Placing Perches in the Bird Cage

Caged birds get much of their exercise flying from perch to perch. Their legs and feet are kept in tone through perching and climbing activities. To provide birds with this essential exercise, the cage should contain a number of widely-spaced perches at different heights.

Position Properly
Perches should be arranged so that they are not directly over food or water dishes to prevent contamination from droppings. But it is a good idea to position a perch in front of a food bowl, since this will make eating more relaxing and enjoyable for birds.

Select The Right Height
The lowest perch should be positioned so that there is at least 2 inches between the bird's tail and the floor of the cage.

Place one perch relatively high up in the cage, but remember to leave enough room so the bird doesn’t bump its head against the cage top. Many birds, especially parrots, will feel more comfortable sleeping on this high "look-out" perch.

Look At The Thickness
Including perches of different thickness and irregular shapes in a cage will provide good exercise for the bird’s toes.

Most of the perches in a cage should be thick enough to allow the bird to grasp them without having its paws wrap around the wood and touch.

Do not use wood from parks or other outdoor areas as a caged bird’s perch. These woods can contain bacteria or pollutants that can harm a pet bird.