Tips For Choosing Bird Perches

Birds are very charming animal companions, and they certainly have some ‘raven’ fans. One thing that is very important to Polly’s health and well-being is making sure that she has good perches. A Mattoon, IL vet discusses perches in this article.

Choosing the right size perches is very important! Your cute pet could injure herself on a perch that is too small or too large for her. In general, Polly’s feet should go about ¾ of the way around the perch. As for length, a good perch will be, at the very least, as long as her wingspan. If you aren’t sure what size to get, ask your vet for advice.

Many birdcages come with built-in perches. However, don’t make the mistake of thinking this is all your pet needs. These aren’t meant to completely fulfill Polly’s perch requirements; they’re just included. Birds should have at least two perches at all times.

Many birds like rope perches, since they’re so flexible and soft on the feet. You may want to put one near the top of the cage for Polly to sleep on. That said, rope perches can be dangerous when they start to fray. Birds can get entangled in them, or try to eat the threads. Discard rope perches as soon as they start looking worn.

Birds need perches of varying flexibility. This will essentially mimic tree branches, which are all different sizes. This is also good for Polly’s legs and feet, as she will use different muscles to sit on a flexible perch than she would with a stiff perch.

Variety is important here as well. Rougher perches may be good for grooming, as they can help slough dead skin off your bird’s feet and beak. Softer ones may be more comfortable for Polly to sleep on. Be careful with concrete or sand-covered perches, however, as they can cause injuries. Ask your vet for advice.

Don’t position perches over Polly’s dishes, as the food and water will get soiled by droppings. Edible perches should also be placed high for this reason. Your bird should be able to use her perches without touching the cage sides or ceiling. Also, be sure to clean and rotate your pet’s perches at least once a week.

Please contact us, your Mattoon, IL vet clinic, anytime. We’re here to help!