What you need for a Bird Perch

If you have just acquired a bird or are planning to get one, there are several things you'll want to take care of to ensure that the bird is healthy and comfortable in his new home. Of course it means to have a suitable cage and the right to food and water. But sometimes overlooked in the process it is important that the bird perches, which can make a lot of luck if a bird well chosen, but can also be detrimental to a bird's health, if not.

Although bird perches may seem insignificant, they can actually make a big difference in comfort level of your bird. Birds spend most of their time to stand on their feet and comfortable perches allow birds to stand safely and happily. Unfortunately, it is often the case that the standard perches are even, rounded wooden dowels to put pressure on the same part of the bird's feet every time, which adds itself after a while, and can lead to redness or foot infection in severe cases .

Fortunately, there are a wide variety of perches available, depending on the size and type of your bird. Some of these are made of wood and try to copy the actual branches. Yes, some birds perches are simply small branches from trees compared outside. These types of perches are beneficial because they effectively can double as chew toys for birds, and they cost nothing to replace.

Whatever material you choose, you will naturally want to ensure that it is non-toxic. All cage items should be chosen knowing that birds like to chew things. Therefore, items including perches, need to be secure, and will often be cleaned or replaced. In cases of natural perches, this is very easy, but most perches are inexpensive and not difficult to replace.

Once you decide what type of bass you want, you should consider the size of your bird, and select the corresponding perch diameter. If you have a small bird like a finch, canary or parakeet, a perch with a 3 / 8 "to 3 / 4" diameter, is what you need. For a medium sized bird such as a Cockatiel and Senegal, a 5 / 8 "to 1 and 1 / 4" diameter is suitable. A larger bird, an African Gray, Amazon or macaw must be 1 "to 2" or larger in diameter.

Generally you want to see the bird's foot wrap themselves around 2 / 3 of the perch. If the bird's front toes overlap, then the perch is too small. Perches should also have unequal diameters along the banks, as this best mimics the natural branches. This, again, the birds always putting pressure on the same part of the foot.

Another common mistake people make is to install standard sandpaper on perches with the idea that it will help keep the bird's claws trimmed. On the contrary, actually sandpaper harm the bird's feet. Instead try one of the cement grooming perches are designed to keep beaks and claws of the bird from becoming overgrown. 

Perch placement is also important. First and foremost, your perches must be available to the bird. Perches should also be placed near food and water dishes, so that the bird can easily access them. You should not place perches directly over food or water bowl, to avoid contamination from bird droppings.

Perches should be placed toward the center of the cage where the bird's tail will not touch any part of the cage. Perches can be placed anywhere throughout the cage as long as these requirements are met.

There are a number of different types of perches available. The ideal perch would be easy to clean, comfortable for the bird, made of chewable material, and be the right diameter, to reduce foot problems. The easiest way to find out what is best for your bird may have to experiment with different styles. It may also be useful to either ask an expert or read up on your bird, especially, for better appreciate its potential preferences.