Owls

[Lamby]

What is the best perch for Owls - some centres use Blocks and some use Bow Perches. Which is better for the bird?

[Shaun Byrne]

Depends on the type of Owl mate. Study the natural habitat of the owl and give it a perch that it would naturally use.

[Lamby]

True - African Spotted Eagle Owl - Savanna and Light Woodland - Rocky Ledges and Trees - I guess both be reasonable options!

[Fenman46]

I worked on the plan the bigger the owl the more a block was needed so i had both in,to take the weight of the center point of the foot,depending on what the owl is up to at the time{the owls do like to try to look down on you ,as with most birds},the perch was used a lot more than the block,when useing perches for the birds change them at least twice a year because as the wood drys out it gets harder and the bark wears ,,away {the bark is a cushion}

[Bubo]

i think hawka's answer was spot on and cant really add to that!

[Fenman46]

Im had snowey owls take to perches ,at hammerton zoo ,and they had the blocks down as well ,i think it depends on how much the owl trusts you ,,re on size ,, every large owl im had ,,the perch hads allways won over the block,apart from the snowey owl i have had only eagle owls ,so i cant comment on anything else

[Cyclone]

i would say that for snowys a block is better because were they live there are no trees but for any of the larger owls i would recommend a bow because they perch 2toes forward and 2 toes behind
cyclone

[Fenman46]

True mate but if a owls givein the choice, in my experience,, they tend to favaur the perch,,,, being as a snowy lives in the tundra,so finding a perch is very unlikley,,but you give a snowy one,,,,,,,

[Bubo]

offer all sorts and find which ones your owl prefers.

[Fenman46]

im done that ,,perchs seems to be the choice on the 9 species of eagle owls

[Lamby]

Clearly a conundrum - Sage (African Spotted Eagle Owl) spends more time on the floor whichever option we give him. Thanks anyway

[GDN]

Lamby your question sounds like you been to centres where the owls have been tethererd because you ask

What is the best perch for Owls - some centres use Blocks and some use Bow Perches. Which is better for the bird?

Owls that are kept in centres shouldn't be kept tethered to a block or a bow perch they should be kept free lofted in an aviary with a variety of perches for them to sit on. Natural wood is best. Logs or branches. My owls and it doesn't make any difference if it an eagle owl or a barn owl have a log which sits up rights so i guess it acts like a block and branches attached to the side of the aviary. They use all of them at some point in the day depending on what is happening or if they have been fed or where the sun is shining into their aviary