FINCHforum

Just wondering.....

What range diameter perches are suitable for Gouldians?

Anyone tried the Mulberry tree perches? I don't like the Manzanita perches. My birds seem to have hard time having a good grip on it.

The best perches are just trimmings from shrubs and trees in your yard, as long as they haven't been sprayed with chemicals. These trimmings will vary in thickness, which is good exercise for the feet. I usually try to get a piece that is just thick enough at one end to fit snugly through the bars of the cage, tapering down to the other end. Most fruit trees are good--I have used those, or crape myrtles, or photinias, or hackberry, or cherry laurel--all kinds. Don't use pine, because of the sticky sap.

I don't feel comfortable taking branches from outdoors as I don't know if its been sprayed or if it has any other type of pollution ...

I feel safer getting from the pet store.

You take your branches from your yard?

Sandra, all my perches are from outside, grape vines and fruit trees from my yard

Sandra wrote:I don't feel comfortable taking branches from outdoors as I don't know if its been sprayed or if it has any other type of pollution ...

I feel safer getting from the pet store.

You take your branches from your yard?

Sandra, all my perches are from the outdoors too.
I try to use entire branches, that have multiple "perches" on them, so when the birds fly and land on them, they offer a natural resistance similar to what they would find in the wild. So the perches I put in look like little trees. The birds seem to really like them!

AND it's cheaper

I'll post a picture if I find one tomorrow!

I get mine from ravines and areas that don't have a lot of contact with regular pollution. I have read on the forum that some members wash them as well before the birds use them.

most of my perches are from outside too all in the case of my finches They get a regular swap from bottlebrush to lemon tree every time the perch gets dried up

For my Budgie, I've got two rope perches, a pedicure perch and a natural perch She really likes the set up, and any other way wouldn't let her be able to fly

If you gather branches from sources outside your yard, such as a nearby forest, park, etc., you can just scrub them well, spray them with a 10% bleach solution, rinse well, and air dry. When the perches get dirty, you can either scrub them or just toss and replace.

Sandra,
Here's a picture of my cage when I was building it and trying to arrange the branches in there. My gouldians really really like the thin almost non-existant branches that sway when they land on them. At night they perch up on the higher up and sturdier branches.
I had originally put in branches with leaves still on them, but I found that once the leaves try out and the birds pick at them, it makes a huge mess for me!
I have a friend who has placed a real mini tree/plant in her cage and her birds really like it. Only downside is you have to water it...at my house plants only come to die so I went for the fake greenery option!
Good luck experimenting!

That is really pretty. I see your cage is on the tall side ... cage I got is on the long side, they can still fly tho

Sandra wrote:That is really pretty. I see your cage is on the tall side ... cage I got is on the long side, they can still fly tho

Thank you I'm pretty proud of myself

They can still fly ok in there... they use about 3/4 of it and ignore the bottom 1/4.
I know the rule is to go wider than taller, but we had to find a middle ground and compromise. This way I'm happy, the birds seem happy and most importantly, the cage looks like a piece of furniture and my hubby is happy

As long as they can fly in the cage is what is important. Mine is about 28" long X 21" high and sometimes it seems like they'd want to fly higher.

I think with My Vision, I can add up height. I just need to buy sides and 4 clips and it will be probably go up to 34" Humm, just now sure how I'd secure extention with what I already have.

I use branches from outside as well. I just brush off any loose bits and soak them in a weak bleach solution. Then let them thoroughly air dry before using in the cage. Attach with stainless steel washers and screws. They love them! I actually have a mix of perches (branches, pumice, dowels, plastic) and they definitely prefer the natural branches over all others.

How weak of a bleach solution do you use?

I use 10%.

I don't bleach the branches I cut from my own yard. No one sprays that much insecticide anyway (not even allowed any more - everything must be "au naturale"). Some great tree species are Magnolia, Corkscrew Hazel, Maple - anything that isn't overly sappy (like Pine). And if you can put one or more branches in the cage in such a way that it swings when they land on it - all the better!