Cement perches and temperment

[Albert]

Hi All,

We switched Salty's main/sleeping perch to one of those cement type perches. And after 2 weeks, he seems to be a changed bird. Irritable and given to lunging and nipping. Where as before he was well behaved. My Vet had said the cement perches can give them sore feet, she does not recommend them. I like them cuz they keep the claws blunt and trimmed ( at least they did on my previous birds). We have since gone back to a natural bark covered perch a few days ago and waiting to see if his grouchyness goes away.

SO what think the board on cement perches? Yes or no, and have you ever noticed a change in temperament after going to that type of perch?

[spiritbird]

The perch is most likely irritating his feet. Cement is not the most comfortable thing to perch on. Look into natural wood perches or the rope ones instead. Also check the bottom of his feet for pressure sores or redness. If this is the case then I would take out the cement perch right away.

[Albert]

Already switched back. Just waiting for his sunny disposition to return.

[Robyn]

My birds use a cement perch with no problems but all their other perches are natural wood some from my pine tree in the back yard.

[Cedardave]

We use cement perches as well as a variety of differant sizes of wood perches.If you leave the cement one in and allow your bird options, he either will or wont use it.They can be tough on sensative feet...so giving your bird the choice seems to offer the best of both worlds.They do get used to them and develope a thicker skin so to speak on those sensative feet.

[wingman]

I prefer wood or tree branch perches they make it more like nature in look and feel . just my preferance

[kendrafitz]

We have never used a cement perch. We have wood, rope and sand perches. The sand perches help with nails and beak. Rosie sleeps on her sand perch or her wood one depending on her mood.

[spiritbird]

I used to gather safe branches where I lived and the birds loved them. Don't have the trees around me now. I got a tree identification book and it's a fun thing to do when the leaves are on trees. You basically identify a tree from the bark and leaves. I found so many kinds of oak which I did not use.