Old lovebird can't sleep on perch.

[Love-birds]

Hello. My almost 19 year old female peach-faced lovebird is having problems sleeping on her perch. When she turns her head around to put it in her shoulder (you know, the way birds sleep), her head slides off and eventually she is completely leaning forward. Her head is hanging below the perch! She starts to fall off the perch eventually but catches herself. The poor thing can't sleep. I just bought a bird hut and put it in there. I'm also trying to find a perch with a better grip to it. Any good websites for perches? Not finding suitable one in stores. Also thought I'd try a platform perch. Anyone else dealt with this before? And what did you try and what helped? Thank you. You all have been so helpful before.

 

[sunnysmom]

My Safe Bird Store has a number of different kinds of perches. (mysafebirdstore.com). Has she been to a vet?

@Zara ?

 

[Love-birds]

Thank you for the perch website. She was just at the vet in September. I was wondering, too, if there was some other reason she couldn't perch and sleep. She sits ok on perches otherwise. She did injure (as in bruise--according to vet) her right leg last summer but she seems ok now. Wonder if it is not 100 percent. Plus it seems like she slips on the perch more often. I saw other people on here say their old bird had trouble with balance and perching. Her eyesight is not great. She has cataracts. Otherwise she is her usual self.

 

[Love-birds]

My Safe Bird Store has a number of different kinds of perches. (mysafebirdstore.com). Has she been to a vet?

@Zara ?

See my reply above. Still new here and learning posting. lol.

 

[Hankmacaw]

You might try a platform perch for her. These come in a 1" thickness which would be fine for a lovebird. Some padding on top would help her as well.

Wood Bird Perches ~ Seriously Nutz Bird Toys

 

[sunnysmom]

I'm wondering if she has some arthritis in her feet. It's fairly common with older birds. Do you use any rope perches with her? I give my senior tiels senior nutriberries- they contain glucosomine and other supplements to help older birds. I also give my oldest tiel something called "healthy bird" which has turmeric, etc. in it.

 

[Love-birds]

I'm wondering if she has some arthritis in her feet. It's fairly common with older birds. Do you use any rope perches with her? I give my senior tiels senior nutriberries- they contain glucosomine and other supplements to help older birds. I also give my oldest tiel something called "healthy bird" which has turmeric, etc. in it.

I've always wondered about those rope perches I've seen. Like "comfy perches". So those are ok? It's so different from what she knows. I wonder if she would like it. If they're ok, I'm willing to try it. My other issue is finding the 18" perch like her main perch. The diameters are so wide. I was just looking at perches by the vendors here. Didn't know about arthritis. Lol. Poor thing. I've got arthritis in one toe, maybe she does too. Ha.

 

[Love-birds]

You might try a platform perch for her. These come in a 1" thickness which would be fine for a lovebird. Some padding on top would help her as well.
View attachment 373826

Wood Bird Perches ~ Seriously Nutz Bird Toys

I was looking at platform perches. I think she would like the bird hut which is a platform. She's used one before, briefly. She didn't need it back then, she could perch just fine. Now, she has to be curious about the hut and try it. Lol. She can't see as well, but I know she saw it. I was looking at your vendor site for perches. 18" straight. 3/4 to 1 inch diameter. Was that you? (Kazoo).

 

[Love-birds]

I was looking at platform perches. I think she would like the bird hut which is a platform. She's used one before, briefly. She didn't need it back then, she could perch just fine. Now, she has to be curious about the hut and try it. Lol. She can't see as well, but I know she saw it. I was looking at your vendor site for perches. 18" straight. 3/4 to 1 inch diameter. Was that you? (Kazoo).

Oops. I meant Seriouly Nutz. Not Kazoo.

 

[Love-birds]

I've always wondered about those rope perches I've seen. Like "comfy perches". So those are ok? It's so different from what she knows. I wonder if she would like it. If they're ok, I'm willing to try it. My other issue is finding the 18" perch like her main perch. The diameters are so wide. I was just looking at perches by the vendors here. Didn't know about arthritis. Lol. Poor thing. I've got arthritis in one toe, maybe she does too. Ha.

Also, I did notice her front long toe doesn't wrap the perch like the other toes. It sticks out a little. I'm thinking now maybe it's because of arthritis.

 

[fluffypoptarts]

I was looking at platform perches. I think she would like the bird hut which is a platform. She's used one before, briefly. She didn't need it back then, she could perch just fine. Now, she has to be curious about the hut and try it. Lol. She can't see as well, but I know she saw it. I was looking at your vendor site for perches. 18" straight. 3/4 to 1 inch diameter. Was that you? (Kazoo).

I agree - get her a nice large platform perch. I have one for my little old guy (14 year old lovie) who has arthritis and a bad toe. He loves it and sleeps on it with no issues.

 

[Love-birds]

I agree - get her a nice large platform perch. I have one for my little old guy (14 year old lovie) who has arthritis and a bad toe. He loves it and sleeps on it with no issues.

Do you remember where you got that platform perch? What is it made out of? And what are the dimensions? I'm thinking it has to be big enough so she won't fall off when asleep.

 

[sunnysmom]

I've always wondered about those rope perches I've seen. Like "comfy perches". So those are ok? It's so different from what she knows. I wonder if she would like it. If they're ok, I'm willing to try it. My other issue is finding the 18" perch like her main perch. The diameters are so wide. I was just looking at perches by the vendors here. Didn't know about arthritis. Lol. Poor thing. I've got arthritis in one toe, maybe she does too. Ha.

I use the comfy perches for my older tiels. You just have to watch to make sure that the bird doesn't chew the threads. Two of my tiels never chewed on them at all. My one now is a chewer so I'm constantly trimming them. He doesn't ingest the threads. But you have to watch to make sure. But they are supposed to be good for a bird's feet. Although a platform perch would work too.

 

[Love-birds]

I just ordered my bird, Emerald, two platform perches to see what she prefers. A corner one and a square one. Off Amazon. Hope she takes to them. Now I'm looking for natural wood perches with more grip. But 18" inches long and smaller diameter. Or I'll try the rope perches. May be easier to find those. Any input on that? Thank you everyone. So nice we all help each other with these bird issues.

 

[Love-birds]

I use the comfy perches for my older tiels. You just have to watch to make sure that the bird doesn't chew the threads. Two of my tiels never chewed on them at all. My one now is a chewer so I'm constantly trimming them. He doesn't ingest the threads. But you have to watch to make sure. But they are supposed to be good for a bird's feet. Although a platform perch would work too.

Thank you. Yes, my bird is a chewer. lol. Aren't they all. But she has other things she chews on so I'm going to try those rope perches. Thank you for your input. Appreciate it. I'll look out for that. Just trying to help my little geriatric bird. lol.

 

[Love-birds]

I can't use that vet wrap stuff on her perches, can I? Won't she chew it all off? Has anyone ever tried that?

 

[sunnysmom]

I can't use that vet wrap stuff on her perches, can I? Won't she chew it all off? Has anyone ever tried that?

@Birdbabe ? @Zara ?

 

[Birdbabe]

I would do the wide flat perch for her, I have a blind cockatiel and the only way he can get any sleep is on it..he also is crippled. ..this perch is safe and secure for him, I have in the corner of the cage

 

[Love-birds]

Thank you everyone. You are all so helpful. I ordered a rope perch, a square platform and a corner platform perch. I hope she likes and uses them so she can sleep. She's old but she could very well live on, I have to help her out.

 

[fluffypoptarts]

Do you remember where you got that platform perch? What is it made out of? And what are the dimensions? I'm thinking it has to be big enough so she won't fall off when asleep.

Hmm...I think the place I ordered it from originally has closed, but I know Things for Wings has some:

Welcome to Things for Wings - Canada's largest selection of natural and plastic toy parts for parrots featuring unique artisan toys and Organic Bird Foods

I think mine is at least 6”x6”, but there are multiple sizes available on the link I shared above.