My 3 year old conure started to limb all of a sudden. My husband says it is because of the sandy covered perch. the bird has had this perch for 2 years. It is small on the side of the cage, he stands on it to look at his imagine in his mirror. he is limbing on his left foot when walking on the table
Sand paper perches are the worst thing you could expect your bird to stand on.
I have been raising bird for over 35 years and I have seen the damage done to the bottom of their feet, that if not treated they could develop infections.
If the bird needs its nails done then contact your Avian Vet or a Professional Bird Groomer and get them done.
Just think how the bottom of your feet would feel if you are bare foot walking on sandpaper all day and night for years. you will have problems.
The best perches for a bird are the ones that are naturally shaped like a tree branch and are made out of a safe wood.
Sapphyre
Certified Avian Specialist
I asked this question when I first got my budgies. the consensus said "good for the nails, bad for the feet." so I took the sandpaper perches out of the cage. if you are able to handle your bird you may try filing the nails yourself, or you can do the "cheaty" thing that I do,which is take him to the vet and let him deal with it- lol.
ya the sand perches can hurt there feet like other people said if you want to get a perch that helps with the nails then a cement one is good for them and not so tuff on there feet.
Yes!!, Don't believe anyone that says it won't have affect on them!... Sand paper perches irritate birds feet, although it is good to have a perch that is different widths, it exercises their feet. also if Your birds feet are grey and a little cold it is depressed or sick.. ( so take it to the vet ).. if their feet are pink and warm they are healthy and happy!..: )..
good luck with your birdie!.. God bless america
Sand perches sand a bird's nails down, but also sands the skin off the bird's feet.
Get a cement one as MammaSmurf suggested. Cement perches are rough, but won't harm your bird's skin. Since your bird is limping right now, set the cement perch as one of the lowest to give your bird's feet a break. once you find the feet are fine, move it up higher where your bird will use it more.
Examine your bird's feet. Birds will often pick at a sore spot and cause more damage. Infections can occur. if you see anything like this, call your avain vet
Are you sure that there's not an injury that has nothing to do with the sand perches? the sand perches are bad and should be gotten rid of, but beware, one problem can hide another.
Sandy perches should not be the only type of perch given to your conure as they can make your bird's foot sore. I would suggest adding different types of perches and specifically a different type of perch next to the mirror if that is where your conure always wants to be.
sand paper perches i have been told are good for birds as it helps keep their claws short and sharp and their beaks not to sharp
this i was told from an actual bird paradise shop when buying my budgies
No, sandy perches are very very good for their claws, their grip, etc...they actually need two or three different sizes to prevent the atrophy of muscles in their feet and legs.so, no it was NOT the perch, and actually he needs more of them.
Can the Bird perch that feel like sand paper hurt the birds leg grip?
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One of the best places to get songs like "This is my Left foot" is on old teaching records put out on lables like: Hoctor, Stepping Tones, Statler, and Kimbo. These are all hard to find these days, I try to talk with older teachers who would have been teaching back in the 50's and 60's and ask if I can make copies of their old records.
As far as purchasing some, you can still get some of them on-line. Many have been made into CD's.
Hope that helps!