Cage advice for my conure with a bad leg

[Newsunmommy]

Hi guys,
We have an amazing 9 month old conure named Charlie bird that when we bought him the people at petland said he had broken his leg somehow and when it healed he lost some use of his toes. He does really well and gets around pretty great, he's an acrobat and very active - my question is, it's time for him to have a new big cage and the one we bought is pretty awesome, but the front door to the cage swings open ( like most do, like a front door to a house) and he can't se to get himself out of the cage and it frustrates him. His current all cage has a " drawbridge" door and he loves to sit on it and hang from it. I'm wondering if anyone knows of any accessories we can buy to put on the door to help him, or if we should downsize the cage. I'm also worried that because he works a little harder than normal to get around with his bad leg, that maybe his cage shouldn't be such a workout, or, maybe that's good for him? Advice welcome! Thank you
New conure mommy

 

[Sterling1113]

Parrots are pretty adaptable. If he is getting around fine (perching, climbing, not falling, etc) I wouldn't make too many changes. If he has issues with the swinging door, would it be possible to find a cage with a "drawbridge" type door like you mentioned? many cages have both.

Picture as an example:

(just for the door visual, not for size reference )

 

[Mimsy01]

You could add a small perch, or a flat place to rest that attaches to the outside of the cage just below the door. maybe something like this Comfy Clam Mineral Flat Perch for Birds by Polly's Pet Products

or if it's easier on him just a rope perch that can be bent to the desired position.

Cable Comfy Perch for Bird Cages: Booda Comfy Perch at Drs Foster and Smith

You might add one on the inside of the door as well, that would give him a place to perch to jump out and a place on the outside to get his footing.

If you think he'd prefer something closer to his old platform door perhaps something like this.

Sun Decks

You can even use both inside and outside of his cage things not nessasarily meant for birds such as these shelves

Prevue Hendryx Cage Platform for Small Pets | Cage Accessories

You can probably makes some that are even nicer. Such as using a round from a piece of nice wood and adding an anchor.

If he's not falling, I'd just try and make it so he can get around but it pushes him so he gets a lot of exercise. I think in the end it will make him healthier to have a larger cage, as long as he is not endangering himself by falling off stuff.

 

[Newsunmommy]

This is all great advice, thank you! We will buy the " sun deck " that looks awesome and we bought a few of those rope perches today which he really likes - thank you both so much!!!!

 

[Ann333]

I tried to post a reply a second ago, not sure what happened, but it disappeared.

Anyway, it looks like you have already been given some great ideas. I can't wait for an update post to know if the ideas are working well for your Lil guy. I agree keep the larger cage for more exercise and just make the needed modifications to better suit him.

I also just wanted to say that reading your post made me happy. It seems that you really love your bird and are trying to give him a very good life by paying so close attention to his special needs. He's a lucky bird to have such caring people.