Last updated: October 2026
Written by the Birdsville team. Our Alexandria store has been fitting out bird cages with swings, perches and toys since 1985.
Bird swings are hanging perches that move when a bird lands, climbs or rocks on them, and every bird should have one in its cage. Because a swing moves, your bird has to keep adjusting its grip and balance, which works the leg, foot, core and wing muscles that a fixed perch never uses. Swings also give birds hours of entertainment, a favourite spot to rest and a change from gripping the same perch all day. This page covers why swings matter, the different types of bird swings, how to choose the right size, where to hang a swing in the cage, and how to keep it safe and clean. You’ll find bird swings in store at Birdsville, and online at Petsville (https://petsville.com.au/collections/swings-ladders) with delivery anywhere in Australia.
Bird Swings Key Takeaways
Bird swings are moving perches that give pet birds daily exercise.
A swing works the leg, foot, core and wing muscles that a stationary perch doesn’t use.
Every bird, from finches and budgies to cockatoos and macaws, benefits from a swing.
Choose a swing sized for your bird, with a perch thick enough that its toes wrap around about halfway to three quarters.
Hang the swing high in the cage, away from food and water bowls, with room for your bird’s tail.
Mix perch types: a wooden swing, a rope swing and a fixed natural perch keep feet healthy.
Check hooks, chains and rope regularly and replace any swing that’s frayed, cracked or chewed down.
Bird swings are sold at Birdsville, 684 Botany Road, Alexandria, and online through Petsville with shipping Australia wide.
Bird Swings Quick Facts
What they are: perches that hang and move freely in the cage
Main benefit: exercise for legs, feet, core and wings through constant balancing
Best for: every caged bird, from finches to macaws
Common types: natural wood, rope, cement or mineral, combination chew swings and play stand swings
Perch size: toes should wrap about halfway to three quarters around the perch
Where to hang: near the top of the cage, clear of food bowls, water and other perches
Check: hooks, chains, rope and perch every week
Replace: when frayed, cracked, chewed through or worn smooth
Why Are Swings Good for Birds?
Swings are good for birds because they turn sitting still into exercise, strengthening the legs, feet and balance muscles that a fixed perch leaves unused.
On a stationary perch, a bird grips and stays put. On a swing, every movement makes the perch rock, so the bird has to shift its weight, tighten its grip, flick its wings and use its core to stay balanced. In the wild, birds land on branches that sway in the wind all day long, so a swing is much closer to how their bodies are built to work. RSPCA Queensland (https://www.rspcaqld.org.au/resources/pet-care/bird-enrichment-pet-care-MCGRRT4RB62FATNGRJHX7BWSNUQA) recommends swings, ladders and bungee ropes to give birds exercise when they can’t fly as often as they would in the wild.
What Are the Benefits of a Bird Swing?
A bird swing gives your bird exercise, healthier feet, entertainment and a comfortable place to rest.
Swings Build Strength and Balance
The constant small movements of a swing work muscles in the legs, feet, back and wings. For pet birds that spend most of the day in a cage, this daily workout helps keep them fit and strong.
Swings Help Keep Feet Healthy
Sitting on the same smooth perch all day puts constant pressure on the same spots under the feet. VCA Animal Hospitals (https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/bumblefoot-in-avian-species) explains that perches of one uniform diameter can cause pressure sores known as bumblefoot, and recommends perches of different diameters. A swing adds another perch shape and texture to the cage, and the movement means the bird is always changing its grip.
Swings Give Hours of Entertainment
Many birds love to rock, bounce and play on their swing, and some will happily swing for ages. A swing with beads, chew pieces or rope attached gives them something to play with at the same time.
Swings Make a Favourite Resting Spot
Because swings usually hang near the top of the cage, many birds choose their swing as a lookout or a place to nap. A familiar, comfortable swing helps a bird feel settled in its cage.
What Types of Bird Swings Are There?
The main types of bird swings are natural wood swings, rope swings, cement or mineral swings, combination chew swings and play stand swings.
Natural Wood Swings
Real wood swings are the classic choice, with a natural texture and shape that’s gentle on feet. Natural Swings (https://petsville.com.au/products/cpa-swings-10cm) are made from real wood for small to medium parrots and come in five sizes, from 10cm up to 50cm.
Rope Swings and Boings
Soft rope gives a cushioned grip and a different texture underfoot. A Boing Sisal Rope (https://petsville.com.au/products/pet-one-boing-sisal-rope-small-132cm) is a coiled rope that bounces and sways, and it comes in small, medium and large sizes. Keep rope swings trimmed so loose strands can’t wrap around toes.
Cement and Mineral Swings
A cement perch has a rough texture that helps wear down nails and beaks. The Cement Swing Acrylic Frame (https://petsville.com.au/products/birdie-cement-swing-acrylic-frame-small) comes in small, medium, large and extra large sizes. Use cement swings as one perch among several, not the only one, as a rough surface all day can be hard on feet.
Combination Chew Swings
Some swings combine a perch with toys or chewable material. The BeakJoy Treetop Swing (https://petsville.com.au/products/beakjoy-treetop-swing) is designed for budgies, cockatiels, lovebirds, conures and other small to medium parrots, and the Bainbridge Chew Me! Swing (https://petsville.com.au/products/bainbridge-chew-me-swing) has a natural wood perch surrounded by material to chew and tear apart. These suit birds that like to play and chew while they swing.
Swings Outside the Cage
A swing on a play stand or hanging in the house gives your bird exercise during time out of the cage. See our Bird Play Stands page (https://birdsville.net.au/bird-play-stands/) for stands with swings built in.
How Do You Choose the Right Size Bird Swing?
Choose a swing sized for your bird, with a perch thick enough that its toes wrap about halfway to three quarters around, and a frame wide enough for its body and tail.
A perch that’s too thin lets the toes overlap, and one that’s too thick means the bird can’t grip properly. The frame should give your bird room to sit upright without its head hitting the top, and its tail shouldn’t touch the cage bars when it swings. As a rough guide, finches and budgies suit swings around 10 to 15cm wide, cockatiels and lovebirds around 15 to 20cm, conures, quakers and ringnecks around 20 to 30cm, and cockatoos, Eclectus, greys and macaws need large, heavy duty swings of 30cm or more. Bring your bird’s size into our store and we’ll help you choose.
Where Should You Hang a Swing in a Bird Cage?
Hang a bird swing near the top of the cage, away from food and water bowls, with enough space around it for your bird to swing freely.
Most birds like to be up high, so the top of the cage is the natural spot for a swing. Don’t hang it directly above food or water bowls, or droppings will land in them. Leave enough room around the swing so it doesn’t hit perches, toys or the cage sides, and so your bird’s tail can clear the bars. In a smaller cage, make sure the swing doesn’t take up the space your bird needs to stretch its wings.
What If Your Bird Is Scared of Its New Swing?
Some birds are nervous of a swing at first because it moves. Hang it outside the cage or low down for a day or two so your bird can get used to the sight of it, then move it inside. Holding the swing still while your bird steps on, or hanging it next to a favourite perch, helps it build confidence. Be patient, as some birds take to a swing in a day and others take a few weeks.
How Do You Keep a Bird Swing Safe?
Keep a bird swing safe by checking the hook, chain, rope and perch every week and replacing anything frayed, cracked or chewed.
Choose swings with stainless steel or bird safe hooks and chains, as cheap metal fittings can contain zinc or lead. The Unusual Pet Vets (https://www.unusualpetvets.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Heavy-Metal-Poisoning-in-Parrots.pdf) warn that chewed metal is a common cause of heavy metal poisoning in parrots. Trim any frayed rope and remove loose threads, and replace a wooden perch once it’s chewed thin or cracked. Make sure the hook is fastened securely so the swing can’t fall when your bird lands on it. Our Natural Bird Toys page (https://birdsville.net.au/natural-toys/) has more on safe materials.
How Do You Clean a Bird Swing?
Clean a bird swing by scrubbing off droppings, washing it in warm water and drying it completely before hanging it back up.
Wooden and rope swings hold moisture, so let them dry fully in the sun to stop mould. Cement and acrylic swings are the easiest to wash. Swings hung near the top of the cage usually stay cleaner than lower perches, but check them every week and replace any swing that’s heavily soiled or smells musty.
How Does Sydney’s Weather Affect Bird Swings?
Sydney’s hot summers and humid weather both change where and how you use a bird swing.
In summer, keep the cage and swing out of direct afternoon sun, as the top of a cage near a window gets hot quickly and birds love to sit up high. Humid weather slows drying, so check wooden and rope swings for mould more often. In winter, the top of the cage is usually the warmest spot in the room, so a swing up high gives your bird a cosy place to rest, as long as the cage isn’t in a draught.
A Tip From Our Staff
A swing is one of the best ways to give a caged bird exercise. Sitting on a stationary perch, a bird barely moves, but on a swing it uses muscles it never uses on a fixed perch, constantly balancing, gripping and adjusting. That’s why we say every bird should have a swing in its cage. It strengthens their legs and feet and gives them hours of entertainment.
Bird Swings Frequently Asked Questions
Do birds need a swing in their cage?
Yes, every bird benefits from a swing in its cage. A swing moves when the bird lands on it, so the bird has to balance and grip, which works muscles a fixed perch doesn’t use. Swings also give birds entertainment, a favourite resting spot and a change of perch to help keep feet healthy.
Are swings good exercise for birds?
Yes, swings are great exercise for birds. Each time a swing moves, your bird has to shift its weight, tighten its grip and use its wings and core to stay balanced. For pet birds that spend most of the day in a cage, this daily balancing builds strength in the legs, feet and body.
What size swing does my bird need?
Your bird needs a swing with a perch thick enough that its toes wrap about halfway to three quarters around, and a frame big enough for it to sit upright with its tail clear of the bars. Small birds like budgies suit swings around 10 to 15cm wide, while cockatoos and macaws need heavy duty swings of 30cm or more.
Where should a bird swing go in the cage?
A bird swing should go near the top of the cage, where birds feel safest, but not directly above food or water bowls where droppings would land in them. Leave enough space around it so it doesn’t hit perches, toys or the cage walls, and so your bird’s tail can swing freely.
Do birds sleep on swings?
Some birds do sleep on their swing, especially if it hangs high in the cage, as birds like to roost in the highest spot. That’s perfectly normal. Just make sure the cage also has a sturdy fixed perch at a similar height, so your bird has a steady place to sleep if it prefers.
H3: Are cement swings safe for birds?
Cement swings are safe when used as one perch among several. Their rough surface helps wear down nails and beaks, but standing on a rough perch all day can be hard on feet. Give your bird a mix of perches, such as natural wood, rope and cement, so its feet get a variety of textures.
Where Can I Buy Bird Swings in Sydney?
Birdsville stocks bird swings in all shapes and sizes, from small wooden swings for budgies to heavy duty swings for cockatoos and macaws, at 684 Botany Road, Alexandria NSW 2015, servicing the Eastern Suburbs and Inner South Sydney. Pop in or ring us on (02) 9669 1766, and we’ll help you match a swing to your bird. We’re open 9:30am to 5:30pm weekdays, 10am to 5pm Saturday and 10am to 4pm Sunday, with directions on our Contact page (https://birdsville.net.au/contact-birdsville/). Follow us on TikTok ([ADD TIKTOK LINK]), Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/BirdsvilleRosebery/) and Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/petsvillesydney/) for live updates, new arrivals and our birds enjoying their swings.
Shopping from home? Petsville carries a great range of bird swings online (https://petsville.com.au/collections/swings-ladders), delivered to your door anywhere in Australia. Choose from natural wood swings in five sizes, cement swings, rope boings and combination chew swings, and add a few toys to the same order.
Popular bird swings on Petsville:
Natural Swings (https://petsville.com.au/products/cpa-swings-10cm)
BeakJoy Treetop Swing (https://petsville.com.au/products/beakjoy-treetop-swing)
Cement Swing Acrylic Frame (https://petsville.com.au/products/birdie-cement-swing-acrylic-frame-small)
Bainbridge Chew Me! Swing (https://petsville.com.au/products/bainbridge-chew-me-swing)
Boing Sisal Rope (https://petsville.com.au/products/pet-one-boing-sisal-rope-small-132cm)
Looking for more? See our Natural Bird Toys (https://birdsville.net.au/natural-toys/), Bird Foot Toys (https://birdsville.net.au/bird-foot-toys/), Foraging Bird Toys (https://birdsville.net.au/foraging-bird-toys/) and Flight Cages (https://birdsville.net.au/flight-cages/) pages.
About Birdsville
Birdsville has been at 684 Botany Road, Alexandria NSW 2015 since 1985, specialising in birds and small animals. We carry a huge range of avian products, from swings, perches and toys to cages and play stands for every size of bird.
Sources
Swings and exercise for caged birds: RSPCA Queensland, Bird Enrichment
Perch diameter and bumblefoot: VCA Animal Hospitals, Bumblefoot in Avian Species
Heavy metal poisoning from chewed metal: The Unusual Pet Vets, Heavy Metal Poisoning in Parrots
Product details: Petsville product listings
Staff tip and seasonal advice: the Birdsville team
