Hurt parrot feet. Why are stands/cages square tubing ?

427HISS · Oct 9, 2015

We bought Shelby, a very nice, large and expensive cage and a play stand, and now her feet are hurting because of the square tubing that both are made of. Areas are rubbed down to raw skin then heal to callus's. So, I'm going to build at least, a play stand out of pvc pipe.

Why do company's make cages and stands out of square tubing, so this won't happen ! ?
The only thing I can think of is time, which is money, as welding round tubing is harder and slower than square tubing.

Aquila · Oct 9, 2015

I'm not sure what you're talking about, can you provide a picture?

Also, using vet wrap over PVC or any perch can soften it and help with better grip.

GreyNickels · Oct 9, 2015

Our playtop cage is that way, I know what you mean. A cheaper alternative would be to wrap it in cotton rope. That would round it out. Then maybe wrap it in vet tape, to make cleaning easier. You could just replace the vet tape when it gets dirty instead of the rope.

SilverSage · Oct 10, 2015

I'm sorry to hear that your bird is in pain

however, I'm confused as to why she is spending enough time on the frames that her feet are hurt; doesn't she have perches made out of wood?

getwozzy · Oct 10, 2015

Sounds like bumblefoot~ what kind of perches do you have for her??

427HISS · Oct 10, 2015

Her feet aren't affected bad yet,.....I just don't want the sores to turn into infection or cause arthritis later in life. The play stand is all square tubing with two wood perches, both being in areas that she doesn't use. Even the ladders that two food and water bowls are square. Sounds like most birds like to perch on top, and there's not one on the top. Wrapping the stand where she uses it would help. She really loves,.....sliding down from the top down to the eating area ! Like a fire pole !!! lol

The photo of the Cockatoo having a swing, she will not use it one.

I did see a video where you can heat PVC pipe then you can bend it how you want, like over the top loop and down the sides.

SilverSage · Oct 10, 2015

I suggest taking her to a vet. I don't think the square edges should be enough to cause actual sores, there could be an underlying problem

427HISS · Oct 10, 2015

I'm positive it's the square bars, as the sores are at every place the bars meet her feet. You can match them up perfectly.

SilverSage · Oct 10, 2015

I'm suggesting that t here might be something else contributing to the sensitivity of the skin on her feet. Either way, it sounds like it is time for a change in play stand. I hope you are able to help her recover.

427HISS · Oct 10, 2015

I think I hurt more than her feet, but I need to make a change for her. I can touch and rub her feet with no issue's, but just don't want it to get worse. The skin is rubbed off, but no sores yet.

I plan on calling the manufacture asking why they don't use round tubing. It does not make sense that birds feet are made for round tree's, but make stands and cages square.

4dugnlee · Oct 11, 2015

Hmmm...I've seen these play stands before but never realized they had square tubes. I think if you get vetwrap it would be a very easy and cheap fix. I do, however, second getting a vet to look at her to be safe.

427HISS · Oct 11, 2015

It's completely unnatural for birds feet. We do have a annual checkup for her in November, so we planned on the vet checking her feet.

Where is the lowest price on vet wrap, or do local business's like Petco etc. have best prices ?

Any particular brand have the best quality ?

Aquila · Oct 11, 2015

Both places should have vet wrap, it ran me about $6 a roll on sale.

getwozzy · Oct 11, 2015

Go to your local farm/agricultural store--- vet wrap is half the cost there than it is at petco

4dugnlee · Oct 11, 2015

I just ordered some from Ebay for $2.00 a roll with free shipping. It's 4" x 5 yds. I got 5 rolls to re-do my pvc playstand. The brand I got is 3M but there are many different brands. I didn't get the color I wanted, but for that price I couldn't pass it up.

427HISS · Oct 11, 2015

4gugnlee-Great, can you PM me the seller ?

getwoosy- we have two of that type of store, so I'll check them out.

SailBoat · Oct 12, 2015

This type of foot pad damage has been around since the introduction of square tube cage and play stands. It is the same pad damage as undersized dowels cause, only slightly different pad location.

The reason that manufacturers' use square tube is the better (quality) control that square tube provides in repeating bend angles. As noted, the problem arises the longer the parrot sits on the square tube and not on natural tree branches.

Note: Parrots tend to sit at the highest point on a cage or play stand.

Recommendations:
Stop using play stands, which are made from square tube and have all of their highest perching areas made from square tube as seen as part of the provided photo of this Thread. Trash them out, why would you pass this problem on to someone else?

Raps are a short term problem solver since they require on going attention that most (sadly) are not willing to provide.

Stop using dowels provided by the manufacturer. Replace them with natural tree branches of various sizes. An Amazon would sit on 1.5 to 2.5 branches during the day and overnight on the thicker side of the range.

Christinenc2000 · Oct 12, 2015

I wrapped mine with Sisal rope. Works great and just steam it clean when needed

JerseyWendy · Oct 12, 2015

427HISS said:
I'm positive it's the square bars, as the sores are at every place the bars meet her feet. You can match them up perfectly.

IMHO the sores are indeed from the playstand. I had a very similar one when I first got my Hunter (16 years ago), and within under a year she developed sores under her feet. I actually chucked the playstand after that and made one out of natural wood branches. The sores went away fairly quickly and have never returned.

Now I use Java trees, even though my big macs are making it their mission to destroy those MUCH too fast. I won't ever spend that much money on another Java tree again, but will instead make my own from now on. It's truly simple enough.
[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r7DbwcnzF2k"]Hand Fed Baby Blue & Gold Macaw babies for sale - YouTube[/ame]

I have a big pet peeve with anything perfectly round and/or square for our birdie's feet. Of course some things, like my DIY shower perch made of PVC is round and wrapped with vet wrap, but none of my fids sit on there any longer than 10 minutes tops, while they're getting their showers.

Blancaej · Oct 12, 2015

Thanks to Wendy sharing that video in her post before, I've made these! They are great and work well!

Hurt parrot feet. Why are stands/cages square tubing ?

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