Flat/platform perches

[Azalea]

I've been meeting, or seeing online, a few bird owners who don't use flat/platform perches most of the time. Unless maybe a bird is handicapped (my husband made several for our friend who has handicapped Conures). What about you all?

I was under the impression that a bird needs flat options in order to "rest their feet". Yet many birds seem to be just fine without them.

My small annoyance with these perches is that the birds easily defecate on them while napping/sleeping/preening, and get them dirty easily - not that I blame the birds.

[Loz]

I've used some flats for the budgies. They needed regular cleaning but that problem solved itself eventually as the hens gradually gnawed them away to nothing. I haven't replaced them but will put something in place for any budgies who might need it in the future.

I put a platform in for Coco a while back. She avoided it like you would any dog, cat, snake or explosive device. I removed it after a few weeks.

[Marianne Marlow]

I have one flat "shelf" in George and Peters cage that they sometimes use to lay down on and rest.

There are two small round flat perches at the front of Barney and Ayla's cage. Sometimes they use them to sleep on at night and sometimes they use the branch type perches at the back.

But yes they do need daily cleaning, sometimes even more often!

[Ira]

I have bowls on flat perches, with a little dip to stop them from being slid off, and a couple of others that I put in occasionally.

[Hezz]

I only use provide a flat perch for the elderly or infirm/disabled. Even then I’m not sure anyone has used it for any other reason than to reach something close by. If a bird wants to lie down, it will, anywhere, and scare the pants off you the first time you see one do so.

[Azalea]

Apr 9, 2024 23:47:44 GMT Hezz said:

I only use provide a flat perch for the elderly or infirm/disabled. Even then I’m not sure anyone has used it for any other reason than to reach something close by. If a bird wants to lie down, it will, anywhere, and scare the pants off you the first time you see one do so.

Sun Conures are apparently known for sleeping on their backs, which can make them look dead. So far, I've only caught ours clinging to one of her large toys at night.

[Marianne Marlow]

...and George says he's not elderly, he's a youngster at almost 12.

[Hezz]

Apr 10, 2024 0:55:59 GMT Azalea said:

Apr 9, 2024 23:47:44 GMT Hezz said:

I only use provide a flat perch for the elderly or infirm/disabled. Even then I’m not sure anyone has used it for any other reason than to reach something close by. If a bird wants to lie down, it will, anywhere, and scare the pants off you the first time you see one do so.

Sun Conures are apparently known for sleeping on their backs, which can make them look dead. So far, I've only caught ours clinging to one of her large toys at night.

Mine sleeps in his foraging/chew box. So tempting to type “mine sleeps in a shoebox in the middle of the road” in Monty Python fashion. It did used to be a shoe box, but never in the middle of the road.