a rehome, what were the details of their previous life.

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I would love if Kiwi could tell me what his past life was... He is just such a weirdo, and does the strangest things other parrots... don't:20:. When he saw this perch, it was like Christmas came early lol. I really think he must've had something similar. It's kind of an old-school perch design.

And you know how most people have to wrap everything in vet wrap? I've never needed it. His plastic play tree and this metal perch are both pretty slick and he just crawls all over them, hangs upside down off them, spins, swings....no problems! And he just loves that thin metal around the perch because he can close his feet tight and spin. Kiwi has some kind of gecko feet and slight spider-bird complex or something!

It just concerns me that he may not "know whats best" in regards to his health, even if he really likes it. Kind of like he would be thrilled if I placed a block of cheese in his cage, but that wouldn't be a very healthy thing for him...

You could always wrap the metal perch part with some sisal rope to give it some extra thickness and texture.

ORRRRR..... If the perch part is removable, you could replace the metal piece with a wood piece.

getwozzy said:

You could always wrap the metal perch part with some sisal rope to give it some extra thickness and texture.

ORRRRR..... If the perch part is removable, you could replace the metal piece with a wood piece.

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It would be easy enough to replace it, but is it necessary? Will sitting on a perch that size hurt him in any way seeing as he has lot of other perches in his cage of a bigger size more suitable for amazons?

Eh, I think he'll be fine since he has a variety of perch sizes to use. If that were the only size perch he had access to all day, every day then it would cause issues....

Chili has a mulberry branch that's fairly skinny (compared to the "proper" perch diameter for her) that is one of her favorite spots to perch at- she's been using it for a year now and she hasn't had any issues.

From an outside perspective, I would just have to say no. I wouldn't worry about it at all.

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Eh, I think he'll be fine since he has a variety of perch sizes to use. If that were the only size perch he had access to all day, every day then it would cause issues....

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Thanks! This is kind of what I was thinking, but I just wanted to be sure before I allowed this to continue