PERCHES + TOYS
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PERCHES
When buying perches for your cage make sure to buy them big enough for your parrot but small enough that they won't hurt their feet.
The diameter of perches for small birds (Canaries, Finches, Parrotlets, Budgies, lovebirds) should be 1/2" to 1"
For medium birds (Conures, Cockatiels, Lories, Senegals) they should be 3/4" to 1.5" in diameter.
For large birds (Macaws, Cokatoos, African Greys, Amazons) they should be 1.5" to 3" in diameter.
Perches are very important as your parrot will be climbing, standing and chewing on them. You want to make sure they are made out of wood or cotton rope as shown in the pictures below. Use different perches with different textures. Make sure they don't have any splits or loose fibers that your parrot could get it's nails or feet stuck in. There are also perches that are made to be in the shower or on a window. Those are nice to have for when your parrot is out of it's cage.
Cages usually come with standard wooden perches, but buy more to give your parrot a way to climb and have fun! Natural wood perches are really good for your parrot's feet too. As with the cage & toys, be sure to wash the perches before placing them in the cage.
You can find safe perches at our shop
You can easily make your own perches too! For a list of safe wood to use click here
Also check out this site for wood to buy for perches.
The diameter of perches for small birds (Canaries, Finches, Parrotlets, Budgies, lovebirds) should be 1/2" to 1"
For medium birds (Conures, Cockatiels, Lories, Senegals) they should be 3/4" to 1.5" in diameter.
For large birds (Macaws, Cokatoos, African Greys, Amazons) they should be 1.5" to 3" in diameter.
Perches are very important as your parrot will be climbing, standing and chewing on them. You want to make sure they are made out of wood or cotton rope as shown in the pictures below. Use different perches with different textures. Make sure they don't have any splits or loose fibers that your parrot could get it's nails or feet stuck in. There are also perches that are made to be in the shower or on a window. Those are nice to have for when your parrot is out of it's cage.
Cages usually come with standard wooden perches, but buy more to give your parrot a way to climb and have fun! Natural wood perches are really good for your parrot's feet too. As with the cage & toys, be sure to wash the perches before placing them in the cage.
You can find safe perches at our shop
You can easily make your own perches too! For a list of safe wood to use click here
Also check out this site for wood to buy for perches.
TOYS
Buying toys is a very important step in caring for your parrot. Parrots need a lot of stimulation.
Try to stay away from plastic toys as parrots need to forage and have something to chew on. Plastic toys really have no place in a parrot's cage unless they are made to hold food for foraging or if your parrot is a Budgie.
Here are a few things to look for when buying toys:
1. When looking for toys for your parrot make sure they are made of natural or organic fibers/woods and if they are colorful make sure they were dyed with veggies. Usually toys sold in pet shops have been dyed with food coloring or other artificial colorings that can hurt your parrot. As with any new toys if you buy them with any coloring and you aren't sure the color is natural, make sure to wash them throughly before placing them in the cage for your parrots to play with. You will be surprised at all the color that comes off in the water from artificial coloring. Rinse colorful toys until the color no longer comes off in the water to be sure the toy is safe for your parrot to chew on. The color will be faded but parrots really don't care if their toys are colorful, they just want to have something to play with or tear apart.
Make sure wood toys are NOT made out of cedar, red cherry, plywood or oak. Arsenic is found in pressure treated woods used to make cheap toys. This is toxic to parrots. For a list of safe woods for your parrot see my page entitled Safe Plants & Trees. You can also make your own perches out of branches of trees from the safe tree list, just be sure to sterilize them properly before letting your bird have them.
2. If a toy is leather or has leather on it, make sure it is veggie tanned and does not contain formaldehyde. Formaldehyde can cause nasal tumors, rashes and respiratory problems.
3. Check the metal used for the toy, make sure it is made with stainless steel or iron, and make sure it does not have a zinc coating. Also stay away from galvanized metals. Zinc is a common coating for iron and steel used in bird toys to keep them from rusting. Zinc toxicity causes feather plucking, weight loss, gastrointestinal problems, seizures, hyperglycemia, anemia, weakness, excessive urine in droppings & death.
4. Make sure the toy doesn't have any glues, adhesives, lacquers or paints as these can be toxic.
5. Make sure the toys are free of small pieces/wood chunks that your parrot could choke on. Don't buy toys that have split rings or key rings. Your parrots beaks and toes could get caught in them. Make sure if there are any bells on the toy that they don't have sharp edges for your bird to snag it's beak on.
6. Make sure chain toys and rope toys are the right size for your parrot. If they are the wrong size your parrot could get it's neck, legs, and feet trapped.
I have heard a lot of horror stories about parrots getting their legs caught in rope toys. Parrots also chew on everything and rope toys can break easily causing the parrot to swallow pieces of the toy. This is very dangerous because the rope can get caught in the parrot's crop. If this happens the crop can become clogged causing the parrot to become sick, this results in costly vet bills to save your parrot.
I choose not to use rope toys for my parrots. I do however use rope perches on the outside of their cages.
Parrots love shredding things! The woven shredders in the picture below and other shredder toys made by Planet Pleasures are favorites of my parrots. You can do so much with these shredders make foot toys, weave them through their cage bars, place a bird safe hook on them and make your own toys and so much more!
Parrots are extremely smart! Use the rings game & the colored cubes to teach them to match up colors! Plus when they learn their colors with the cubes they will get a treat!
Below are just a few examples of toys/foraging items that are good to have for your parrot.
You can find more safe toys at our shop
Try to stay away from plastic toys as parrots need to forage and have something to chew on. Plastic toys really have no place in a parrot's cage unless they are made to hold food for foraging or if your parrot is a Budgie.
Here are a few things to look for when buying toys:
1. When looking for toys for your parrot make sure they are made of natural or organic fibers/woods and if they are colorful make sure they were dyed with veggies. Usually toys sold in pet shops have been dyed with food coloring or other artificial colorings that can hurt your parrot. As with any new toys if you buy them with any coloring and you aren't sure the color is natural, make sure to wash them throughly before placing them in the cage for your parrots to play with. You will be surprised at all the color that comes off in the water from artificial coloring. Rinse colorful toys until the color no longer comes off in the water to be sure the toy is safe for your parrot to chew on. The color will be faded but parrots really don't care if their toys are colorful, they just want to have something to play with or tear apart.
Make sure wood toys are NOT made out of cedar, red cherry, plywood or oak. Arsenic is found in pressure treated woods used to make cheap toys. This is toxic to parrots. For a list of safe woods for your parrot see my page entitled Safe Plants & Trees. You can also make your own perches out of branches of trees from the safe tree list, just be sure to sterilize them properly before letting your bird have them.
2. If a toy is leather or has leather on it, make sure it is veggie tanned and does not contain formaldehyde. Formaldehyde can cause nasal tumors, rashes and respiratory problems.
3. Check the metal used for the toy, make sure it is made with stainless steel or iron, and make sure it does not have a zinc coating. Also stay away from galvanized metals. Zinc is a common coating for iron and steel used in bird toys to keep them from rusting. Zinc toxicity causes feather plucking, weight loss, gastrointestinal problems, seizures, hyperglycemia, anemia, weakness, excessive urine in droppings & death.
4. Make sure the toy doesn't have any glues, adhesives, lacquers or paints as these can be toxic.
5. Make sure the toys are free of small pieces/wood chunks that your parrot could choke on. Don't buy toys that have split rings or key rings. Your parrots beaks and toes could get caught in them. Make sure if there are any bells on the toy that they don't have sharp edges for your bird to snag it's beak on.
6. Make sure chain toys and rope toys are the right size for your parrot. If they are the wrong size your parrot could get it's neck, legs, and feet trapped.
I have heard a lot of horror stories about parrots getting their legs caught in rope toys. Parrots also chew on everything and rope toys can break easily causing the parrot to swallow pieces of the toy. This is very dangerous because the rope can get caught in the parrot's crop. If this happens the crop can become clogged causing the parrot to become sick, this results in costly vet bills to save your parrot.
I choose not to use rope toys for my parrots. I do however use rope perches on the outside of their cages.
Parrots love shredding things! The woven shredders in the picture below and other shredder toys made by Planet Pleasures are favorites of my parrots. You can do so much with these shredders make foot toys, weave them through their cage bars, place a bird safe hook on them and make your own toys and so much more!
Parrots are extremely smart! Use the rings game & the colored cubes to teach them to match up colors! Plus when they learn their colors with the cubes they will get a treat!
Below are just a few examples of toys/foraging items that are good to have for your parrot.
You can find more safe toys at our shop
Sometimes it's hard to find the right toy for your parrot or your parrot has torn up a toy and left some usable pieces behind. That's when you know it's time to get creative!
Making your own toys is a great way to keep your parrots stimulated and active.
Same rules apply as mentioned above when looking for pieces to make toys.
Here are a couple sites to check out when looking for pieces and parts:
(I am not affiliated with these sites)
My safe bird store
Make your own bird toys
California Bird Nerds
The Coconut King
Bird Toy Part
Making your own toys is a great way to keep your parrots stimulated and active.
Same rules apply as mentioned above when looking for pieces to make toys.
Here are a couple sites to check out when looking for pieces and parts:
(I am not affiliated with these sites)
My safe bird store
Make your own bird toys
California Bird Nerds
The Coconut King
Bird Toy Part
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Disclaimer: I am not a veterinarian. The material on this site is not intended to be, and should not be relied on as, a substitute for professional advice. Read my full disclaimer here
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