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Tips for Choosing and Placing Bird Perches

July 1, 2020

Do you have a pet bird? If so, you’ve got a pretty adorable little buddy. One thing that is very important to Polly’s health and well-being is making sure that she has plenty of perches. However, bird perches are definitely not one-size-fits-all. A Jefferson County, PA vet discusses perches in this article. 


Size

Choosing the right size perches is very important. Your feathered pal could injure her feet or legs with perches that are too big or too small. Make sure to choose perches that are in the right size range for Polly’s size and breed. A finch may need a perch that’s only ¾ inch in diameter, while a Macaw may need one that’s 2 inches. That’s a huge difference! 


Strength/Material

In the wild, birds sit on branches of various strengths and sizes. Polly’s perches should reflect this variety. This will help keep her feet and legs strong. Birds also need perches made of different materials. Polly may use a rough perch for grooming, as that will help slough dead skin from her feet and beak. Your winged friend may also prefer to sleep on softer perches, while she may like firmer ones for playing or socializing.


Safety

Safety is another concern. We don’t recommend using concrete or sand-covered perches, unless your vet were to specifically recommend it, as these can actually cause injuries. You’ll also want to be careful with rope perches and swings. They can be dangerous, especially when they start to fray. Ask your vet for more information.


Location

Choosing the right spot for Polly’s perches is also very important. Set the perches up so that your bird can use them without touching the walls, top, or sides of her cage. Make sure that they aren’t positioned over her dishes. If they are, her food and water will soon be contaminated. You definitely don’t want that!


Cleaning 

You’ll need to regularly clean and rearrange your winged pal’s perches. We usually recommend giving birdcages a good cleaning at least once a week. This is a great time to swap out and rearrange Polly’s perches. Changing things up regularly will help keep your feathered buddy from getting bored in her cage. After all, variety is the spice of life!


Please contact us, your Jefferson County, PA vet clinic, for all of your pet bird’s veterinary care needs. We’re here to help!