FAke sticks and perches are bad for birds/finches

[Fraza]

So I’ve read and been told a numerous of times that fake perches are bad for birds and thought I would just right a post to let people know and why.

So they are bad because they are a different shapes to what the birds feet are naturally shaped and the way they grip the fake ones isn’t good as there toes aren’t ament to go into this shape they should bend at different bumpy parts like a real branch but instead they all have to bend round or all have to stick straight out

Therefore your birds would be happier with real branches so snap some out of a tree and stick them in cage

I have round sticks in my cage and this isn’t good either so I have only one of these now and rest are real branches

Example here’s a not good one because the feet get stuck all in one position http://www.ebay.co.uk/bhp/wood-bird-perch

This is good though https://image.shutterstock.com/z/stock- ... 536234.jpg

[Flight Feathers]

I do use round perches, but I always make sure there is branches too. The round perches I use are either broom sticks or bamboo sticks.

[Fraza]

Flight Featherssame ive got one round perch in my cage because I’m struggling to find one the right size so it isn’t stickpins out the side and also so it stays still haha

Eventually I’ll get all the cage full of real branches my aviary is full of real branches I found a massive stack on a market for sale for £5 got about 15 branches length about 1m

[Flight Feathers]

These are the perches I use for my birds in my parrot aviairy. Variety is good. There is a branch on the roof too but you can't see it in the pic.

[Flight Feathers]

Flight Featherssame ive got one round perch in my cage because I’m struggling to find one the right size so it isn’t stickpins out the side and also so it stays still haha

Eventually I’ll get all the cage full of real branches my aviary is full of real branches I found a massive stack on a market for sale for £5 got about 15 branches length about 1m

Oh wow, I have to cut branches off our trees! Which is why I do not have very many branches.

[Flight Feathers]

Also birds like picnic tables, so if you have the space put a picnic table in your aviairy! My birds love their picnic table.

[Fraza]

Flight Feathers yeh that sounds good you know about perches anyway I’ge noticed few new memebers so hopefully they will see his and because at the moment they will be having there finch buzz they might get some

[Flight Feathers]

Flight Feathers yeh that sounds good you know about perches anyway I’ge noticed few new memebers so hopefully they will see his and because at the moment they will be having there finch buzz they might get some

Yeah definitely a good idea to start a thread like this! I feel sorry for the poor birds that have to live with plastic or dowel perches their whole life. Variety is always best for birds feet. Another good thing apparently is rope perches, have you tried them?

[Fraza]

Flight Feathers yeh in the indoor but of aviary it’s all ropes because it’s easier to move them around in the smaller olace I also use them to put infringe of the nests in the cages just before the fledglings so they have a perch to go up to

[lovezebs]

Fraza

Good thread our Frazer.

I think variety is the key here.

Peoole in my area must think I'm a nut, as I am forever dragging home branches both big and small when I'm out on dog walks. In fact I have quite the collection, lol.

[Susannah]

Agree, natural perches are the best option...we are fortunate to have bottlebrush trees in our garden, that I raid often...I also have have been known to frequent areas where gums and other native trees are growing and take home any fallen branches.

On the subject of using rope perches and toys...I have been told and have read, these are extremely dangerous - birds have died from ingesting parts of the rope...on autopsy, the bird's stomachs were impacted by the fibre...removed all of ours into the bin.

[lovezebs]

Susannah

I have used rope perches of this sort, and have never had problems with them. If at some point they become frazzled or unravelled, I replace them.

I find that Finches don't usually chew on them the way some Hoobills do.

[MariusStegmann]

I have noticed that if I use a lot of natural branches, I don't have to trim bird-nails ever. I have not had to trim bird-nails for more than 3 years. I mostly use fruit tree branches in my aviaries.

[Sally]

[quote="Fraza"]
Example here’s a not good one because the feet get stuck all in one position http://www.ebay.co.uk/bhp/wood-bird-perch (/quote)

The perch shown in this link is not totally bad, as it has varying thicknesses and looks similar to what birds find in the wild. The problem I see with this kind of perch is that it is so slick, it doesn't do much good as far as keeping the nails trimmed. This perch would be OK as long as it is not the only kind of perch available. IMO you just can't beat what you can find in the wild, as long as you are sure it hasn't been sprayed with insecticides.

[Fraza]

lovezebs haha I’ve been caught by my neighbours snapping branches of a tree on the front grass haha