How to accomodate to Francis?

[trail_rider]

I brought Francis home two days before Christmas. He is pretty badly plucked and his nails are pretty short. When I take him out I usually hold on to one of his toes with my thumb to steady him. The only feathers he has right now are the ones on his head and most of the ones on his wings, but no flight feathers on the wings at all.

How can I make his cage easier for him to manuver around in? He has fallen twice since I brought him home. I don't want him to get hurt.

I want to put some natural branches in his cage, but they would be to big to put in the oven. Would it be safe to put them in without baking them?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated!!

[JillyBeanz]

You really should bake the branches - but if this proves impossible you could strip all of the bark and scrub to disinfectant it. There are many bugs and insects that live under bark, and also fungi etc which grow on bark that aren't too good for your grey either. You can purchase Java branches which have already been baked and treated and are perfectly good climbing apparatus for your grey. You could also put a towel in the bottom of the cage, just in case he does fall.

[neronotin]

I have a littile conure who is mostly plucked and a little clumsy I have found that ladders going between different levels of perches help her get around better. The ladders give her more surface to grab onto with the rungs and rails so it's harder for her to fall down. The blanket in the bottom helps cushion if she does fall plus you can just throw it in the wash when it gets soiled. I had a blanket in the bottom of Voodoo's (our grey)cage when she was a clumsy baby too!

 

Hope this helps some!<br><br>Post edited by: neronotin, at: 2010/01/01 21:59