Thermo perches

[Pralina]

Does anyone have any experience to share with K&H Thermo perches?

http://www.khmfg.com/thermo-perch.html

My vet recommended I get some for my old lovebirds, they have arthritis...

I've read a few things on other forums about them... like they split in half? Or the cables are sometimes unsafe? Or theyre slippery or too hot (only one case of burned feet from what I read)... so perhaps I will consider wrapping them in vet wrap.....

what are your thoughts?

[Grey_Moon]

Given my reptile experience I never trust something that the animal can come into direct contact with and heats up. Especially not with an animal as destructive or intelligent as a parrot with a product that has been reported to crack in half/have exposed heating elements.

its asking for issues.

Even if there was no physical way that the bird could crack open the perch/the perch comes apart and exposes the heating cable I would not trust it unless it was hooked up to a thermostat where I could control the temps (which, given the need for a temperature sensing probe etc this causes its own issues). Most products like this when they fail, fail hot (meaning they overheat) and its asking for severe, nasty burns. In older birds like your lovies....well...I don't see them bouncing back from that.

If I were you, I'd instead find a way to either heat the ambient room or install some supplemental heat outside the cage out of beak reach (like a gentle heat lamp or a heat panel). In addition, add in a bunch of rope perches and differing natural perches to exercise their feet, give them comfort and keep the feet in good shape. Also look up different herbs/natural anti-inflammatory supplements to give them some relief. Dandelion is a good one for arthritis for example, adding omega 3's (flax, chia seed) will also ease inflammation.

[marie83]

I agree with what grey_moon said, the more I've read about stuff like that the more doubtful I've become about if the benefits outweigh the small risks of malfunction. I do think an external source of heat focused on a small area would be less risky with similar benefits, that way the birds can pick and choose where to be in the cage for comfort and temperature regulation.

[Pralina]

Thank you for your advice, it was exactly my feeling too, as soon as I started researching it, reading how many birds apparently LOOOOOOOOVE those perches, but how in a few cases it was defective, those few cases made me think...

If I were you, I'd instead find a way to either heat the ambient room or install some supplemental heat outside the cage out of beak reach (like a gentle heat lamp or a heat panel). In addition, add in a bunch of rope perches and differing natural perches to exercise their feet, give them comfort and keep the feet in good shape. Also look up different herbs/natural anti-inflammatory supplements to give them some relief. Dandelion is a good one for arthritis for example, adding omega 3's (flax, chia seed) will also ease inflammation.

Thanks for the advice Grey_Moon!

I have heard that there are heat lamp bulbs that can be installed on a regular light socket. Does anyone know who makes these? I know Avitech makes some ceramic light bulbs for heating but I think they need a ceramic socket..... And their heat panels are too big for my needs as for now.

As for medicating their arthritis, the vet prescribed 0.01cc of Ubavet (glucosamine) and 0.01cc of Tramadol and as of now it seems to be relieving their pain. They have been taking it for a month and they are a lot more active, at least from what I see they fly and "jump" on their feet more rather than climbing, so I guess pain is being suppressed.
Already I did ask the vet for a lower dose for the painkiller, and refused to give them Metacam so she suggested Tramadol instead.... But of course, I would by far prefer having a natural remedy.