Hello, I have finally got my avairy built and now all I need now is to put the stuff in. I was thinking about using tree branches to use as perches and I was wondering how think the the branches ment to be or does it not matter? And do you have to clean them? if so what do you clean them with?.

 

cheers,

james

I am unsure what members do who have large avairies, I know alot of them use real trees etc..

 

When I made up my small aviary cage in the house I used this website to determine how to prepare and what was safe. The only thing I didn't do was use the hardward, I just laid the branches across and stuck them in the holes to keep them stable. Works like a gem, it was a suggestion from one of our other members.

 

Hope it helps http://www.mdvaden.com/bird_page.shtml

all different thickness is fine, the more the better that way their little feets get a work out

 

Just make sure the tree you are using is safe for your birdies. You can get brackets that hold the branch in place from pet shops, they hang of wire but the branch needs to be cut to size. I used thick wire to hold mine in place, that way I was able to place them how I wished, with some of the branches sticking through the wire like lovey does with the cage.

Do you have to clean the branches? I thought you would, but what with?

I don't know if it's right, but I scraped my with hard brush and water to clean them and then I poured boiling water over them to kill all the "bad staff"

that sounds good Zebra

you can bake them too for 30 mins for smaller branches that is what I did on 200 F but keep an eye on them, another person seasoned them by letting them dry for a couple weeks.

with a long branch for an avairy it's a bit hard to bake them

Wash with warm soapy water, rinse well, then scrub them with a weak bleach solution, rinse several times very well, and let dry in the sun for a few days before putting them in the aviary. You shouldn't be able to smell the bleach when you put them in for use by the birds. Fruit tree branches (like apple) are safe, just make sure they have not been sprayed with insecticide.

I have used either Mahogany branches or Mangrove drift wood for perches in my aviary. I just use that Milton Antibacterial Wash (the tablet form that you wash baby bottles etc with) I let it sit for about 15 mins or so then rinse really well and then let them dry out in the hot sun for a day or two