Two questions pertaining to wood and perches

[KalieLovesBirds]

Hey guys,

I am in need of answers to two questions.

First of all, what types of wood can't be used for perches?

and

Second, depending on the type of wood that was used, could I use a wooden clothing pole as a wooden perch? I have a couple of other perches in his cage but I can't find any that are long enough to run horizontal.The wooden dowel perch that came with his cage is seeing its end.

 

[Allee]

This is my favorite safe and harmful wood list:

Bird; Birds: Safe, Toxic Trees, Woods. Safe Tree Wood. Parrots. Parrot cages.

Dowel perches are actually not the best choice for parrot feet. It's ideal to give them a variety of perches with different textures and sizes and change them up every three months or so. Standing in the same spot constantly can cause pressure sores and arthritis.

 

[MonicaMc]

Ditto what Allee said!


If your macaw is a big chewer, you can also incorporate 2x4's as destructible perches.

 

[JerseyWendy]

Dragonwood perches hold up extremely well for these big guys and gals. All my cages are furnished with them. You could try sending our 'henpecked' a message, he has FABULOUS perches, and even cuts them to size.

 

[KalieLovesBirds]

Thanks for the link! I will take a look at it!

Also, thank you for the user's name, I may send him a message depending on what I can find.

I have several different styles of perches in cage that are different diameters. I just wanted a wooden 'dowel' one to go the length of his cage since it's so hard to find ones long enough.

 

[Rynkydynk]

Dragonwood perches hold up extremely well for these big guys and gals. All my cages are furnished with them. You could try sending our 'henpecked' a message, he has FABULOUS perches, and even cuts them to size.

I have a similar issue ... I live in Las Vegas and the only tree I have in my yard is a flowering plum tree. I checked the toxic list and, of course, my only tree made that list lol. I have spent endless hours all week searching online for anyone anywhere that sells natural branches and most of what I have found is decorative stuff for wedding centerpieces and whatnot or places in the UK. I would love to fill Raylan's double Macaw cage with all natural branches as well as build him a full sized play stand out of natural wood. Pretty please forward my information to Henpecked as I don't yet have 20 posts and am unable to message. Thank you in advance

 

[JerseyWendy]

Dragonwood perches hold up extremely well for these big guys and gals. All my cages are furnished with them. You could try sending our 'henpecked' a message, he has FABULOUS perches, and even cuts them to size.

I have a similar issue ... I live in Las Vegas and the only tree I have in my yard is a flowering plum tree. I checked the toxic list and, of course, my only tree made that list lol. I have spent endless hours all week searching online for anyone anywhere that sells natural branches and most of what I have found is decorative stuff for wedding centerpieces and whatnot or places in the UK. I would love to fill Raylan's double Macaw cage with all natural branches as well as build him a full sized play stand out of natural wood. Pretty please forward my information to Henpecked as I don't yet have 20 posts and am unable to message. Thank you in advance

Consider it DONE!!

 

[bigbluemacaw]

This must be hard - I see your problem. Here in the UK we have loads of trees and little copses of trees and so I tend to go there (with Blue) and select branches that have either recently fallen or are on their way. The benefits of real branches over dowling are significant too as they are not of an even diameter and so allows your birds claws to flex and reach all different sizes as he/she moves. In the long term this helps minimise the risk of arthritus but is also more natural. Look for real branches everytime if you can or if you have to use dowling then you want multiple perches all of different diameters (which is harder)

[ame="https://youtu.be/8sjsYsBRn3c"]Blue; Playtime with Daddy! - YouTube[/ame]

God bless

Daddy and Blue

 

[JerseyWendy]

This must be hard - I see your problem. Here in the UK we have loads of trees and little copses of trees and so I tend to go there (with Blue) and select branches that have either recently fallen or are on their way. The benefits of real branches over dowling are significant too as they are not of an even diameter and so allows your birds claws to flex and reach all different sizes as he/she moves. In the long term this helps minimise the risk of arthritus but is also more natural. Look for real branches everytime if you can or if you have to use dowling then you want multiple perches all of different diameters (which is harder)

Blue; Playtime with Daddy! - YouTube

God bless

Daddy and Blue

In order to use fallen branches, one must be sure to know which wood is safe and which is unsafe for birds to use. Additionally one should never use 'natural' wood that was sprayed with any kind of pesticide/fungicide.

Bigbluemacaw daddy, I am curious: I'm sure most of us have seen your most adorable and precious video of Blue by now. May I ask why you insert it in so many of your posts/replies?

 

[Rynkydynk]

Consider it DONE!! [/QUOTE]

Thank you so much

 

[bigbluemacaw]

I agree, always check that the wood you find is from a tree you recognize and you check it on the safe wood list. I use a lot of Silver Birch as it's easy to spot and a hard wood. On the video link - I was using it as a sort of signature but now someone has shown me how to create a proper signature which is vastly preferable!! Thanks

 

[Rynkydynk]

This must be hard - I see your problem. Here in the UK we have loads of trees and little copses of trees and so I tend to go there (with Blue) and select branches that have either recently fallen or are on their way. The benefits of real branches over dowling are significant too as they are not of an even diameter and so allows your birds claws to flex and reach all different sizes as he/she moves. In the long term this helps minimise the risk of arthritus but is also more natural. Look for real branches everytime if you can or if you have to use dowling then you want multiple perches all of different diameters (which is harder)

Yes, I actually cut up the dowel perches that came with his cage and used the pieces to make a t-perch for his gram scale and the rest to make some foot and chew toys. I have ordered a few cement and sand covered cholla wood perches but am learning that, although better than dowels, these aren't the best for him either. He also has a couple of rope perches but he won't have anything to do with those.

Your Blue is absolutely gorgeous!

 

[henpecked]

If any one needs some good perches I'd be happy to send you some. I have tons of dragonwood. Shipping is the biggest cost. I hsve sent many to the UK , Canada, etc. Give one of the mods your contact info and I'll be happy to get up with you. My goal is to improve your companions well being. I'm not in this to make a living. I make my money whole selling and supplying large breeder operations.

 

[Rynkydynk]

Thank you so much henpecked! I will definitely do that =)