FAke sticks and perches are bad for birds/finches

[Fraza]

lovezebs that rope one does look good mine aren’t as good as that at the moment I don’t buy much more for my cages because I only use it to seperate pairs or to quarantine new birds

[Fraza]

Susannah really no way that’s so strange because when mine used to get messy I would rip them apart and give it them for nesting material on my old photos you can see some whole nests built out of them

[Fraza]

MariusStegmann oh yeh it’s strange that u have said this haha because ginge was my only one with long nails and she used to be in the cage until she was moved to aviary since then I’ve had none with long nails

[Fraza]

Sally yeh I agree the best are from the wild haha that is where most of the finches are from the wild hahahah it’s easy aswell to walk out into a field and snap a branch

[Icearstorm]

Fraza and Sally

I'm not sure if it's the same with finches, but I've heard that birds of prey can also get bumblefoot from standing on slick perches. I guess it's similar to when one uses a tool with a smooth handle and gets blisters from the tool slipping around in their hands.

[Fraza]

Icearstorm yeh that’s a well good example you can imagine it this way u think cages shud just come with perches deisgned identical to sticks but guess that would cost to much

And I’m not sure either I don’t realy know much about what problems it causes just know it isn’t good for them so made this little thread for new memebers

[Sally]

Fraza and Sally

I'm not sure if it's the same with finches, but I've heard that birds of prey can also get bumblefoot from standing on slick perches. I guess it's similar to when one uses a tool with a smooth handle and gets blisters from the tool slipping around in their hands.

I think that could happen with finches too. In the wild, they are flying from branch to grass stalk to whatever they can hold onto, so they get lots of exercise for their feet. Cage makers rarely put a lot of thought into making proper cages for finches. You find these tiny cages that I would consider travel/temporary holding cages advertised as perfect for finches--tiny birds/tiny cages, or so they think.

[Fraza]

Sally yeh but in fact the smaller ones need the more exercise because they are use to flying around a lot

[Flight Feathers]

I think it's horrible to keep birds in small cages!! I only use small cages for carry cages, sick cages, or if I absolutely have to seperate some birds.

[Flight Feathers]

I think it's horrible to keep birds in small cages!! I only use small cages for carry cages, sick cages, or if I absolutely have to seperate some birds.

I don't like to leave them in a small cage for very long tho

[Sheather]

Dowel perches are really quite fine to use. If dowels are used, just provide three diameters (half inch, three quarter inch and one inch), and your birds won't suffer any foot issues.

I usually use a combination of dowels (including dowel ladders and swings), rope perches and sticks from the backyard in a cage at any time and rearrange frequently.

Plastic perches don't trim claws to any degree and don't provide much traction, but can be used in conjunction with wooden perches. I would have thought birds didn't like them, but my canaries usually prefer roosting on the plastic over wood given an option.

[Fraza]

Sheather yeh that’s strange I guess if they are use to them they are fine I just thought they would also cause strain on road aswell as foot issues but guess some aren’t bad then

[MisterGribs]

I have weird, bumpy perches in my cage, one of those rope perches, and a few sizes of round perches. I would like to bring in some branches, there's an awful lot of good, non rotten ones laying around from the storm, but how does one sanitize a branch? The wild passerines around here have feather mites. I suspect it's the sparrows, lol. Dirty birdies.

[Fraza]

MisterGribs eww those dirty sparrows need a bath aha and I’m not quite sure my dads a set builder for tv shows etc so I get fake branches of him and I bought a stack of real branches of the market then I snapped some trees whikst I was on a walk I never even thought hJ about sanitize them

[Flight Feathers]

For my branches, I just make sure they are safe for birds (which is why I use pitisporum) mainly because I have larger birds in both aviaires that are capable of chewing and I don't want them chewing anything that could potentially harm them!