Perch diameter and roughness questions

[Timmah]

So my new boy is home, and set up in his cage. It came with two dowel perches, which are very smooth and 19mm in diameter (.75 inches). I also have a smaller one perpendicular that is about 12mm. My question is, are the larger ones too big for my Quakers feet? I've read they should be able to wrap 3/4 of their foot around the perch, but on the big ones it's only about halfway around.

Wondering if I should I roughen them up a bit? I'm going to get a more natural one, just wondering if I should modify or remove these ones as well.

 

[GaleriaGila]

Congratulations!

My two cents... I'll leave it to other Quaker owners to talk about diameter, etc., but as for your other questions...
I really recommend getting those nail-trimming perches... they can eliminate nail-trimming, which was always so stressful for me and the Rb. It took a few years, but I eventually established a pattern/rotation that keeps him trimmed. I haven't had to do his nails in 20-plus years. I keep a dowel as the main "highway" down the middle of the cage, but the special cement/trimmer/textured perches are all over.
A few brands... but there are many: Polly's Sand Walk... Pumice Perch... Trimmer Perch...
Be sure to introduce them gradually: they're abrasive to their tender feet at first. I LOVE them!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[SailBoat]

In yet another shameless reference to the Amazon Forum's Highlighted (light blue) Threads at the top of that Forum and that Thread that is Titled: I Love Amazons .... With in that Thread is a segment that is Titled: Getting to the Foot of the Problem. After that segment's Post is a couple of Posts with pictures that Ms K. provided of her MAC perching on a natural branch. It shows a near perfect placement of a MAC's Foot (its pads) on the branch. For a roosting perch, this is what my Avian Vet loves to see!

By simply sizing a 'natural' perch with that placement is what I would target. For roosting perches you really want the natural variation in thickness that by the Parrot simply moving left or right will slightly change the pressure point (loading) of each pad, which is what would happen in their natural setting. This cannot be duplicated by dowels!

Please remove the dowels from any area that your Parrot may roost for any length of time!

 

[Timmah]

Thanks SailBoat!! I'll go check out the thread. And go hunting for some sticks tonight. Plenty of eucalypts around here, and I've read up on the sterilising of branches. A heap cheaper than pet stores too!

 

[plumsmum2005]

Ooh lucky you in being able to go cut some Eucalyptus, I am sure your baby boy will have some fun with those in time.