30/09/2025
FUNKY FEET
Like most animals, a parrots feet are very important to them! Unless they are flying, a parrot spends all of it's time using those feet and they need to be kept in tip top shape.
Parrot feet are a little different to other birds. They have ZYGODACTYL feet. This means that of the four toes, two face forward and two face backwards. Look at your own hand, imagining the thumb didn't exist for a moment. Your index finger and little finger would be pointing backwards.
A few other birds have zygodactyl feet including, Cuckoo, Turaco, Woodpeckers and Toucans. However they can switch one toe forwards to the more common three front to one back facing toe if needed. A parrot's toes are permanently in the two- two formation.
This arrangement enables parrots to have fantastic grip, grasp and manipulation of objects. Whether holding an item of food or hanging by one foot to a branch, those feet are strong and dexterous!
With captive parrots it's important to have a number of perches and branches of different sizes to keep the feet exercised. Different textures are good too but too smooth may be hard to grip and make the bird feel unstable and anxious. Too rough, like sandpaper perches can cause sores if used too often (they don't really help the nails anyway- clipping is best.). Metal and plastic are too hard and can hurt your parrot's feet.
Nothing beats natural branches. Pear, Apple, Beech, Aspen, Sycamore, Ash, Hawthorn, Oak, Poplar, Willow Elm and Buddlia are all parrot safe. Just ensure they have not been sprayed with pesticide or covered in sap and ensure you clean them well and dry in hot sun (uv rays will kill nasties) or 120°c for an hour in your oven.
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