K&H Thermo Perch
Thermal perches are heated perches for birds. The idea seems genius at first, but there are some things to be aware of before you decide if you should purchase one for your beloved feathered companion.
- 1. If your bird falls asleep, he may not notice his feet becoming too warm. For this reason, NEVER purchase unsafe or cheap imitation heated perches.
- 2. If you do intend to use a thermal perch, always ensure there are several other perches for your bird to choose from as he will want to move off the heated perch when he’s feeling warm.
- 3. It is not advisable to leave the thermal perch on at night time (although this is when most parrot parents will want to use it – do so with caution and only after testing it during the day, for several days, under supervision) – again your bird could fall asleep and overheat and/or cause injury. In the past there have been some major incidents of birds being burnt by sub-standard heated perches. Only ever by trusted high quality and recommended perch brands like K&H – this can not be stressed enough!
- 4. Other methods of providing heat such as ceramic heat lamps can be a safer and more effective way of assisting sick birds or those that require more warmth.
There is a good forum thread here where people are contributing their opinions and advice on using heated perches. You’ll note they mention the past incidents of low-quality thermal perches causing devastating bird injuries – please only use QUALITY brands and never buy cheap, unknown brands of heating products as they can potentially be extremely dangerous when they malfunction. The general consensus is, and the only product we will recommend is the K&H Thermo Bird Perch as it’s the only safe heated perch on the market today.
The K&H thermal perch has varying temperatures on different parts of the perch so your bird can move along it as he or she feels most comfortable.
That’s why it’s vital to get the correct size for your bird – there are 3 sizes:
Small – suitable for canaries, finches, budgies and cockatiels.
Medium – suitable for Amazons, African Greys, small cockatoos and parrots of similar size
Large – suitable for large parrots like large cockatoos and macaws.
Safety
You control the perch via a thermostat.
The power source to provide the heating is low voltage – just 12 volt.
It is made of beak-resistant bird-safe materials and is easy to attach to wire cages. It has been designed to have a variable surface which is so vital to the health and comfort of bird’s feet.
Some of the promo material floating around for the Thermo-Perch states that it is superior to heat lamps because they emit constant light. This is no longer true thanks to quality ceramic heating lamps such as this one – so keep in mind these may be a better option for some people. Speak to your vet if you are unsure whether a heated perch or a heat lamp is best for your bird and cage or aviary set up.