The perch in the bird cage is more than just something for the pet bird to stand on, perches are exercise and learning tools. A variety of perches in the bird cage, all with a different texture, will help keep a pet bird physically and emotionally healthy.

A lone food bowl, water bowl and single dowel for a perch will make for one depressed caged bird. Consider a bird living in it’s wild, natural habitat, it would land on a variety of different textures throughout it’s day and view a variety of different hanging objects, such as leaves and berries. That wild bird would be singing or chirping in happiness.

Providing a variety of different perches in the bird cage to mimic the different textures and sights a wild bird would encounter will help promote mental health for a caged bird.

The best perches for pet birds can be found right outside the door in nature. Cut a few branches off of different trees (fruit, nut, elm or dogwood make the best perch choices) to fit the bird cage, Scrub the tree branches with warm, soapy water, rinse thoroughly and place in the sun to dry for 24 hours. Double check the clean, dry branches for insects or insect pods before placing them in the bird cage.

Tree branches are not the all that should be in the bird cage for the pet birds to enjoy. A small chunk of concrete or rock for the pet bird to perch on and natural fiber rope for the pet bird to climb and swing on.