How can I make my parrot cage natural?

[SimplyBirdLover]

Hello everyone! Ive been seeing some very natural looking parrot cage setups online and I really want to make my parrots cages mor natural. I have been doing some research to find out if it is really worth all the time and effort that it is going to take and I’ve been finding some mixed opinions. Some say that natural is best because it is very enriching for birds and others say that it isn’t a good idea. I think that if I were a bird I’d rather have something more natural rather than artificial. So, after thinking about it for a little while I’ve decided to try to make my cages more natural looking/feeling for my birds. I need some suggestions on some really nice natural perches and toys if possible. I have also seen people putting plants in their birds cages. Some people use fake ones and other people use real ones. I was wandering if you guys would be able to give me your opinion on if real plants would be better or not. I have been wanting to change up my birds cages for a while now and I feel like this would be a nice way to do it! Please let me know your opinions on this idea!

 

[IndySE]

Natural is a lot harder to maintain. They're often quickly destroyed and more difficult to clean than plastics.

Once I gave my bird, a green cheek conure, a basil plant in her cage. The thing lasted all of 30 minutes before she ripped it to pieces. Maybe it would work better with finches, or larger potted plants, but birds are destructive and don't hesitate to unleash their beak strength.

If you have any trees on your property that are bird-safe and free of pesticides, taking a few clippings would be a fun idea. You may want to clean them (using a dishwasher, an oven, or soaking in a dilute bleach solution followed by a few rounds of clean water are what most people do). This can unfortunately destroy the leaves. Hollowing out a few holes in the branch and hiding treats inside would be a really fun activity for most birds.

Personally, I get toys made out of natural fibers like palm leaves and the like. I avoid too many plastic toys and things made of PVC pipes. It's not 100% natural, but birds do enjoy the bright colors and fun shapes. Going to suppliers (I know of cabirdnerds and mysafebirdstore in the USA) that can give you bulk pieces is a nice way to get ahold of natural toy parts like balsa wood or magnolia pods.

Best of luck !