Round iron perches can be used along with wooden perches? Is there any harm caused to Budgie feets?

 

Thanks,

Karthik

I definitely wouldn’t use iron perches Karthik, wood is better, it’s good to use natural tree branches if you can get them, as they have different diameters which is good to exercise the birds feet.

natural tree branches are also good for them to chew on to keep their beaks trim.

Iron Metal will oxidize and rust, your birds could then ingest particles of iron which is toxic for birds. Iron will also prevent the obsorbsion of calcium which is vital for a birds health. Untreated wood (from non toxic trees) is always best

Edited April 6, 200817 yr by **Liv**

Iron itself, wont harm your bird's feet. It is just not ideal. Iron oxide as far as I know isn't actually toxic. Research it on the net. When I did, i found that it was not and when I asked my vet he said that iron oxide is not poisonous. It is the zinc oxide that you have to worry about and that appears like white powder. None of my little boogers have been affected by iron oxide either.

 

Liv: I havent heard of iron preventing absorption of calcium (doesn't mean to say that it doesn't happen, but I can't think of where it would do that). But potassium and brassicas can.

Edited April 6, 200817 yr by Sailorwolf

Your right sailorwolf. It's the other way around - Calcium can inhibit Iron absorption

 

I have researched that consuming rust provides iron intake. My understanding is that birds should not have too much iron in their diet :budgiedance:

Yeah. Well you should never have too much of anything. (Laughing out loud)

To add to this I was at a breeders once who had put iron perches in, the birds flew over head the older ones who knew what was going on would come into the perch on and gab and flap like mad before settling down, the newer birds would grab the perch and not be able to get a good grip and litteraly flip right around or fall off all together.

 

I know that I would not use them also think how cold they would be in winter.

Imagine how cold it would get on their little feeties especially in winter.

I agree with you Liv, though maybe there is no "complete" proof that rust is not good I certainly would not want to be sitting on rust or ingesting myself so I wouldn't want it for my bird that is actually more delicate then our own human systems. I am sure this is as debatable as wing clipping.

 

Another good point is how cold it does get I would think that could cause arthritis more readily.

Edited April 7, 200817 yr by Elly

Bumble foot ..... is one problem

 

 

Is there a reason you wanting to use Iron perches???

 

Natural is the best way to go mate, keeps them busy noring at the wood etc ....

 

you need different shapes other wise the bird feet kinda mold to their perches causing problems, this is why we change plastic and wooden dowels to natural sticks .... Hope this helps

:ygbudgie: All I know is at the avian rescue we discarded any cages with rust unless they could be thoroughly redone and powder coated. There aren't iron perches in the wild so I can't imagine using any in a cage or aviary setting;as well as the cold factor in cool temperatures, wouldn't they "heat" up and burn the birds feet in "hot" weather???

Thanks for everyone responses.

 

Actually I have a iron cage in which there are 2 iron rods for providing stiffness to the cage body, which can't be removed. There is no rust and it is clean paint coated. Also as stated in the initial thread, we have few wooden perches too.

 

Regarding temperature in india most of time it will between 30 degree C to 38 degree C and during winter worst case it will be around 25 degree C.

could you cover them with something soft for their feet?

Great Idea Elly ....

 

Karthik please do not use the sandpaper covers for perchers this does more bad then good ... I was wondering can you replace the iron supports with wooden supports????

could you cover them with something soft for their feet?

Elly its really an excellent thought :fear, can we use plastic sheet.

 

Replacing iron rods with wooden supports is not a possible option.

I wouldn't use plastic because it can be slippery on their feet I was thinking more of a cloth type of material therefore making it soft like a rope perch and maybe velco on the sides where they attach so you can take them off for cleaning.

:ygbudgie: Soft bandaging material wound around the perches where their toenails cannot get stuck. They can still have a good grip and the material can periodically be laundered.

Perhaps you could bolt wood to the topside of the rods for the birds to sit on?????

:ygbudgie: Let us cut to the chase and go for natural wood instead of trying to make modifications. Iron perches can be cut out with the proper equipment.

Edited April 10, 200817 yr by Phoebe

:ygbudgie: Soft bandaging material wound around the perches where their toenails cannot get stuck. They can still have a good grip and the material can periodically be laundered.

 

Excellent idea :fear

Thanks for all your suggestions and will try to do the same.

Are the iron perches the same material as the cage? If they have other perches that are higher up then they wont use the iron perches. You don't need to do anything to the iron support bars as long as they are sound. Removing them may compromise the integrity of the cage. And if they are the same material as the cage then removing them would be pointless. Most cages are made of steel, which is an iron alloy. Are you sure the metal is iron and not steel?

Thanks Sailorwolf.

 

Cage frame is made of iron and cage mesh is of some sort of steel. Unfortunatley iron perches are higher up than the wooden perches and I think the only best option available as suggested is to cover up with some soft meterial.