FAQ: Perches for birds

It can if the bird stands on it all the time, especially while sleeping. So place a rough perch not at the highest or favourite spot but, for example, near the food dish, where the bird only sits briefly.

Not always. A rough perch may slow nail growth a little, but it will not shorten badly overgrown nails. If the nails curl or catch on things, they should be trimmed by someone experienced or by a vet.

Sandpaper perch covers are generally not recommended, because they abrade the soles of the feet and can cause sores and inflammation. If you want a rougher surface, it is safer to use one mineral perch than to cover every perch with sandpaper.

Sanded floor sheets are often viewed critically by bird owners and vets, because the rough surface can irritate the feet and birds sometimes eat the grit. Plain paper or another smooth liner is safer.

Replace a mineral perch when it is badly worn, cracked, will not come clean or no longer has a rough surface. If the bird actively chews and crumbles it, watch that it does so in moderation, and if not, ask a vet.

Concrete or ceramic perches are sturdy, long-lasting and help the bird wipe its beak, so they are often used for parrots. They are hard and cool, so they work as one of the perches rather than the bird’s only resting surface.

A mineral perch is best fixed near the food or water dish, where the bird often lands briefly and wipes its beak. It should not go at the highest point of the cage, where the bird usually sleeps.

A heated perch gives off gentle warmth and is helpful for warmth-loving, older, ill or recovering birds, and in cooler rooms. It does not replace a suitable room temperature but simply provides an extra warm spot.

A heated perch is safe when used according to the manufacturer’s instructions, the bird can move away to another perch at any time, and the cord is protected or out of reach. Check regularly that it does not overheat and the cord has not been chewed.

Run the cord along the outside of the cage and, if possible, protect it with a hard tube or a cord guard. For heavy-chewing parrots choose a model with a protected cord and keep checking for bite marks.

Many heated perches are designed to run for long periods at a low temperature, but always follow the manufacturer’s instructions. The bird should also have unheated perches so it can choose where it is most comfortable.

Extra warmth is often helpful for an ill or weak bird, but it does not treat the illness. If the bird is fluffed up, sleepy, sitting on the cage floor or not eating, contact a vet without delay.

A heated perch is usually fixed where the bird likes to rest or sleep, but not as the only spot of that kind. It should not sit directly under other perches, so droppings do not land on it, and must not touch plastic parts of the cage.

Small birds need a thin heated perch made for their size, because thick models are meant for parrots. Small species are sensitive to temperature swings, so watch for the bird holding its wings away from its body or breathing with an open beak, which signal overheating.

Place perches at different heights and distances so the bird has a reason to hop or flap between them. The top perch usually becomes the sleeping spot, while others should be near the food dish, water and toys.

If a perch sits directly above food or water, droppings fall into the dishes and contaminate them. Arrange perches so the dishes are easy to reach but nothing sits above them.

When perches are stacked directly above each other, a bird on top soils the lower perches and other birds. It is better to stagger them to the sides so the lower ones stay clean.

The top perch should sit where the bird’s head does not touch the cage roof and its tail does not rub against the bars. Birds feel safer up high, so this perch often becomes their resting place.

If a perch is too close to the side, the tail and wing feathers constantly rub against the bars and break. Fix the perch further from the side or choose a larger cage so the bird can turn freely.

There should be enough room between perches for the bird to spread its wings without catching its feathers. For small birds such as finches, space the perches so they can make short flights from one to another.