The bird spends most of its time on its claws, so the perches should be of good quality. The bars of the wood should be suitable, but natural branches are much better. The claws of the bird should not enclose the entire perch but should have some 1/3 of its circumference free. The diameter of a perch that is ideal for small and exotic canaries should be between 1 cm and 1.5 cm in diameter, for parakeets from 1.5 cm to 2 cm and for cockatiels about 2 cm.
The different types of perches.
The best perches are those made of natural branches. You need to take healthy branches that are alive. Perches can be of different sizes, shapes, and materials. They are very important for the health of the birds legs. If the perches are too uniform the pressure on the feet is always in the same place, and can cause irritation and leg problems (see pododermatitis). Choose perches that have various forms and provide greater variety of positions for the feet. Do not place these perches high in the cages or aviaries, where the birds roost much as misuse may cause irritation. There are also flexible rope perches that you can easily place anywhere, both within, and outside the cage or on top or near the doors for easy access. Make sure you have appropriate sizes.
How to install and where to install their perches.
A simple way to install the natural branches without damaging the bars of the cage is by cutting exact dimensions from inside the cage and breaking the ends for inserting a screw and a ring. This prevents the branch from cracking before introducing the screw. You can use a ring of rubber plumbing instead of metal rings making it is easy to remove the perch with a screwdriver to change it or for cleaning. Perches should be installed at each end of the cage or aviary to allow the largest possible space for flight. One should always leave some space between the bars and perches to accommodate the tail. Feeders and drinkers should not be placed under perches.
Wood safety.
Do not use branches that might have been treated with insecticides. Do not use fallen and dry branches. Fallen branches can carry pathogens or be infected. It is suggested to heat the branches in oven at 400 F for 10 minutes to kill insects. Use a peeler to remove the bark as it makes cleaning difficult. If they are too big for the oven put the branches in a tub with some bleach. In this case, rinse thoroughly and let dry thoroughly.
Go ahead and get a good perch for your bird.
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