perches

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Dec 9, 2009
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hi guy;s i have only had my bird since sun so lot;s of thing's to find
out ;i read somewere that they need lot;s of toy;s so that got me..

thinking how many perche;s should they have in gaged at present..
mine has got 3 large 1;s and i was thinking should i put a couple of

little 1;s in as well
thank;s :green2:
 

Beatriz Cazeneuve

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Parrots don't really need a whole lot of perches because they also use the bars but what needs to concern you is what kind of perch you are using because the common dowel ones that cages bring are very bad for them so you will need to change them asap for good ones. The 'good' ones need to be in a variety of textures, shapes and diameters (but I do not recommend the sandy ones).
 

justwingingit

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Macaws: Hyacinth, B&G's, Greenwings, Scarlets, Blue Throated. Afr Grey, Cuban Amazon, Caiques, et al
Hi there. Generally I recommend that birds have three perches in their cage of different sizes and dimensions. We wear different shoes and by having different perches in the cages, they can exercise their feet. I love the natural wood with multiple branches especially because they can chew on the wood and get more of the feel of the wild. As far as toys go, I also recommend three different types of toys: destructible, such as soft wood that gives them almost instant gratification; more intricate, where they play with it for a while and then come back to it later; and an indestructible toy such as an acrylic or hard plastic that will last a long time. Remember, toys should be checked often for safety and rotated to keep boredom at bay. Also, have some baby toys or foot toys on hand that you and your bird can play with during your one-on-one bonding time. Good luck and keep us posted.:blue:
 
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Parrots don't really need a whole lot of perches because they also use the bars but what needs to concern you is what kind of perch you are using because the common dowel ones that cages bring are very bad for them so you will need to change them asap for good ones. The 'good' ones need to be in a variety of textures, shapes and diameters (but I do not recommend the sandy ones).

thanks for answer;s guy;s brill

could you explain to me why the dowel 1s are bad for them pls

thanks :blue2:
 

Beatriz Cazeneuve

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Dec 10, 2009
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Poconos, Pa, USA
Parrots don't really need a whole lot of perches because they also use the bars but what needs to concern you is what kind of perch you are using because the common dowel ones that cages bring are very bad for them so you will need to change them asap for good ones. The 'good' ones need to be in a variety of textures, shapes and diameters (but I do not recommend the sandy ones).

thanks for answer;s guy;s brill

could you explain to me why the dowel 1s are bad for them pls

thanks :blue2:

Because they have no texture or give, they are completely straight and are of an uniform diameter.

Even diameter: when they perch on them, they are ALWAYS putting pressure on the exact same points on their soles which end up causing sores on the bottom of their feet that, if not taken care of, can end up in bumble foot.

No texture and straightness (is there such a word?): with dowels, they are also ALWAYS using the same muscles instead of different ones and that can end up in deformation of toes, claws and foot (I took in a thirty year old zon with deformed feet because of this). Branches in nature are not even and smooth, they have bark, little branches growing off them and are never perfectly straight so they need to make their toes, feet and leg muscles move in different directions to compensate for this and achieve an upright position something that won't happen perching on a dowel.

No give: in nature, birds perch on different size branches and, while large branches don't bounce when they alight on them, the little ones do and they always use the little ones more than they do the large ones because they can wrap their toes around them which is more comfortable and safer for them. When a perch has no give (the bouncing up and down when weight is put on it), it gives a jolt (high impact) to the bones and joints of the toes, feet and legs (like when you jump down on concrete versus when you jump down on a trampolin) which, in time, causes deterioration of the cartilage and bones and early arthritis.
 

Auggie's Dad

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Auggie: Dusky Conure
This sounds like a great reason to have MORE than dowel perches, this is not a reason to not have dowels.

The cage bars are strait and uniform, so is the floor and counters/desks they often walk on.
 

antoinette

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Jul 6, 2009
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Sunny South Africa !!!
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African "Grey"
"Mishka"
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7 Years old
justwingingit is so correct.... we wear different shoes everyday.....
I believe in a few different perches, and the sizes of them.
The more toys the merrier. Remember to rotate the toys around, they then think they have new toys, making sure that they are "safe" toys.
Do not go out and buy to many toys, so much is in your home.
EG: Collect plastic bottle tops, drill a hole thru them, then thread a chain thru all, then connect it from one end of the cage to the other. My AG Mishka loves the tops and walks and swings on the chain.
Let us know how it goes.
Take care
 

dakisgirls

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Sep 10, 2009
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Parrots
I have a blue and gold macaw along with an indian ringneck parakeet.
get lots of natural wood, and at least 1 concrete, not the sandy ones!
 

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