calcium perch question

[DallyTsuka]

for those who use calcium perches, how often do you replace them, and when? thinking its time i replaced munch's, or do you think it still has some use out of it? pictures attached

also, its her favourite perch. she has higher perches and other variety to choose from, but this one she spends most her time on. i think because of the colour, she loves pink things. do your parrots have a colour preference for their calcium perches?

 

[Colorguarder08]

Color preferance yes Riley seems to prefer green and purple objects. I've never used a calcium perch (mostly because PetSmart and PetCo never seem to have them when I have the cash back rewards on my debit card which is when I usually do my stocking up) but as far as I can tell it looks to have use to it still.

 

[weco]

I agree with CG, lots of calcium left there.....

 

[DallyTsuka]

its not too rough to be perched on for extended amounts of time? (she sleeps on this perch too

 

[weco]

its not too rough to be perched on for extended amounts of time? (she sleeps on this perch too

I like to think that when a bird has several types of perches to choose from, but prefers one over the others, it's where it likes to sleep.....it's like when we go without shoes a lot, we can easily run across gravel, but those of us who always wear shoes, will often "tip toe" across the gravel.....gently squeeze the bottom of one of your bird's foot pads, then do the same to the bottom of your feet.....whose feet are better for long perching?

 

[DallyTsuka]

I just worry about the jagged texture for prolonged use. Tomorrow I am getting her a new one anyways, maybe I'll move this one to a different spot in the cage and replace the old spot with the new one. Hopefully the store still has pink in stock lol

I was concerned whether I should toss this one or not. What you say does make sense! I just know that bad perch material, especially rough ones can cause bumblefoot, so I'm a little concerned with her sleeping on it, so want to switch it out with a new smoother one

Side note, I haven't even needed to trim her nails in over a year LOL

 

[Colorguarder08]

Unless your feeling sharp ridges in it I wouldn't be too worried as I can't imagine a bird chosing to sleep on something that hurts it especially when it has other options.

 

[DallyTsuka]

Unless your feeling sharp ridges in it I wouldn't be too worried as I can't imagine a bird chosing to sleep on something that hurts it especially when it has other options.

Click on the close up picture, the third one. It's definitely sharp ridges. It's rough too and bits of seashell are like ridges of butterknives, for reference of texture. Can't imagine that's good for her feet

 

[Colorguarder08]

Well it can't hurt to replace it, and it's always better to prevent injuries than to treat them.

 

[Kiwibird]

O man, this reminds me of when I got Kiwi a calcium perch a few years back unknowingly I thought I had actually gotten him a really cool-looking new pedicure perch Much to my shock and horror he began ripping up what I believed was a cement perch It was pretty hilarious and I had to try and contemplate how a bird who can barely crack an almond could chew through cement

Anyways, to actually answer your question, once I found out it was a calcium perch designed for him to eat, I let him chew it down to the metal rod inside. I don't recall there ever being any sharp points of safety concern. That said, I don't know if the smaller perches have a rod for support inside (?). If she's sleeping on the perch, I would suggest perhaps getting her a new perch to sleep on she can't (or would be unlikely) to chew up and then moving this one to another location for her to play with during the day when she can se what she's chewing. As for color, I don't know if they all have a "favorite" but they do seem to respond better (as individuals) to specific color groups. I know Kiwi gets very intrigued by very colorful things and barely looks twice at more "natural" tones.

 

[DallyTsuka]

Even if I put a non-chewable perch where this one is, she will still sleep on the calcium perch. You know, make other places that seem more comfy to sleep higher up, but nope she chooses to sleep at the mid-level on her calcium perch beside her food dish! Lol

That would be terrifying, thinking it's a cement perch D: I've been told horror stories about cement perches being ingested and causing a blockage, but never any personally from said owners... I don't use them so I don't know. I use just the calcium perches, wood, and rope, plus the lovebirds have rocks on the cage bottom to play on (larger rocks, they love them and are great for nails. I use round granite rocks or sandstone, smooth with no loose bits). I've heard cement can be bad for the feet too, so I opted for a calcium perch. All the birds love them and they get used, but for foot health I try to avoid them in places like sleep perches (I use them near food bowls.) but munch never thinks the same way I do lol