Is this a toe injury?

[wildbird]

The small stones are too large for any bird to eat. The ones in the reptile food dish are about 1 inch by 1 inch and I got some from a small bag bought from Lowes that is usually used in plant pots or for landscape areas. They sell bags or river rock and smaller stone too. I also use the lava rock from Lowes bought in small bags. The pieces are about 2 inches and vary in size. Those I place around the reptile feeding dish so they walk on it. Lava is rough and helps keep the nails trim and they wipe their beak on it too, so it keeps the beak trim. A reptile dish is shallow and wide with a little bit of various seed in it. They also have several regular seed cups to choose from, but do enjoy looking through the stones. With the size I have, there is no chance they can swallow any of these stones. Before I put them in I wash them with hot water and white vinegar, rinse well and set in sun to dry.

[Derk]

GouldieFledge
You can also hang sand perches vertically and the birds will rub their beaks on them without using them as a perch. My vet suggested it once. I have not done it. You can sometimes buy small bits of lava rock already attached to a clip at a pet store. It is for birds but it costs about $10.00 now. They used to be cheaper.

There are also 'comfy' sand perches now. The top of the perch is smooth so it is ok for the foot. Be careful though as sometimes their is a ridge where it changes from smooth to rough. This should be worn down with an emery board or more likely with a dremel. Be careful and go slow or you might end up with an expensive tooth pick.

re: 30 x 18 x 18 cages - also look were the wires overlap and become a loop (not sure if this is what you were talking about) sometimes the loop is not closed and it is also a place for a foot or leg to get trapped.

It is a bit off topic but it kind of fits to mention here. Make sure any electrical sockets are covered with a child safe cover. I had a golf breasted waxbill that suddenly ended up with a very red and swollen toe that went black. It took a long time but it did heal. I examined that cage to the ninth degree and then I noticed that if he had landed on the side of the cage (which he often did) and if his foot missed the wire and went through the bars his toe could possibly hit the socket. I do not know if that was what happened, but regardless, I wanted to make sure it would never happen again or ever. Every unused socket in my house is now covered even though I do not have kids.

[GouldieFledge]

wildbird

The small stones are too large for any bird to eat. The ones in the reptile food dish are about 1 inch by 1 inch and I got some from a small bag bought from Lowes that is usually used in plant pots or for landscape areas. They sell bags or river rock and smaller stone too. I also use the lava rock from Lowes bought in small bags. The pieces are about 2 inches and vary in size. Those I place around the reptile feeding dish so they walk on it. Lava is rough and helps keep the nails trim and they wipe their beak on it too, so it keeps the beak trim. A reptile dish is shallow and wide with a little bit of various seed in it. They also have several regular seed cups to choose from, but do enjoy looking through the stones. With the size I have, there is no chance they can swallow any of these stones. Before I put them in I wash them with hot water and white vinegar, rinse well and set in sun to dry.

I couldn't find any stones that weren't smooth and weren't a reasonable (safe) size at Home Depot, but I did find some lava rock. is this doable? The aquarium stones are going to be too small, I'd assume.

[GouldieFledge]

Derk

GouldieFledge
You can also hang sand perches vertically and the birds will rub their beaks on them without using them as a perch. My vet suggested it once. I have not done it. You can sometimes buy small bits of lava rock already attached to a clip at a pet store. It is for birds but it costs about $10.00 now. They used to be cheaper.

There are also 'comfy' sand perches now. The top of the perch is smooth so it is ok for the foot. Be careful though as sometimes their is a ridge where it changes from smooth to rough. This should be worn down with an emery board or more likely with a dremel. Be careful and go slow or you might end up with an expensive tooth pick.

re: 30 x 18 x 18 cages - also look were the wires overlap and become a loop (not sure if this is what you were talking about) sometimes the loop is not closed and it is also a place for a foot or leg to get trapped.

It is a bit off topic but it kind of fits to mention here. Make sure any electrical sockets are covered with a child safe cover. I had a golf breasted waxbill that suddenly ended up with a very red and swollen toe that went black. It took a long time but it did heal. I examined that cage to the ninth degree and then I noticed that if he had landed on the side of the cage (which he often did) and if his foot missed the wire and went through the bars his toe could possibly hit the socket. I do not know if that was what happened, but regardless, I wanted to make sure it would never happen again or ever. Every unused socket in my house is now covered even though I do not have kids.

That's a good idea, I'll definitely do that. The girls do love to wipe their beaks on them so at least they'll still have the option.

I checked the loop/hooking/connecting areas of the cage too, hopefully they're large enough to cause no threat, they seem to be. That's crazy about the electrical socket! Fortunately my guys aren't near any sockets, would be a good point for any kind of free flight though.

Thanks again

[wildbird]

The lava rock looks a little large, depending on how big your cage is. I bought mine in the garden department at Lowes where the landscape river rocks, bricks etc are. The pieces are smaller. That is where I also bought the pebbles. I also have some sandstone I picked up from the ground. They each have a domed piece which they like.