What type of perch do you use for nail grooming?

For many years, I used the cement perches for grooming and never had a problem with them. In the past years, the Sandy Perch folks have developed a nail grooming perch and their slogan is "concrete sucks" meaning that the concrete pulls the moistue from the bird's feet.

I personally have both. I'm interested in knowing what experiences you have had with either or both.

Zoey has a cement perch that doesn't seem to work real well. Sophie has a pumice perch it does a good job but its a pain to clean.

Tausi has a cement perch, but I don't think it does very much for his nails. Quito has one that's sort of like cement, but it's a coating that comes off after a while. Can't remember the name, but they're fruit flavored and cement like texture. Seems to keep her nails pretty good, but like I said, the coating wears off. I've never tried Sandy Perches, probably should. Tausi's nails are getting a little hard to take.

I have a cement perch in Tiko's cage now. It doesnt seem to do much for keeping her nails from getting sharp. I should try the sandy one...perhaps that would help......

I tried both types, and the birds love the sandy perches. None would go near the cement perches. I've also tried flagstone perches, but they aren't too popular eithers.

Sandy perches here, cement almost seems like it could cut a foot.

I have both. I have at least one of almost every texture perch in Jazzy's cage...natural wood, sanded wood, sandy, cement, and rope.

Why must sandy perches be soooo darn expensive though!

I have several of the cement perches that are smooth on top so that the bottoms of the bird's feet are not scraped up. I typically put these perches next to food bowls to guarantee they will be used. My birds do not hang out on their food bowls for hours at a time so I feel putting the perch there works well. I would never make a cement perch the highest one in the cage or as a sleeping perch -- I feel that would result in them spending too much time on the cement perch. This system has worked very well as my birds' nails are smoooooooth!!

Sandy. Paco was on cement perches before he lived with me that permanently ruined his feet- same with Higgins. Both birds actually have scars on the bottom of the feetsies.
I have personally found cement to be more abrasive to the feet- I tried putting in a cement perch in a foster G2's cage, right near the food. After 2 weeks of the perch being in her cage it made her feet crack and bleed.
Cement perches are also, well, cement. They have no core, so unlike wood which gradually will warm to the birds body temperature, the cement stays cold. That is not good for birds with bad feet, older birds, or birds that are on the perches for an extended period of time- it can cause the muscles to cramp. The sandy perches have a manzanita core, which if the bird is on it for an extended period of time, will gradually warm to his/her body temperature, making it more comfortable- no risk of cramping. And if you are arthritic, or just have a sore part of the body, your muscles respond better to warmth then cold.

I prefer the Sandy perches and have at least one in each cage. Nails remain dull and never had any foot issues.