This is spacious bird carrier for car travel that offers a lot of ventilation.

by Phil Samuelson

No responsible pet bird owner should be without an appropriate portable cage for each bird in the household. A carrier is a critical item to have on hand in case the bird has a medical emergency and requires a quick trip to the veterinarian or if its owner is forced to evacuate his or her home because of a fire or other natural disaster. The portable bird carrier is also mandatory equipment when on the road traveling during planned vacations. The ideal bird carrier will also quickly convert into an appropriate and convenient hospital cage should a bird become sick or injured.

The choices of pet bird carriers available to bird owners these days are numerous–and many of them are quite good. Many of these manufactured cages are ideal for medium- to large-sized parrots like African greys, Pionus, Amazons, conures, mini macaws and small cockatoos. Large macaws pose special challenges when selecting travel cages because their long tails quickly become frayed and broken when they rub against cage walls or bars.

Essential Features

A travel cage should be lightweight and easy to lift and clean. The cage should have adequate ventilation, but keep drafts to a minimum. The construction should be durable to eliminate any chance of the pet becoming crushed by accident.

Some well-designed travel cages are constructed of thick polycarbonate with numerous holes in the surface and a wire mesh door. This type of material and design provides the necessary ventilation, while also retaining some warmth. Transparent polycarbonate allows for easy viewing of the bird, and also allows the bird to observe its surroundings. Often these types of travel cages come with a “privacy cover” that sits snugly the top (on some models this cover is an option and costs extra). Partially or completely covering the cage will help calm the bird when in a busy area or when it’s time for sleep.

Bird Carrier Components

Every bird carrier needs a good perch. A diameter of approximately 1 inch should serve most birds well. A perch with a similar diameter bolted to the top of the cage will allow the owner to let her pet out to perch and exercise its wings. This exterior perch also serves another purpose. In addition to being a comfortable, elevated place to perch, the cage-top perch also works well as a handle when transporting the carrier.

Some portable bird carriers resemble backpacks and have straps that fit comfortably around an owner’s shoulders. These carriers are available in a variety of sizes and designs and are usually constructed of durable nylon and stainless steel mesh.

For birds that are nervous travelers and do best in a mostly solid cage, laundry basket designs are available, with a heavy wicker appearance to the exterior. And for the ultimate travel cage accessory, there are cage carts designed to resemble baby carriages so owners can go for walks with their pets, either close to home or while on the road. These carriage carts allow for easy removal of a travel cage and fold up for easy storage or transportation.

Of course, there are travel cages constructed entirely of metal mesh, and these can work well, too. After all, this type of construction and materials has served bird owners well in the travel cage department for decades. Don’t overlook the standard, basic designs.

Providing adequate water is especially important when on the road. Some birds owners, particularly owners of smaller species, train their birds to drink from a bottle. Since water bowls are useless in a moving car, these bottles can come in handy when traveling. The owner, however, must be sure to use the appropriate size and design for the bird in question. Vacation is not the time to experiment with feeding new foods or new watering methods, so if a bird usually drinks and feeds from a bowl, be sure to use this method. Since some birds eat less when away from home, owners should bring plenty of their pets’ favorite food items.  

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Your bird is on it’s feet all day. Shouldn’t he have some comfortable bird perches?

Regardless of how fancy your bird’s cage is and how nutritious his diet, if you don’t provide a comfortable perch, or perches, to his domain, you are neglecting one of the most important aspects of proper parrot care.

Look at an appropriate bird perch like you would a comfortable pair of running shoes. Would you attempt to jog around your neighborhood–let alone run a marathon–in a pair of shoes that didn’t fit? Of course not. Regardless of whether the shoes are too large or too small, you would be certain to end your run with painful, tired feet as well as raw areas and blisters. The same situation occurs with your bird–although it may take longer for the bird to show evidence of a bad fit. A perch of inappropriate diameter will damage the soles of his feet. Red, worn areas will develop on your parrot’s feet much like they develop on yours. In fact, the next time you have your avian buddy out for some fun, examine his feet. You may be surprised to see an area–or areas–that look pink and irritated compared to the rest of the bird’s soles. You can bet these areas are tender–as well as painfully cramped.

The reason for this discomfort is improper perch diameter. A perch that is perfect for an African grey will not work for a macaw and vice versa. The ideal diameter is a perch that will allow a bird to grip in a manner that its feet encompass approximately 3/4 of the perch surface, with nail tips touching the perch surface. If the bird can wrap all of his toes around the perch with room to spare, the perch is too small. If the bird cannot get a firm grip and the toes do not reach the underside of the perch, it is too large.

Peachy is showing off on his Java Wood Perch

Regardless of the material the perch is made of, proper diameter is the most important consideration. Some of the best perches have a slight change in diameter depending on where the bird stands. Some natural wood perches are this way naturally, while other woods perches have been intentionally manufactured this way. The subtle variance in diameter allows the bird to flex his toes and exercise his feet. Think of the running shoes comparison gain. After a long run, doesn’t it feel good to take those shoes off and wiggle your toes? Movement of the toes and flexing of the foot muscles is a very soothing sensation when toes have been in the same position for a very long time.

So, whether a perch is wood, concrete, PVC or other synthetic material, shop for them carefully and provide the best choice possible. Your bird uses his feet for just about everything he does: climbing, eating, perching, as well as the occasional scratch to his head, like a dog sometimes uses his hind feet. Since they serve as both feet and hands, comfort is critical. You bird will appreciate it. If he could, he would thank you.

Choose some comfortable bird perches for your pet today.  Let us offer personalized customer service if you need help.

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Wingabago Bird Carriers make excellent bird hospital cages for sick or injured birds.

by Phil Samuelson

You treat your pet parrot to the best. He gets the best possible diet and treats, best cage, best toys, best T-stand. You even devoted a corner of your living room to his new birdie playpen that you can wheel to any area of your home if desired. This playpen provides you and our bird with lots of fun during weekend bathing sessions when you spritz him with a fine mist of warm water, much to his delight.

But what about his top-of-the-line portable bird carrier? Did you remember to buy one of those? If you didn’t, you’re not alone. Many pet bird owners neglect this area of mandatory bird gear until they need one and have to scramble to come up with a suitable choice.

Taking the time to shop carefully for this item will help ensure that you get the best design at the best price. The range of choices is likely to surprise you since this area of the pet industry has seen rapid expansion in recent years. While the dog-style airline-approved enclosed carriers are still sold and in wide use, this is just the tip of the bird carrier mountain.

The number of times you actually use a bird carrier may surprise you. It definitely pays to have one on hand.

Occasions for Use

Let’s consider some of the possible reason you may need a portable pet bird carrier. Consider the following scenarios if you were without a good carrier.

Evacuation: You home is evacuated because of a fire or other natural disaster. You need a pet bird carrier now. Waiting another day–or until you can hit the local pet shop–is not possible.

Vet Trip: Your bird is sick an unable to perch. You need to get it to the vet in a hurry. Prompt attention from your avian veterinarian may save your bird’s life. Time is of the essence.

Vacation: You’re heading out on vacation by car and decide you’d like to take your avian buddy along with you this year. You’ll be staying with family and friends as well as pet-friendly hotels so there’s really no reason you can’t take him along, too. Besides, you’ve missed him in years past when you’ve been away. Searching for a good portable cage now will delay your trip and be one more thing to do before you head out of town.

Hospital Cage: Your bird survived a broken leg and is now on the mend thanks to your veterinarian. He needs a hospital cage where he can perch at a very low level while he regains the use of his leg. Many styles of portable bird carriers quickly convert into a very suitable hospital cage with a few fast alterations. Instead, you may have to pay the vet’s office another day of hospitalization because you have to search for a proper carrier/hospital cage. Your bird’s usual cage would pose serious risks and dangers if he attempted to climb too soon.

Out and About: You decide to head out to the park or the beach and want to take your bird along. He enjoys these excursions and sits calmly on your shoulder making happy chuckling sounds. If you had a carrier, these types of fun trips would be so much easier.

Office Visits: Your African grey has been to your office and been a big hit with co-workers. Your boss finds him fascinating and allows him to visit on occasion. Your company is typical. Research conducted by the Pet Product Manufacturer’s Association (APPMA) reveals that increasing numbers of offices are allowing dogs and other pets into the workplace for a variety of reasons  Your office is the progressive type of place you enjoy.

The reasons for owning a portable pet bird carrier are numerous. Rather than asking yourself why you should buy one, shouldn’t you really be asking yourself why you don’t already own one?

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Learn how to choose  well fitting bird perches that fit your parrot and exercises the feet.

A pet bird needs a good perch, or preferably bird perches. It’s mandatory equipment for a proper parrot cage. After all, the perch is where a bird will spend the vast majority of its time. Bird owners should shop carefully for the best choice(s) available for the species they own.

The first consideration is proper perch diameter. A perch that works for a large parrot will be entirely inappropriate for a small one, and vice versa. The bird should be able to grip the perch about 3/4 of the way around, with nail tips touching the surface.

Perch Materials

The choice of materials used for bird perches these days is probably larger than you imagined. Although wood is still the perch material of choice, the list now includes PVC, pumice, concrete, lava rock and other choices. Wood is popular for very good reasons. It holds up well, gives the bird a soft surface on which to perch and also allows for safe chewing, which any parrot will appreciate. Once the bird chews a wooden perch to the point of it being worn out, a replacement perch is easy to provide. The wooden dowel perch remains a popular favorite. These types of perches work very well. Uneven wooden perches that provide alternating width’s and diameters along the perch surface are especially useful because they allow a bird to exercise its feet. The uneven surface can be manufactured that way or provided naturally through the use of branches of manzanita or other hard, nontoxic wood.

Rope perches provide a fun alternative to a rigid perches, and many parrots enjoy them. Numerous sizes of rope perches are available, in a variety of designs.

Most perches attach to the cage in one of two ways. The first is a notched perch that has grooves cut in each end to accommodate affixing the perch to the cage bars. The second is the clamp-on perch that attaches to the cage with a wing nut and bolt. Using stainless steel pieces when using a clamp-on perch is always best to avoid rust and possible toxicity issues from the bird chewing the metal.

Perch Varieties

Along with the range of material used for modern perches is the different styles and designs. Besides the in-cage perches, most pet parrots will appreciate a portable T-stand single perch or even a full bird playpen with a variety of perching areas. Portable perches should have areas at each end for food and water bowls. These generally attach by screwing onto bolts drilled though the perch material.

Some perches also serve valuable functions like bathing and grooming. Do you want a portable shower perch to use as an easy way to help your pet enjoy a warm mist? How about his nails? Are they sharp and frequently require trimming?  Perches made to serve both of these needs are available. Shower perches usually attach in the corners of a shower using suction cup attachments. They are generally made with PVC or other durable waterproof material that has a roughened surface to minimize slippage from the bathing bird. If you wish to keep your bird’s talons trimmed, try one of the pumice or concrete perches. When the proper size, they do an excellent job of dulling avian nails.

How about a perch specifically for your car? Yep, there are perches specifically made for that purpose, too.

I think you get the idea. Numerous choices await the pet bird owner who goes shopping for a perch. Carefully considering the needs of your particular pet will help you narrow down your search.

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Choosing the right bird perch is critical to your birds health

By Phil Samuelson

Deciding which bird perch to buy for your parrot can be one of the most important choices you make for your avian companion. After all, the perches you arrange in its cage are one of the only surfaces it touches. What works for one bird will be completely inappropriate for another. Perches are more than an area for the bird to stand. If more than one bird occupies the cage, there are social and practical functions relating to perches which often depend on  perch placement, size and material. Variety, safety and durability all are important considerations when selecting perches.

Bird Perch Size

The size of the bird perch is one of the most important considerations. After all, a perch intended for a peach-faced lovebird would hardly suffice for a blue-and-gold macaw. Completely different perch diameters are necessary for these very different parrots. Choosing inappropriate perch diameter is probably the biggest mistake made by pet bird owners. The wrong diameter results in cramped feet, overgrown nails and overall poor foot health. A proper perch diameter will allow the bird to grip approximately 3/4 of the perch so it can get a purchase with the tips of its nails.

Uneven or irregular perches are an excellent addition to any cage or bird playpen. Uneven perches are not one diameter like a dowel, but provide a choice of diameters depending on where the bird stands on the perch.

Bird Perch Material

The range of materials available for perches is surprisingly large. Remember that a bird will use the perch as a tool to clean its beak as well as a place to perch. After feeding, especially on juicy fruits and vegetables, a parrot will vigorously wipe its beak back and forth across its perch to remove any clinging food. This being the case, a perch near the cage food station should be relatively easy to clean.

Wood perches such as a manzanita branch are widely used, with good results. Perches of concrete or pumice also serve many parrot owners well. PVC is yet another popular perch material, and although somewhat slippery compared to other perch materials, it is easier to clean.  One PVC perch, the Safety Pumice Bird Perch is an exception with a proprietary sanded surface.

Bird Perch Placement

The height of bird perches has a great deal to do with the birds’ sense of security, as well as social standing in wild situations and some captive environments. African grey parrots in the wild forage for food at various levels of the forest canopy, even on the forest floor. Not surprisingly, the higher perching elevations provide the safest environment for these birds while feeding and roosting, as well as the highest sense of security. Bird trappers take advantage of the birds being less wary when high in the trees. A paper published in the Ethiopian Journal of Environmental Studies and Management (Vol.1, No.2, June. 2008) details the trapping methods of African bird trappers. Rather than raiding nesting chambers in trees, these trappers achieve their best results from using gummed bamboo bird perches placed high in the trees. The trappers place a decoy African grey nearby to attract incoming birds as they arrive at their daily roosting spots. The birds are easily fooled by the sense of security the treetop perches provide and quickly become ensnared on the sticky traps when they attempt to perch near their decoy conspecifics.

High perch elevation also provides a sense of security and comfort among pet birds. Within the cage or aviary, bird will usually try to occupy the highest perch possible. Usually, the most dominant bird or pairs of birds will occupy these locations, particularly when sleeping.

Select your bird’s perches carefully. If the cage size allows it, a pet bird owner should provide a choice of perching elevations, but the cage should never be overly cluttered with these roosting areas. When given a choice of a few perches, observing a pet bird carefully will soon reveal its favorite perch and perch location.

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By Phil Samuelson

This is spacious bird carrier for car travel that offers a lot of ventilation.

These days, increasing numbers of people are taking their pets on the road when they hop in the car for a vacation. It’s not just dogs enjoying these excursions anymore; quite a few birds are becoming travel companions, too.

One need only look at the myriad bird travel cages and designs now on the market to confirm this fact. Gone are the days of a simple wooden box design with a wire mesh window. Today’s parrot travels in style!

When vacationing with a pet bird, an appropriate travel cage is the most important item to consider. Not all travel cages are created equally, so it pays to shop around for the best choice. Fortunately, there are a number of good options on the market these days. The majority of these manufactured carriers are ideal for medium- to large-sized parrot species such as conures, Pionus, African greys, Amazons, mini macaws and small cockatoos. (Large macaws can pose special challenges when selecting a travel cage because their long tails take a beating when they rub against the cage walls or bars.)

Important Considerations when Choosing a Bird Travel Cage

First of all, a bird travel cage should be lightweight and easy to lift and clean. The cage should provide adequate ventilation, while still minimizing drafts. The construction should be durable to eliminate the possibility of the cage dweller being crushed by accident.

Some well-designed bird travel cages are constructed of thick polycarbonate with numerous holes in the surface and a wire mesh door. A cage such as this provides the necessary ventilation, while also retaining some warmth. The transparent polycarbonate allows for easy viewing of the bird, and also allows the bird to survey its surroundings. Often these types of travel cages come with an optional “privacy cover” that sits snugly the top (on some models this cover is an option and costs extra). Partially or completely covering the cage will help with calming the bird when in a busy area or when it’s time for sleep. Some cages are designed to be buckled in and secured to the seat. For these carriers, solid walls are a good idea to prevent the bird from chewing seatbelts.

Various Designs and Components

One of the best selling bird carriers, the Wingabago, features clear construction allowing your to see your bird and your bird to see you during travel.

Every bird travel cage needs a good perch. A diameter of approximately 1 inch should serve most birds well. A perch with a similar diameter bolted to the top of the cage makes it easy for an owner to remove the pet from its cage to let it perch on top once it reaches its destination. This exterior perch actually serves two purposes. As well as providing the bird with a comfortable, elevated place to perch, it also works well as a handle for carrying the cage, much like the handle on a suitcase. In fact, some travel cages with exterior handles are designed to look just like suitcases, so a meticulous bird owner and his or her pet can keep up with the current fashion.

Some travel cages, particularly those for small-sized birds in the cockatiel range, have nylon shoulder straps for easy carrying. Other designs resemble backpacks and have straps that fit comfortably around an owner’s shoulders. These types of cages are available in a variety of sizes and designs and are usually constructed of durable nylon or stainless steel mesh. For birds that are nervous travelers and do best in a mostly solid cage, laundry basket designs are available, with a heavy wicker appearance to the exterior. And for the ultimate bird travel cage accessory, there are cage carts designed to resemble baby carriages so owners can go for walks with their pets, either close to home or while on the road. These carriage carts allow for easy removal of a travel cage and fold up for easy storage or transportation.

Of course, there are travel cages constructed entirely of metal mesh, and these can work well, too. After all, this type of construction and materials has served bird owners well in the travel cage department for decades. Don’t overlook the standard, basic designs.

Providing adequate water is especially important when on the road. Some birds owners, particularly owners of smaller species, train their birds to drink from a bottle. Since water bowls are useless in a moving car, these bottles can come in handy when traveling. The owner, however, must be sure to use the appropriate size and design for the bird in question. Vacation is not the time to experiment with feeding new foods or new watering methods, so if a bird usually drinks and feeds from a bowl, be sure to use this method. Since some birds eat less when away from home, owners should bring plenty of their pets’ favorite food items.

It’s only relatively recently that all of these models and designs of bird travel cages have become available. And fortunately for bird owners, many of these newer cages are quite good–and life is always better when there are choices!  Browse a full range of bird carriers and travel cages for your next trip.

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Well known for talking ability, African Grey Parrots are beautiful, too!

Some of the most rewarding parrot species to keep as pets and companions fall into the medium-sized category, somewhere between budgie and macaw. Often, a budgie or cockatiel owner has a rewarding experience as a pet bird owner and decides to “step up,” so to speak, to a larger pet bird. Whether it’s an Amazon, Pionus, conure, African grey, small cockatoo or mini macaw, there are myriad medium-sized species out there that make great pets. Along with being larger than the ever-popular budgies and cockatiels, these parrots have a list of essential items that new owners must stock in order to keep their pets happy and healthy.

The Bird Cage

First, the cage must be large enough for a parrot to climb and explore, as well as flap its wings without striking the bars. Likewise, bar spacing is important–large enough to allow the toes through for easy climbing but narrow enough to prevent the bird from sticking its head out between the bars. Pet parrots in the medium and large categories use their feet often with climbing, eating and exploring toys, which indicates a high level of intelligence in the avian world. Studies done at Macquarie University reveal that using one foot more than the other–not favoring a combination and using both–when performing tasks is an indicator of a parrot’s degree of intelligence. The more a parrot prefers one side or the other, the higher its intelligence, says Dr Culum Brown, Director of Advanced Biology. This study confirms that that healthy parrot feet are active, thus proper perches and toys are vital to parrot mental stimulation.

Cage bottoms are another area that warrants careful consideration. A metal grate as far as possible above the newspaper bedding is essential to preventing the parrot from reaching through and shredding the newspaper into confetti. Budgies and cockatiels rarely engage in this type of behavior, so it can create a mess that some owners new to the larger species never bargained for or planned on. Parrots are messy feeders and players, and good cage construction can minimize the mess.

Bird Perches

Foraging bird toys are perfect for medium sized birds like Amazon Parrots and African Grey Parrots

Bird perches must keep the feet comfortable and exercised. Perches of the proper size are essential. Whether the perch clamps to the cage with a wing nut and bolt or secures to the cage bars with notches, wood is probably the best choice for perch material. The perches must be of the appropriate diameter for the bird–not too slender and not too large.

Other perch materials include rope perches, pumice or pedicure perches (good for keeping sharp nails dull). There are even heated perches called the Thermo Perch to keep avian feet warm and bathing perches that attach to shower walls. Most parrots learn to love a gentle misting with warm water.

Water and Food Bowls

Other bird supplies to provide for parrots in the medium-size category are sturdy food and water bowls. They must hold enough food for an appropriate meal and enough water to keep the bird hydrated throughout the day. Unlike small parrots, parrots in the medium category love to bathe in their water bowls and make “soup” by fouling their water source with food. They also like to toss their water bowls to the floors of their cages if they can. With all of this in mind, bowls that clamp securely to the cage but are also easy to remove for frequent changing are the best to use.  Quick Lock Crocks are dishwasher safe bowls that lock down but come off easily. Often, bowls that screw into place are the best choices. Birds can quickly learn to unfasten bowls secured in place by only metal rings hung from the cage sides. The birds will pull these bowls free and drop them, creating quite a wet mess in the process.

Bird Treats

Nutritious bird food treats are also important for busy parrot feet. Some birds will learn to relish their favorite treats to the point of “double fisting” these birdie delicacies if they are offered two at once. They will clutch one in each claw, balancing on the perch on a hock because that leg’s foot is already in use, then lift the other foot to the mouth to eat. Problem solved!

Although they can be fattening if fed too often, pine nuts and peanuts are loved by most parrots. The same goes for sunflower seeds. Fed sparingly by hand, however, they are a special treat every pet bird should enjoy.

Medium Sized Bird Toys

As the Macquarie University study revealed, intelligent parrot species require mental stimulation through use of their feet. An assortment of parrot toys will keep a parrot mentally stimulated and happy.

There are several types of good toys to keep a bird occupied. Among the best are foraging and destructive toys. These toys allow a parrot to explore a toy’s hidden crevices and compartments to find items to shred or eat. Crinkled paper and fabric included in the toy design will be items most bird enjoy shredding and preening. Toys that contain a variety of seeds and nuts as a reward for foraging behavior will quickly become a bird’s favorite item to explore.

Stock your parrots bird cage with new bird supplies today!

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Parrots have zygodactyl feet enabling them to reliably balance on just about any surface.

Wood perches are considered the best perch for all sized pet birds, from Canaries to Large Macaw’s.  We aren’t talking about dowel perches, here.  Dowel perches have a consistent diameter across the length of the perch. Branch style wood perches, though, are actually cut from bird safe shrubs or trees and fitted with hardware to attach them to cage bars. To understand the value of branch style wood perches, it will help to study the anatomy of a birds ‘foot.

To understand, you may need to learn a little about the parrot foot. Notice this large parrots’ feet pictured on the left.  You see that two toes pointing forward and two toes pointing backwards.  Parrots have zygodactyl, feet that are configured for exceptional climbing and grasping proficiency.  These flexible feet are amazingly strong, too, as you know from that tight grip when held or if you’ve ever groomed your bird’s nails.

Take a closer look at Peachy’s foot on the right.  Do you see how each toe is a different length?  The longer the toe length, the more joints and muscles it contains. The longest toe has 4 joints while the shortest toe has only two.  There are a total of 11 joints in the 4 toes of a parrots’ foot. A parrot can grasp a branch and hold its entire body weight with just the one longest toe.   Imagine holding on to a cliff wall at the clay licks in South America to detoxify your body with just a few toes!  Or, flying from jungle tree to jungle tree and having the toe strength to hold any sized branch you’d need to land on. Wild parrots keep their feet in tip top condition every day by grasping a variety of surfaces and sized branches.

Notice how each toe on a parrots foot is a different length with a different number of joints. All this variability makes a parrots foot very strong.

Our captive parrots’ feet have the capability of grasping all types of items; they just don’t have the accessibility of items to exercise their feet and toes.  They can climb the bars of their cage and may have a few perches to stretch and exercise their toes, but nothing near the variability of the wild. Several variable diameter and twisting wood perches will offer your parrot important foot exercise.  We love our Java Wood Bird Stands because they have a number of highly variable wood perches at various heights to exercise foot muscles.

Just like us, if a parrot stands in one position all of the time, their feet get very achy and stiff.  A parrot that doesn’t sufficiently exercise it’s feel on a routine basis will develop painful, stiff and even arthritic feet.  Stiff and arthritic feet affect your birds’ entire health.  So keep your bird comfortable and healthy by offering a number of wood perches.

Wood Perch Comparison Chart

	Manzanita Wood Perch	Dragonwood Perch	Java Wood Perch
	Rock hard manzanita makes a popular wood perch	Dragonwood Perches are hard with an appealing bark	Senegal Parrot on Java Wood Perch
Wood Density	Very Hard	Very Hard	Very Hard
Bark Coating	Slick, peeling bark, picture shown is handscraped	Varigated textured bark fun for chewing	Hand Scrapped – allows foot pads to grip well
Variability	Very good variability, especially with twisted branches	Moderate Variability	Highly variable within each branch

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Parakeet sized Bird Diaper has an optional leash for use outside.

Parakeet Sized Bird Leash

We often have customers ask us if there is a bird harness or bird leash for very small pet birds like a parrotlet or a budgie.  I’ve not found a true harness in a size small enough for these petite birds.  My thoughts on the matter are that not only is thin, strong cording hard to find, it is even more difficult to stitch together into a tiny bird leash.  Furthermore, finding attaching hardware that won’t rub a petite bird’s torso is next to impossible.  That said, the petite sized Bird Diaper, with an optional leash is the only product that I’ve found for very small pet birds. For these reasons, please don’t try to alter a larger bird harness or bird leash.  Some people think that you can purchase a Cockatiel sized bird harness or leash and put it on a much smaller bird.  It just doesn’t seem safe or comfortable.

Sized for Parakeets, Parrotlets and small Lovebirds, makes holding your feathered friend fun.

The Bird Diaper is a multi-use bird accessory that contains bird poop, keeps your bird warm, adds a ton of “cute factor” and features an optional, detachable bird leash.   Our 26 gm. Parrotlet, Mika tolerates us putting a Bird Diaper on her; however, we don’t use it routinely because the petite size is a little too big for her body.  I’m fearful that she’d wiggle out it and quickly flutter off.  If she weighed just a few more grams  for a correct fit, I’d feel comfortable that the strip of Velcro attaching the leash to the Bird Diaper were substantial enough to keep her close.  That is, after testing it several times in the safety of the house.

Since I can’t find a secure bird leash or bird harness for Mika, I keep her in a bird carrier or a bird cage when she needs outside time.  She is never left unsupervised when she is outside. She still gets to enjoy the sunshine, but I’m comfortable that she can’t escape.

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Generous branches on the Java Bird Stand encourage exercise.

We love the Java Bird Stand so much that we have one in our bird room right by Peachy’s cage and another in the basement.  Our birds love to exercise and climb all over these bird stands and we love the tree like configuration that has remained sturdy for years! The large Java Bird Stands are massive making them just right for a large bird like Peachy.

Java wood is actually reclaimed from coffee bushes, hence the name.  While the actual coffee bean is problematic for parrots, the dense very hardwood if bird safe.  Java wood grows in odd, twisting configurations and features horizontal branches. These bushes have a wide variance in the thickness of the branches making them fun for parrots to climb on while offering superior foot exercise.  Both of our two trees are about 50″ in height so that our birds are always within reach.

A & E Cages produces two models of the Java Bird Stand.  The standard Model is smaller and can be shipped via UPS or Fed Ex which cuts the shipping costs considerably.  The Deluxe Model is features a larger tree as well as a larger tray.  It must be shipped via freight.  This is the model that we use for Peachy’s daily use.

We’ve been in the bird supplies business for almost 15 years and we’ve yet to find a more parrot friendly bird stand that holds up to the test of time.  Never the less, we have wish list to improve the Java Bird Stand.

TRAY:   The first thing that we suggest is to develop a coating for the tray.  As it stands, the tray is made from plywood with a nice lip to contain debris.  Over time, the plywood has absorbed moisture. Originally, we applied heavy duty linoleum tiles to the tray but the glue gave way after about 5 years.  About 6 months ago, we sanded the stray down and applied some spray on rubber paint, however, the rubber paint hasn’t held up as well as expected.  We may explore taking the tray down to get it Rhino coated or simply gluing down actual laminate.

FOOD CUPS:  We are not impressed with the cups that come with the Java Bird Stand.  They seem to be made out of a concrete like material and are shaped to look like half a coconut shell.  They quickly broke.  We replaced the cups with stainless steel screw on cups.

TOY HOOK:  While easy to remedy, it would be nice if these bird stands came with a toy hook.  Large parrots unscrew eye hooks from the branches so we drilled a hole and inserted a wrought iron toy hook which allows us to hang toys on the bird stand.

So, there you have it.  Even with these issues, we absolutely love the Java Bird Stand.  And, so do our parrots.

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