I decided to blog about this because I have noticed my senior Cockatiel Lazarus has been showing more signs that he is aging. He is approx 22 yrs old, not sure exactly because I adopted him & his owner had passed away. Lazarus wasn’t well taken care of after his owner passed, sadly by the food & treats I was given they were not educated on good nutrition for birds. He was at least 18 1/2 years old when I brought him home & a poor diet for a majority of his life which weighs on the body. I noticed he was spending a fair amount of time sitting in/on his food dish which he was then soiling in.
I was out & about this weekend with my sister & niece & we went into a bird store & I decided to get him a platform perch. I also got one for Ringo (one of my Yellow-naped Amazons)who is starting to get a little arthritis. I will put it in his cage soon, it is in the room where he is so he can see it. I have learned my Amazons need time to see & be aware of new things before they are comfortable with it being put in their cages. I will slowly move it closer then I’ll put it in his cage at the end of the month. He has his annual Vet appointment then, so I have him out & in a carrier. Please note even tame birds can be very territorial about their cages.
I purchased the perch pictured above for Lazarus & for Ringo (larger size for Ringo). I had been looking for one like this, because I had them for a bird many years ago. Approximately 30 years ago I had a handicapped Sun/Jenday Conure mix, it was an accidental breeding that a friend in my bird club didn’t think would hatch. The birds were friendly to each other & spend time together & they obviously got real friendly & she laid an egg. My friend didn’t think the egg would hatch, but it did & sadly because it was just one bird it never had to stretch up to be fed. This can cause what is called splay leg & one leg goes out to the side & if not found out soon enough & corrected the leg will stay there & the bird will not be able to use that leg/foot. Sadly this is what happened & the guy who had him didn’t think he would be able home him so he was going to be euthanized. I asked if I could have him (didn’t know gender) & he said sure. I finished hand-feeding him & I had him for a few years. I lived in an apartment at the time & as he got older he got louder & I had to find him a new home . He did well having platform perches in his cage as he couldn’t perch like other birds.
There are a variety of platform perches you can get to help an older bird or a handicapped bird.
The one above has a ladder to help them to get to the platform.
The above two are padded which is nice for a bird recovering from a sore or injured claw. You need to be sure your bird is not one who will eat & digest the cloth, so monitor closely & this might be one you would only use during the injury recovery period.
I also have ones like the ones above & may put in Ringo’s cage as well. The washers that often come with them are not wide enough for the bar spacing so you may need larger ones if using this type.
The above one is made of wicker, so if your bird is a strong chewer this might not be the best option, or you might want to get two so have a spare if likes it but chews it.
I have gotten wooden ones for Ringo & he thought it was a chew toy & destroyed a couple of them. I decided metal would be best for him. Smaller or not destructive chewers might be best suited for wood ones. I used them for Finches when I had Finches.
The one above appears to be made out of stone which can make the feet sore if it is a primary perch. I recommend you put this in the birds favorite area or it could cause them to use it primarily, causing sore feet. They make corner perches with metal & with wood, so you have options.
Know that many healthy & young birds like platform perches, giving birds perching options like they would have in the wild is never a bad idea as long as the material is safe for birds. Whether a healthy young bird or an older bird I like to give them a variety of perches in their cages. Watching your bird & learning what they like & as they age giving them options of platform perches can help them to perch & sleep more comfortably.
I honestly was quite surprised how quickly Lazarus started to use his platform perch, he slept longer (usually wakes more when I’m in the room) & he seemed more secure. I think the platform helps him to not be concerned he will fall, so he can sleep deeper which is healthier for his body.
I hope this post has given you some ideas for helping your birds, now or in the future. My goal is to give ideas that will help make pets healthier & happier, so they will Thrive & not just survive. Sometimes we just don’t know we have options, so I like to share my lifetime of experience with pet care & 40+ years having birds. I also am always learning as things change & more information is learned, I try & pass it on to you. If you have any questions about bird care feel free to email me at echoinggreatpetcare@gmail.com If you have a suggestion for a post please feel free to let me know. I want to write things that will help pet owners to better care for their beloved pets.
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